Free Seven by Amy Marie Page A

I had him pinpointed. Reece is sceevy. He has slime ball written all over him, and I knew his intentions behind asking me out weren’t above suspicion.
    Ian was the shy, innocent one. Reece was the outgoing, ladies man. Where Ian didn’t have any girlfriends, Reece was fucking almost every girl in our class. By senior year, I’m pretty sure Reece had successfully bagged every girl in our yearbook, and when he turned eighteen, he went after college girls from the community college, thanks to his older brother. But, Ian? Ian seemed harmless. I trusted him. And, even though I used him to get Casen’s attention, it still didn’t compare to what he was using me for. I feel sick every time I think of that night and how my life could have been so different had I just said no to the date.
    “I’m in between jobs right now,” I answer him, taking a sip of my margarita, inwardly patting myself on the back for fucking Patrick over. Then, my thoughts drift over to Thad and Evan. I wonder how much their wives will get in the divorces. I’m sure they will all make out like bandits.
    The table is loud with conversations. I just don’t understand why they would want to spend time together after being in the same building for two days, except Ian. I haven’t figured out what he does, yet.
    “You won’t believe who she used to work for, though,” Casen adds, pulling his stool closer to mine. “Fucking Strickland.”
    “No way!” Ian loudly calls out, making me tense. “Didn’t he just get arrested?”
    I lift my eyes up, finding Reece’s zeroed in on mine. It makes me cower.
    “Yeah, man. He was stealing from his clients,” Casen replies. “I haven’t spoken to him in years.”
    “Me, either,” Ian says. “Small world. So, how did you two meet?” he changes the subject, motioning between the two of us. I can’t speak. Reece’s stare is still holding me hostage. My body tingles with nervous energy. If I allow it; Casen will just keep speaking for me.
    “We actually met here,” he says, tugging me alongside him.
    Reece tears his stare away from me and looks directly at Casen. “Here?”
    He nods his answer.
    “Are you sure?” Reece continues. “You never met her before?”
    Casen shrugs. “No. I saw her sitting at the bar about six weeks ago and ever since, I couldn’t keep myself from watching her.”
    “You sound like a pussy,” Ian adds, making the rest of the firefighters, listening in, laugh.
    “I’m definitely not a pussy!” he retorts and then leans in to speak to me alone. “I’m good at eating pussy, but definitely not a pussy.”
    I feel myself blush with his words and allow, for a brief moment, to imagine his head between my legs and, just as quickly, banish it from my thoughts.
    “Holy fuck.” Reece whispers. “Who is that?”
    All eyes at the table, including mine, turn to see who has Reece gawking. I groan when I spot Trinity. I called her and asked if she wanted to join us. She said she could already use a break from the crazy house her sister runs. She looks smoking hot. I was able to go home and change but Trinity makes my off the shoulder shirt and form fitting jeans look homely compared to the tight black number she has going on. Her raven colored hair is slightly curled and one side is pinned back. Her blue eyes look bold and bright with the smoky look that adorns her eyelids. She is flawless without make up but the added touches make her look irresistible, and it seems Reece’s eyes catch her.
    Her hips sway back and forth as she approaches our table and she brings me into a big hug. “I’ve missed you so much.”
    I squeeze her tight. “I’ve missed you too, but I just saw you the other day.”
    “That’s hot ladies. Keep touching one another,” one of the younger firefighters says.
    Casen smacks him behind the back of the head and wraps his arms around me waist, pulling me in tight. “You must be Trinity,” he says, taking her hand in his. “It’s nice to