Tate ran his thumb up and down her wrist, his other hand coming up to cup her chin. He wanted to kiss her so badly, but he knew that it wouldn’t go the way he wanted. So instead, he took a deep breath, brushed his knuckles along her blushing cheeks and said, “It will be when you let it be.”

~*~

Tate leaned against the wall outside of Audrey’s door. He didn’t know if he should knock or just wait, so he went with the latter, deciding to give her more time. When they had parted ways earlier, she seemed like she was regretting coming down to Miami. It was the last thing Tate wanted, so he decided that instead of talking about anything serious, they would just enjoy the couple days they had with each other. He would let whatever was happening between them run its course.

Fixing the collar of his crisp white shirt, he couldn’t help but doubt himself. Did he mess up earlier on the beach? What if she came out with her bags packed, ready to go home? Banging his head against the wall, he pulled his phone out and was about to play a game, when Audrey’s door opened, and Tate’s tongue, promptly fell out of his mouth at the sight of her.

Audrey was hot. Super hot.

She wore a fitted, one shoulder black sparkly dress. It came to mid-thigh, maybe higher showing her sexy tan legs. Her hair was down in a mass of curls, her makeup was the most drastic he had ever seen it, and he couldn’t help but take notice to the extra high teal sparkly heels she wore.

He was supposed to be friends with her?

Running her hands down her thighs, she smiled up at him, “Hey.”

Swallowing loudly, Tate croaked out, “Hey.”

“Is this okay? It’s all I got, well no, I take that back, I have a skirt, but I thought this was salsa-ish.”

Tate was nodding before she got the whole sentence out of her mouth. He was convinced there was no room in his slacks because that dress was way more than okay. “Audrey, yeah, you look hot.”

A shy smile crossed her lips as she rocked her hips back and forth, “Thanks, you’re lookin’ pretty smoking too.”

He smiled confidently as she said, “You ready?”

“Yup,” he said.

He was only a little embarrassed about his outburst about hot she was. He liked that she had gotten so dressed up for him and he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was a date.

Their first date.

With a grin, Tate placed his hand on the small of her back, leading her to the elevator and then down to the club. When they entered, Tate spotted Phillip and Erik at a corner table. Taking Audrey’s hand in his, he guided them through the crowd of dancers, and patrons who were lingering around tables, having a good time. Phillip put his hands up at the sight of Tate and Erik grinned as Tate made his way towards them. Like Tate, both men were dressed to impress in slacks and dress shirts. Both on the mission to bring home a special lady, Tate didn’t have to worry about that.

He already had his.

Tate brought Audrey beside him, before pulling out a chair for her. “Guys,” he yelled over the pulsating music, “you remember Audrey, right?”

“I think we’ve met,” Phillip said, his eyes gazing over Audrey’s body as he took her hand in hers.

“Yes we have,” Audrey said with a grin.

“How are you,” Erik asked with a lazy grin on his face, as his eyes made the same trip that Phillip’s had.

All of a sudden, Tate wanted to smash his two best friend’s faces into the nearest hard surface.

“I’m good thanks,” she answered, she glanced back at Tate and asked, “What’s your poison Oooodder?”

Tate smiled. He loved the way she drew out his name. Answering her, he said, “Anything, really.”

“Are we going big tonight boys?” Phillip asked.

“Sure why not?” Erik said with a shrug.

“Don’t y’all have a game tomorrow?” Audrey asked.

“Yup, but our curfew is 1am. It’s only eight, we are good,” Phillip informed her.

Audrey nodded as a bright grin went across her face, “Well y’all are the professionals, so I trust y’all to know when to stop.”

All three guys nodded, and Audrey grinned as she got up, heading for the bar. Tate watched her every move as she leaned against the bar, her curves delectable. When a guy came up to her, Tate was about to go over and stake his claim, but Phillip stopped him.

“So when did Audrey get hot?”

Tate cut him a look, “She always has been.”

“Yeah, but she is really hot tonight. My hands are itching to touch her thighs,” he said his eyes glued to what Tate believed was Audrey’s ass.

“Back off, Phillip,” Erik warned.

Phillip looked up and then over at Tate, “No way, you with her?”

Before Tate could say anything Audrey came back to the table, a bottle of Patron in one hand and four shot glasses in the other. “Are y’all sure you can handle my kind of party?”

Phillip laughed, while Erik nodded, “Pour them up, baby girl,” he said.

Four shots later…

Audrey pointed at Erik, her eyes a little glazed as she said, “I don’t think I like you.”

Erik laughed before pointing to himself, “Me? What did I do?”

Audrey let out a girly burp that was rewarded by a high five from Phillip before she said, “My best friend likes you, but you don’t like her!”

Tate laughed, “Man, Piper is going to kill you, Audrey.”