His libido was offended that this gorgeous creature wanted to be “just friends,” but Sebastian had to admit he was intrigued . . . and it was a smart idea. “So basically if we act like we’re together, no one’s going to hit on us or try to push us into a date?”

She snapped her fingers. “Bingo. Awkwardness solved. It’s like we’ll be in on the joke. We can share phone numbers and everything.”

“You sure?” He couldn’t help but tease her a bit. “Lots of eligible men at these things.”

She actually shuddered. “I’m positive. I mean, you’re pretty harmless so I’d rather be with you.”

And now his libido really was offended. Harmless? Him? He’d been known to seduce at twenty paces just with a smoldering look. “Harmless, eh?”

She moved in and patted his chest. “Don’t be offended. It’s because I know you now. It wasn’t a jab at your manhood.”

He shrugged and pulled his phone out again. A safety date would be just the thing. He could avoid being set up because he already had a “date.” He could avoid other women who were looking for a man at a wedding—because there were always a few—and no one who looked at Chelsea would think she was with Sebastian platonically. She was perfection in high heels. “All right,” he said, sliding his thumb over his phone. “Give me your number, Safety Girl.”

Chelsea laughed and reached between her cleavage to pull out her phone, where it was tucked away between her breasts. He tried not to stare at that, he really did.

And he tried not to wish that it wasn’t a safety thing after watching those tits produce that tiny phone.

A safety date was a good thing, he told himself.

They exchanged numbers and then she beamed at him, trotting off down the hall. “I really need to send this back to its owner,” she said, holding up the lashes. “See you in a few, Safety Date.”

“Call me SD,” he called back after her, grinning, and her laughter floated down the hall. He found himself smiling despite the absurd situation, and headed back for the dinner party. Sure enough, it was turning into couples-fest. He sat down and pulled out his phone.

Sebastian: You called this one. I’m pretty sure we’re the only ones here without a hookup agenda.

Her reply came a moment later.

Safety Date Chelsea: Told you!!

Sebastian: Just so we’re clear, this isn’t a roundabout relationship thing? It’s just a friendship thing?

Safety Date Chelsea: God no, no relationships. I’ve had enough of men.

He thought of the bruise he’d got a flash of on her inner thigh and wondered. But then the dinner party started, he put away his phone, and Chelsea appeared from the restroom with her friend, all smiles and bouncy hair and charming personality.

And he forgot all about the bruises for a while and just enjoyed himself.

That night, when he went home, he pulled out his sketch pad and pencils. He immediately began to draw a rounded face, big, shining eyes, and wavy blonde hair. She was so happy and carefree, how could he not draw her? She reminded him of the pinup girls of old.

Friend or not, he suspected that Chelsea Hall was going to be art inspiration for a long time to come.

Chapter Five

“A safety date is genius, baby girl,” Pisa said as they skated through Central Park the next day. “I’m so proud of you.”

“I’m proud of me, too,” Chelsea admitted. “I didn’t freak out once at the entire dinner party. Maybe it was because there were so many people around who I knew from my college days that it didn’t bother me. I even spent a few minutes alone with Sebastian and didn’t lose my cool. It’s like my brain has categorized him as safe.”

“That’s great! You’ve totally got this, Chesty,” Pisa gushed. She sped up, then hopped over a particularly bad crack in the pavement. Chelsea did the same, then skated up to her friend’s side again. Pisa grabbed her by the elbow pad and steered her around an old couple, and then they raced past a few particularly slow people.

Derby practice was twice a week for the league, which consisted of drills and scrimmages and training the fresh meat. On Friday nights, she had Rag Queens team practice. But like most women who lived and breathed derby, there were never enough hours on skates, and she and Pisa had taken to skating through Central Park on a daily basis to get exercise. It was Pisa’s lunch hour, which meant the park was full of people walking their dogs and suits taking their lunchtime strolls in addition to the usual park crew.

Pisa started skating backward and eyed Chelsea. “So, can we talk?”

“Of course. What’s up?”

“I got the promotion. Double pay plus incentives.” Pisa wiggled her eyebrows and lifted her forearm for a congratulatory bump.

Chelsea squealed and grabbed Pisa around the waist, knocking them both into the grass. They went tumbling, a tangle of skates, yoga pants, and laughing hugs. Chelsea wiggled against her friend, stoked. “Oh, my god! Congrats! That’s so awesome.”

Pisa giggled and thumped Chelsea on the back. “I know! I’ve been waiting for this opportunity forever!”

“They’d be dummies to pass up a financial analyst as badass as you,” Chelsea said proudly. “So this means . . .”

“Yep,” Pisa said, and the worried look came back to her face. She propped up her elbow in the grass and plucked at a few blades. “Austin. Permanent relocation. I mean, the good thing is that it’s a derby town. The bad thing is . . .”

That she’d be leaving Chelsea. And Chelsea had a hard time with being alone. She squished down the panicky feelings and gave Pisa another squeeze. “Don’t be a tool, Pisa. This is the opportunity you wanted. Of course you’re moving to Austin!”

“You sure?”

Chelsea snorted. “What, you gonna stay here because your roomie can’t handle shit? I’ll get another roommate. Cherry said she was looking for a place.”

“Cherry doesn’t work. How you gonna pay for a two bedroom NoHo walk-up on your soap sales?”

Chelsea waved a hand. “I’ll figure something out. Don’t you worry about me. Seriously. Let’s talk about you and Austin! When do you go?”

“Next week?”

So soon? She swallowed her fear and thumped Pisa’s helmet. “I’m so stoked for you!”

Pisa gave her a tiny smile. “Maybe I’ll try that banked track stuff, too. It’s big in Austin. I’ll play both leagues for a bit or something. I don’t know. You sure you’re cool?”

“Of course. I’d never hold you back.” Chelsea squeezed Pisa’s sports-gloved hand. “You’ve been there for me every step of the way for the last three years. You’re the one who picked me out of the crowd at tryouts and told me to get my bitch-ass into a pair of skates. I adore you and want the best for you. I’ve leaned on you for a while, and it’s time for me to make it on my own.”

Pisa’s eyes glimmered with tears. “I was so afraid of telling you. I know this can’t be easy.”

Chelsea squeezed her in an elbow-padded hug. “I don’t care if it’s easy or not. It’s what you have to do.”

After a bit more hugging, they dusted the grass off of their gear and resumed their breakneck skate around the park. Chelsea kept the beaming smile on her face, but inwardly, she was torn. Pisa was her rock, the person she could count on at all times to be there for her. She couldn’t keep her from such an awesome promotion, not when it would mean so much money and success for her.

But . . . what would it mean for Chelsea? She’d just have to suck it up and cope. Somehow. But New York was going to be a lot less fun without Pisa around.

*   *   *

“Top rope or lead climb today?” Sebastian asked Hunter. He adjusted his climbing harness and double checked it one more time before he glanced over at his buddy.