Burn (Breathless #3)(6)

“O-of c-course,” the man stammered out. “I’ll arrange it however you like. She won’t know anything other than someone took a liking to her work and wanted everything I had. She’ll be thrilled. I, of course, will tell her she is free to bring in anything else she has.”

Ash nodded. “Good. Then we understand one another.”

“Absolutely. Let me just get the painting in the back and bring it out. Would you like to take them all today or have me deliver them?”

“I’ll take the one with me,” Ash murmured, gesturing toward the first painting he’d seen on the wall. “The others you can have delivered to my apartment.”

The man nodded and then hurried to the back, returning a moment later with an unframed painting wrapped in a protective covering.

A moment later, Ash handed the dealer his credit card and watched as the purchases were totaled. He wasn’t sure what the breakdown on the commission was, but with what he paid, Josie should have enough to solve any money issues for the short term.

The long term? He wasn’t that worried about the long term, because while Josie had no clue of Ash’s intentions—yet—he very much intended that the long term would include him.

Chapter three

At ten minutes past eight, Ash walked into the private box where Gabe and Jace were already sitting, enjoying a drink. They looked up when he entered and Jace waved a greeting.

“What’s your poison tonight? Your usual?” Jace asked when Ash took a seat next to him.

A woman appeared wearing a sexy smile and propped her arm on Gabe’s shoulder.

“So sorry to hear you’re off the market,” she said in a flirty voice.

Gabe looked pointedly at her arm and when he didn’t say anything, she swiftly took it away and then turned to Ash.

“What can I get you?”

He wasn’t in a drinking mood, but he didn’t want to be a damper on his friend’s evening. And it was in fact their last evening as bachelors. Well, it wasn’t as if Jace and Ash were married, but Jace would be. It was the last evening with the three of them still single, and it signaled an end to nearly twenty years of living free and playing hard.

His friends would argue that they weren’t free or playing hard. He was sure they were doing both just fine. Mia and Bethany weren’t any hardship for the men, and they certainly had no hesitations about embracing a permanent relationship.

“Scotch,” Ash finally said.

“Was it that hard of a decision?” Jace drawled.

Ash grinned, though it felt more like a grimace. A few moments later, the waitress returned with Ash’s drink and he held it up to his two friends.

“Here’s to Gabe, the first to take the plunge. Well, the first and the second,” Ash amended, referring to the fact that Gabe had been married once before. He tended to forget that and he was sure Gabe would prefer it that way as well. The marriage hadn’t lasted that long and it hadn’t ended well.

Predictably, Gabe scowled, though he did raise his glass.

“Mia is the only one that counts,” Gabe said.

Jace nodded. “Definite upgrade from Lisa. You did good.”

“Says the woman’s brother,” Ash snorted.

Jace lifted an eyebrow in Ash’s direction. “You saying Mia’s not a good choice?”

“As if. Don’t give Gabe any reason to want to kick my ass. Don’t want the man wearing a black eye for his big day tomorrow.”

Gabe snorted. “Who the hell says it’ll be me wearing the black eye? I’ll wipe the floor with you, ass**le.”

Ash rolled his eyes and sank back into the comfortable chair. “So is this what it’s come down to for us? Sitting around like old farts the night before the wedding?”

“Yeah, well, you don’t have a woman to go home to and explain anything wilder,” Jace said dryly. “Mia and Bethany would both have our asses if we had anything resembling a true bachelor party. So yeah, this is as good as it gets. Sorry.”

“We’re getting too old for that shit anyway,” Gabe muttered. “Acting like a bunch of frat boys with their first piece of ass isn’t my idea of a good time anymore.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Jace said.

“Well, when you put it that way so will I,” Ash added. “Damn, were we ever that bad?”

Gabe laughed. “We were a bit more discerning, but yeah, you can’t tell me you don’t remember our days in college. Lots of drinking and sex. Not necessarily in that order.”

“At least I remember all the women I slept with,” Jace said.

“That’s because you have Ash to remind you,” Gabe shot back. “I don’t tag team so I don’t have someone to remind me of everyone I f**ked because I wasn’t f**king them with best friends.”

“Now there’s an image,” Ash drawled. “That’s probably the only thing we never tried. A foursome.”

Jace laughed. Even Gabe joined in as they continued to give each other shit.

Several drinks later, Gabe kept checking his watch and it amused Ash. The man couldn’t wait to get home to Mia. Forgoing any of the traditions of not seeing the bride the night before or day of, Gabe would be going to bed with Mia, waking up with her in the morning and probably make her late for the ceremony by getting a head start on the honeymoon.