Need. Funny word for Greg to use. Because that’s exactly how he felt about Tru. Like he needed her.

And it wasn’t like it’d happened overnight. It’d been coming on for months now. Every time they fought, it was like she slipped under his guard a little farther. Until he wanted to pull her all the way under and against him.

But he had a feeling she didn’t feel the same. That, to her, he was just someone to pass the time with until a guy like Cory came along and they moved to the Main Line, bought a mansion, and had a few perfect kids.

“Jesus, Baz.” Greg grabbed his shoulder and shook him. What the fuck do you want?”

“I want my fucking band to be whole again. I don’t want to feel like I’m damaged. And I want Tru.”

Greg smiled and the cocky sonovabitch who made million-dollar deals in a cutthroat business showed itself. “Then don’t be a fucking pussy. Make her believe you’re the only guy she should ever want. Just . . . don’t tell me how because, Christ, I love the girl like a sister and I don’t want to know that she has actual sex.”

After he stopped laughing, Baz shook his head. “And how the fuck am I supposed to make her believe that?”

“You gotta believe it first.”

Baz rolled his eyes. “Great, now you’re spouting new-age bullshit.”

“It’s not bullshit if it works.”

“Yeah, yeah. I am worthy. I get it. Next?”

“Next, you gotta show her she’s not just another piece of ass. And then you gotta make sure you don’t fuck it all up by acting like a dick.”

“You’re just full of wisdom tonight.”

“That’s because he nearly fucked up his own relationship by doing exactly what he just told you not to do.”

Baz turned to see Ty leaning back in his chair, watching them. Actually, they were all watching him now. Baz had never had stage fright. He could play in front of thousands and have a great time. This felt like torture.

Greg shrugged. “Not quite, but close enough.”

“Okay, now that we’ve told Baz how to handle his love life, can we please play some damn poker?” Jared flashed him a smile and held up the deck.

“Yeah, yeah. We’re coming.” Greg turned back to Baz. “Sometimes you just gotta take that leap and trust someone will be there to catch you. If I know Tru at all, and I do, she won’t let you fall.”

*   *   *

“Thank you for dinner. I had a really nice time.”

“I should be thanking you. I haven’t had this much fun on a date in a very long time.”

Tru smiled up into Cory’s handsome face, noting how his smile was so open, so relaxed.

He’d been the perfect gentleman all night, with enough of an edge that the conversation had never turned dull or rote.

But all night she couldn’t help thinking about another man.

Which was totally unfair to Cory.

“So I want to do it again. Does Monday work for you?”

She actually liked the fact that he hadn’t just asked her if she wanted to go out. He’d asked about a specific date. It was a good tactic. If she said no to Monday, he’d probably continue down the week until she said yes.

And now all she could think about was what night Sebastian might want to see her. Yes, they had a date set for tomorrow but what if he asked her out again for later in the week and what if she’d already set a date with Cory?

And that’s when she realized there would be no more dates with Cory.

“I’m not—” She smiled, shaking her head. “Thank you for asking, but I don’t think that would be a good idea. For either of us.”

Cory’s gaze narrowed, and then he nodded, as if he’d expected this. “Let me guess. There’s someone else.”

“There is but it’s . . . complicated.”

Cory’s lips curved in a truly breathtaking smile. “Relationships usually are. He’s a fool if he doesn’t realize what a wonderful person you are, Tru.”

Well, damn. Why the hell couldn’t she melt for this man the way she did for Sebastian? It just wasn’t fair.

“Then let me just say thank you again for accompanying me to dinner and I hope to see you soon. And if that guy doesn’t work out, you know where to find me.”

Leaning down, he pressed a kiss to her cheek. She waited to feel tingles, a jolt. Anything at all.

Nothing. Because all she could think about was how she went wet when Baz put his mouth over hers and kissed her like he wanted to inhale her.

She nodded as he drew back, then turned to open her door and slipped through. She sighed as she leaned against the door and closed her eyes.

Damn. Damn, damn, damn.

She wanted to throw her purse across her living room but couldn’t afford to damage her phone. Not when she knew she wanted to use it to text Sebastian. To find out what he was up to tonight.

“Ooh. This sucks.”

Since it was only eleven at night—and really, who else but losers were home by eleven on a Friday night—she pulled out her phone and texted Sabrina.

As she waited for her friend to get back to her, she went upstairs to change. Yoga pants, an old, ratty t-shirt. Her hair in a ponytail, thick socks on her feet, and makeup washed off her face.

Staring into the mirror, she didn’t look at all like a woman who would attract the attention of a rock star. She should have long blond hair and a DD chest and legs that went on for miles.

Instead, she had brown hair, an average body, and a decent face.

And Baz still wanted her.

She was still smiling when she made her way back downstairs to the kitchen for a glass of wine and a few of the Thin Mints she had stashed in the freezer.

She was just about to text Sabrina again when her phone chimed.

But it wasn’t Sabrina.

You home yet?

Sebastian.

Her heart started to race. Did he know she’d been on a date with another man tonight? She hadn’t told him. Had hoped the question would never come up. But she was home and it seemed foolish not to answer such an innocuous question.

I’m here. What’s up?

Playing cards and getting my ass handed to me. What’re you doing?

Drinking wine.

Alone?

Hmm, did she want to admit she was sitting alone on a Friday night drinking? Did that make her pathetic?

Fuck it.

Yeah.

A full minute passed before she got a response. A minute where she kept checking to see if her phone still had service.

God, she was totally losing it.

And then . . .

Her phone rang. And she felt giddy excitement, like a teenager getting a call from the most popular boy at school. The phone call she’d never received in high school.

“Hey. I thought you were playing cards.”

“I was. But, for some reason, I can’t seem to keep my mind on the game and I’ve lost every hand for the past hour.”

Curling into her comfy couch, she couldn’t help her smile. “So, who’s beating you?”

“I swear Ty’s cheating. I just haven’t figured out how to prove it. And I think Greg’s determined to win back every penny he’s gonna end up paying me for the score. Dane and Jared have probably lost as much as me.”

“And here I thought you’d be good at cards.”

“I’m kind of distracted tonight.”

“Oh, yeah. Why’s that?”

“Because there’s this girl I keep thinking about.”

Her heart picked up its pace. “Oh.”

“Yeah. See, whenever I think about her, I start to get hard and it’s pretty damn difficult to think about cards when all I can see is the beautiful woman I had on my lap last night.”

Holy hell, she couldn’t breathe.

She remembered every second of last night, too. The way he’d stared at her, the way he’d felt when he’d—

“Wait, are you still playing cards?”

He laughed, low and sexy. “Would you care?”

Shit? Would she care that her friends’ guys could hear him talking to her like this?

No, not really.

“No. But what happens when I decide to return the favor and tell you all about how I can still feel you inside me when I close my eyes. And I can still taste your skin and smell you on me.”