Delayed Call Read online

  Rolling his eyes, Jensen went toward the kitchen as Tricksie followed him, trotting excitedly, probably thinking he’d give her a treat. He was going to make her obese with how many treats he gave her, but Vaughn didn’t care. She’d lived in a little cage with nothing. If she wanted a treat, hell, she could have one. As he lined up to shoot, he heard the crinkle of the treat bag before Tricksie barked. He shook his head. Jensen was wrapped around Tricksie’s paw.

  Hell, they both were.

  “Good girl. You haven’t eaten any more of my shoes, so here’s another one.”

  Tricksie let out another cheerful bark just as the doorbell rang. Looking toward the door, Vaughn glanced at Jensen as he pointed to the door. “Are you expecting someone?”

  “I know you, the dog, and Wren, and she’s not coming until six. So, no.” Shrugging, Jensen went to the door and opened it. “Shea Fucking Adler! How you doing, buddy?”

  “Monroe! How are you?”

  As they shook hands and Tricksie went nuts barking, Vaughn went to the door to greet his one-time captain and long-time friend. They had known each other since the minors, and Shea was an all-around great guy. Vaughn would basically do anything for him. For example, help coach a bunch of little girls. That was fun, but still, not an easy feat. Vaughn shook his hand, and they hugged it out as Shea bent down to greet Tricksie.

  “Man, she is cute. Your pictures don’t do her justice.”

  “Right? She is adorable, I know.”

  “Cocky even about his dog,” Shea said, shaking his head before standing up and smacking his hands together. “Get your shoes. I need some help.”

  “Huh? What are you doing?”

  “I need help with a couch.”

  “A couch?” Vaughn asked, sliding his feet into his tennis shoes as Jensen did the same.

  “Yeah,” Shea said as they both followed him out. “Brie Soledad was telling Elli she wasn’t sure how she was going to get her couch up into her apartment because it won’t fit in the elevator, and I said I’d come help. I thought it wouldn’t be a problem, the doorman can help or something. But apparently, he’s on restriction from lifting shit, so that brings you two into this. Plus, this couch isn’t cheap, and it’s heavy.”

  Hearing Brie’s name, Vaughn stopped, glaring. But Jensen pulled him along, shaking his head to keep him from saying anything. Which was probably the right call. Shea didn’t need to hear his drama, and also, there was the possibility of dropping the couch on her.

  He didn’t mean that.

  Okay, he did, but he didn’t want to kill her. Maybe just break her toe.

  No one needs all their toes.

  Well, she would if she wore those naughty red peep toe boots she had…

  Rolling his eyes at his pathetic obsession with her, he looked at the ground as they rode the elevator down as Jensen said, “I don’t know why she didn’t hire someone to move her.”

  Shea shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “I don’t think she has the money,” Vaughn found himself saying, and Jensen looked back at him.

  “Don’t be a douche.”

  “What? I meant that nicely,” he tried as the doors opened. His eyes landed on Brie, who was standing by a big-ass sofa, her arms crossed over her chest and her little chin up in the air. She didn’t want this, it was written on her face, but then, no one said no to Shea Adler.

  Well, except Elli Adler.

  And his daughters.

  “Nothing you say is ever nice,” Jensen shot back as they got out, and Vaughn’s eyes met Brie’s. Heading toward her, Jensen called out, “Brie, I told you that you could call me to help.”

  “I don’t ask for help very well. Elli had to ask Shea,” she admitted with a shrug. “Sorry about this.”

  “Don’t be sorry. It’s fine.”

  “Yeah, it’s only six floors worth of stairs, but who’s counting?” Vaughn joked.

  Brie’s gaze cut to Vaughn’s. “I didn’t ask you to help.”

  “Technically, you didn’t ask anyone, but here we all are.”

  She glared, and he glared back as Jensen rolled his eyes. “They fight a lot.”

  “Are they dating?” Shea asked.

  “God, no,” Brie yelled, which made Vaughn scoff.

  “She wishes.”

  “Please.”

  “No, thank you.”

  “No? No, thank you, what?”

  “No, I won’t date you,” he said calmly, which only made her face turn bright red as the rage settled in her eyes.

  “You asshole, I was saying please because I wouldn’t date you if you were the last man on earth and I hadn’t been laid in years!”

  Vaughn paused as Jensen shook his head and Shea looked on excitedly. “Well, that’s not nice. How dare you not want to help the world make a comeback? Do you not care for humankind? It would be our job to bring back the human race.”

  “No, and I’d probably kill you just to make my point.”

  Feigning shock, Vaughn held in his laughter as he accused, “You’re ruthless, Ms. Soledad.”

  “You have no idea, JoHo.”

  Her eyes narrowed, and the playfulness left his eyes as they burned into hers. He didn’t like how quick she was with her quips, and he sure as hell didn’t like that he was attracted to her at the moment. She looked a mess, her hair up in a sloppy bun, her shirt that read, “Real OG with my sippy cup” on it, and tight jeans. She wasn’t his type. He wasn’t sure how many times he had to tell himself that, but for some reason, he wasn’t listening.

  “Well, let’s get this couch up the stairs,” Shea said then, but Brie and Vaughn stayed locked in their heated stare down. “So me and Monroe will get the front, y’all bring up the rear.”

  Holding her hand up, she turned her face to Shea. “I don’t want to be near him.”

  Mirroring her, Vaughn held his hand up. “She’s weak, I can’t lift with her. She’ll kill me.”

  “That’s my plan.”

  Cutting a look at her, he glared as she sent him a sneaky little grin that shot heat straight to his balls. With an exaggerated sigh, Shea shook his head. “You two are like my kids. Jesus.”

  Jensen nodded. “You have no idea.”

  “Okay, but you two are closest in size—”

  “She comes up to my cock.”

  “Actually, I come up to your chest, you prick.”

  “So does my cock when it’s standing at attention.”

  Her eyes widened for just a second as Jensen and Shea sputtered with laughter. “Is that with or without your sexual enhancer? I know you’re getting up there in age.”

  “Damn,” Jensen muttered, shaking his head. “Come on, let’s get this over with before they murder each other. I’ll bring up the rear with Brie.”

  “No, I got this,” Vaughn said then, his eyes still locked on Brie’s. “You’re too tall for her.”

  “Actually, I like my men a lot bigger than me.”

  “Aren’t they all bigger?”

  “Shut up and pick up the couch before I dick-punch you.”

  “I don’t know, my wrists might not be able to handle the lift.”

  Her expression grew sinister. “Well, maybe you need to stop whacking off all the time.”

  He scoffed. “I don’t need to whack off. I have chicks wanting every single piece of me.”

  “For the money, right? You pay a lot? Have to, with how small your cock is.”

  “Baby, my cock is the size of you. Like, head to toe.”

  “You know they say people who have to boast about cock size are usually hung like fish.”

  “Fish have dicks?”

  “Yeah, isn’t that the long thing that hangs out?” Jensen asked, but Brie shook her head.

  “No, that’s the poop.”

  Jensen laughed. “Oh, I get what you’re saying.”

  She smiled as Vaughn glared. “You’re rude.”

  “And you’re a self-righteous prick.”

  “At least I’m not a