Of all the women in the world he could have fallen for, he had to fall for Ray’s little sis.
He and Ray had each other’s backs since grade school. Friendships like that were rare, and he valued theirs.
Maybe he could convince Ray to revisit the don’t-mess-around-with-my-sister-and-I-won’t-mess-around-with-yours agreement they made when he was fifteen. The pact had been his bright idea when Ray had taken a sudden interest in his younger sister Navia.
He leveled his gaze with his friend’s. Ray’s expression registered as irritation rather than rage. Maybe this wasn’t about his sister.
“What do we need to talk about?”
“Monique.”
Damn. Stay cool.
He could do that. Mitch shrugged. “What about her?”
“She had too much to drink. Wants to crash here. Normally, I wouldn’t care, but tonight…”
“You’ve got…plans.”
Ray rubbed a hand over his head. “Can you see that she gets home okay?”
Mitch’s warm cheeks were probably glowing like Rudolph’s nose. “Can’t anyone else take her?”
“I’m not sending my tipsy sister home with any of these guys. You’re the only one I’d trust with this.” Ray placed a hand on his shoulder. “Do me this favor, please?”
He couldn’t tell his friend he’d struggled all night to keep his mind, eyes and hands off his little sister. So he did the only thing he could. He agreed to see her home.
Mitch traversed the room and placed a hand on Monique’s arm. “Your brother asked me to take you home.”
Amusement flashed in her brown eyes, despite the vocal objection she made before gathering her things and leaving with him.
As a kid, she’d been a clever prankster who kept him and Ray on their toes. She’d obviously added Jedi mind tricks to her arsenal, because Ray had played right into her hands. She wasn’t even tipsy, let alone drunk.
They made the ride in near silence, and then Mitch walked her to her door.
She stepped inside. “Coming in, or do you need convincing?”
“Ray asked me to take you home because I was the one guy he trusted not to violate his sister.”
“I’ll pretend you didn’t just say that.” She rolled her eyes. “Because this isn’t the Middle Ages and I’m a grown-ass woman.”
“A grown-ass woman who still feels the need to trick her brother?”
“His stupid rule forced my hand.” She huffed. “If it were up to him, I’d be locked in a friggin’ tower in a chastity belt.”
“Ray loves you.” Mitch shoved his hands into his pockets. “He’s looking out for you the best he knows how.”
“I don’t need him or you to make any of my decisions.” She slipped her arms around his waist, lowering her voice to a husky whisper, her gaze soft. “I want this, Mitch. I want you, and I know you want me, too.”