Free Take It Like a Vamp by Candace Havens

high on her list of priorities. She’d been so foolish tonight thinking Nick might want more from her than friendship. Maybe it would serve him right to think she’d gone home with Linc.
    She didn’t stumble much on the way into the building, but she was definitely half past drunk. For once in her life, the thought of shoveling a burger in her mouth held zero appeal.
    Scooter tipped his hat and whistled as they walked by. “Now that, my love, is the prettiest dress I’ve ever seen,” said the old man. “But it’s only window dressing on the most beautiful girl in the world.”
    Casey reached out and hugged the old man. “Scooter, if you were about forty years younger I’d–”
    Linc gently pried her arms off the old man. “Sorry, Scooter. Our friend here hit the champagne a little hard tonight.”
    Scooter shrugged. “Miss Casey can hug me any time she wants. Sweetest girl in the world.”
    “Sweetest girl in the world. Story of my life. Never sexy Casey. Or you’re so hot I want to fu–”
    “Uh, Casey,” Linc interrupted, “you need to push the button. I don’t know what floor you live on.”
    The world tilted slightly.
    “Oh,” she giggled. She opened her genie lamp purse and pulled out the key card. It took her three tries, but she finally hit the slot and the bell dinged.
    She wobbled as the elevator lifted and then she leaned against the wall and rubbed her temple. “Is it possible to have a hangover before you go to sleep?”
    Linc held up the sack. “I promise that fifteen minutes after eating the first burger, you’re going to feel a lot better.”
    She doubted it. “I hope you’re right.” The hundred hammers in her brain drove her mad. If a Whoop (as in whoop your ass) burger with cheese could take that away, she’d buy stock.
    The doors slid open and she stumbled out.
    “Is he some kind of criminal?” she whispered as she opened the double doors of the condo.
    “Who?” Linc asked.
    “Nick’s your friend, but I promise I won’t tell,” she said in a conspiratorial whisper. “I’m not going to dump him as a friend, even though he thinks I’m nothing.”
    Linc laughed. “Casey, I’m telling you that whatever you heard was out of context. And Nick’s definitely one of the good guys. Why would you say something like that?”
    She shrugged. “So much weird crap tonight and no real answers.”
    Linc put the burgers on the breakfast bar and went to her fridge. “This will do,” he said.
    “No more wine,” she begged. Her fuzzy brain made it difficult for her to concentrate.
    Nick put a glass of soda on the counter. Then he opened several of her cabinets.
    Before she could think to ask him what he was looking for he said, “Ah. Yes. The perfect combo.” He set a bottle of ibuprofen on the counter with the Cokes. “First the burgers, then the pills, followed by a soda chaser.”
    Casey leaned forward on the barstool, intending to lay her head in her arms to close her eyes for just a second.
    Linc snapped his fingers, and lifted her by the arms so she’d sit up straight. “Stay with me Casey, just a little longer. Eat.” He shoved the food at her.
    Her eyes wouldn’t focus, but the huge burger smelled like heaven. She picked it up and started to take a bite. “No. I can’t.” She shook her head. “I can’t eat in this dress. If I got something on it, I would never forgive myself.”
    “I can make you another one, eat,” Linc ordered as he sipped the soda.
    “Holy crap, I can’t believe this is one of yours. Why didn’t you tell me?”
    He shrugged. “I thought if you knew it was mine, you’d choose it on purpose. I wanted you to pick the dress you really liked. I’m glad you chose mine.”
    She smiled. “I love this dress. Help me out of it.” She turned so he could unzip her.
    “Uh, Casey, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
    He couldn’t see her but she rolled her eyes. “You hang around naked models all day. I’ve got the strapless bra and a