The Bacelor: Make A Sex Deal

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” She pointed at me. “That doesn’t mean I’m happy about the lies-I’m not.” Her finger moved to Oaklyn. “And I don’t appreciate not being told and having to fake a trial just so I could bust you two this way”-she winked, an expression that told me she was so pleased with herself-“but I hear the reasons you gave me, and after talking with you two, I can understand them much more even if I don’t like them.”

All this built-up anxiety.

All this worry.

Was really for nothing?

“You sneaky fucking bastard,” I groaned. “You really didn’t have to be in court?”

“Camden,” my sister sighed, “this is one of the many reasons why I’ll always be a better litigator than you.”

I drove my hand through my hair, tearing at the strands. “I can’t believe what I’m hearing right now.”

Oaklyn was out of her chair in seconds, closing the distance between her and Hannah, and their arms wrapped around each other.

And as my sister looked at me from over Oaklyn’s shoulder, she said, “You hurt her, and I will kill you. I don’t care that we shared a womb; this girl means everything to me.”

“I know.” I nodded, finally giving her a smile. “You have nothing to worry about. I promise.”

Oaklyn

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o date night,” I said to Hannah, holding my glass of champagne in the air and clinking it against my best friend’s flute.

“To date night,” she repeated, smiling.

I then turned to Camden and tapped my drink against his tumbler of vodka. I did the same to Declan’s scotch before taking a sip.

Thursdays had become the night the four of us went out every week, hitting our favorite bar for after-work drinks, which usually extended well past midnight. This was our eighth Thursday in a row, and following our first outing, I’d set one major rule, making the three of them promise not to break it.

No lawyer talk.

They’d been good so far and upheld that rule. But I could tell since the moment we’d arrived here tonight, Declan and Camden were dying to discuss Hooked. The trial was coming up very soon, and they’d been incredibly stressed, spending up to eighteen hours a day at the office, flying back and forth to Boston to meet with Easton, Grayson, and Holden-the partners.

So, during those long hours he was away from home, I’d not only been spending lots of time with Hannah, but I’d also been working with the interior designer and redoing our new house, choosing fabrics and finishes and designs that fit our style. And now that my lease was up, I was fully moved into the house.

A move that I loved.

That Camden loved.

And that Hannah loved so much.

She reached across the table and clasped her fingers around my arm. “Have you told Camden your idea for the bathtub?”

“She has,” Camden growled, running his hand up and down my back. That was a conversation we’d had a few days ago when I explained how I wanted a bigger standing tub in our en suite, a size we could fit in together rather than the solo tub we currently had. “And she knows she can do anything she wants.”

“But I’ve decided not to do it,” I told her, glancing between Camden and Hannah, grinning. “Because I think I have a much better idea.”

“Oh?” Hannah questioned.

“Instead of allocating the money toward a new bathroom design, I’ve decided we should put it toward a condo that I found. A super-charming two-bedroom, two-bathroom in West Hollywood. It’s in the perfect neighborhood, where rental prices are currently exploding, and it’ll get scooped up and rented in seconds.”

Declan loosened his tie, pulling it several inches down from his throat. “Your second investment property. Big moves. I like it.”

I looked at Camden again. “Except this one would be ours.”

Camden slipped his arm around my shoulders and gave me a light kiss. “The first of many that’ll be ours.”

“If you guys keep it up, you’re going to have more than a side hustle on your hands; you’re going to have a full-time gig,” Declan informed us.

“That’s the plan,” Camden responded. “And if Oaklyn doesn’t want to manage it, we’ll hire someone.”

With Hannah’s hand still on my arm, she squeezed. “You’d give up your job?”

I nodded. “I really think I would.”

“But I thought you loved it?” she asked. “And you’re their President’s Club winner year after year. Would they even let you leave?”

I laughed. “Well, they’d have no choice, and you’re right; I do really enjoy my job, but I’m starting to dig property management, too, now that I’m managing Camden’s condo. I think, for a while, I’ll still do both. But if we continue to add more condos to our portfolio, which is our goal, I might make the switch.”

“And she’s so fucking good at it,” Camden added. “Dealing with the tenant, scheduling repairs, handling the rent, and bookkeeping. Shit, I haven’t found anything she’s not good at.”

“Because she’s a badass bitch,” Hannah joked, gazing into my eyes when she continued, “But, for real, you are.”

She was just about to release my arm, and I stopped her. “We both are.”

“You’re absolutely fucking right about that,” Declan declared, swallowing the rest of his scotch. “You badass women need to keep yourselves occupied for a second while I steal Camden away.”

I shook my head, smiling. “I knew it. I can see it on both of your faces. You just can’t help yourselves, can you? Unplugging is virtually impossible.”

Declan stood, pointing at his chest. “Hey, I made it how many weeks without breaking your rule?”

“You can talk shop at the table, you know,” Hannah said to Declan. “Oaklyn won’t spank you if you do.”

Declan shook his head and clasped Camden’s shoulder. “I’ll spare her the details and leave the spanking for Camden.”