***

“We can all go,” Memphis says sternly to Madison, “then come back here, and we’ll all go out to dinner.”

“I’m sure the guys don’t really want to go shopping and then to dinner with your sister, Memphis,” she replies with an exaggerated eye roll.

He looks back at them, and despite the aviators they are all wearing, I can tell she is right.

“I’ll go,” Billy offers.

Memphis’s head whips around, and in a gruff tone, he says, “Thanks.” He looks at me, then at Madison. “See? It’ll be fun.”

“Pedicures and bikini waxes sound like fun?” she shoots at him.

“Watching might be,” River chimes in.

“I’m driving. Let’s roll.”

We get in the Escalade, and Madison and I are in the back, Billy is sitting shotgun. Memphis is driving like a normal human being.

“Where do you wanna go?”

“Shopping, the pedicures, then—”

“Let’s get the shopping out of the way, skip the pedicures, and do some swimming?”

She grins at him. “Miami Design District, and I’ll think about it.”

“You do know I’m not loaded yet, Mads.” He smirks.

An hour later, Memphis comes around the corner, while I am looking at a Louis Vuitton bag.

“Are we having fun yet?” he asks.

“She is.” I nod to Madison. “She is looking at the same bag she spotted when we came in. She keeps walking away, but then ends up right there.” I look up at him and see he is smiling.

“What caught your eye?”

“What?”

“If you could have anything in here, what would it be?”

“Honestly, nothing,” I answer.

He grips the bottom of my T-shirt, his lips curling up on the side. “That’s right; you’re more retro.”

“Right,” I say as his knuckles run across my skin, causing my nipples to harden immediately and my face to feel hot, because retro, I am not.

He looks down. “I love the look on you, Tales. There’s only one thing that would look better.”

“What?” comes out in a whisper.

“Me.”

“Tales, come over here,” Madison calls out.

“The queen has spoken,” he mumbles, and I giggle. “You better go.”

I walk over to where she and Billy are laughing. I’m so glad she’s happy, but I wish I knew what it was that was bringing her down.

The entire time shopping, Memphis would show up at the most random moments, always when Madison was talking with Billy, and he always had something sexy and … naughty—very, very naughty—to say to me.

We didn’t get pedicures or waxed, thank the Lord. I can’t imagine having pink eyelids for the next couple days.

Back at the house, Madison holds up a beautiful white slip dress against her as she stands in front of the mirror. “We get to dress up.”

“What’s the place called?” I ask as I push Madison’s hanging clothes to the side and spot my black and white, long, floral, wrap skirt and a black tank top.

“LIV, I think. Memphis and Billy both said it was a cool, chic place.”

I look down at my attire, feeling a little uncomfortable.

“It’s perfect, Tales.” She smiles as she drops her bra and pulls the dress over her head.

After messing with my hair and realizing the Florida humidity is not my friend, I go with a loose twist.

“You done yet?” Mads asks, putting on one more swipe of mascara.

“I just need a couple minutes.”

“Need my help?”

“No,” comes out rather quickly. Madison likes makeup. I, however, do not.

She laughs.

“Go spend some time with your brother. I’m sure I can manage.”

She smacks my butt. “You have the best ass in the world. So jelly.”

I smile. “You have the best hair on the planet and a perfect body, so don’t hate.”

She turns to walk out of the bathroom. “Mascara would make those green eyes pop, just sayin’.”

I look in the mirror, seeing the girl next door. I will once again pale in comparison to Madison’s stunning beauty. I decide to swipe one coat of mascara on my lashes because she’s right; a little pop wouldn’t hurt when I am almost certain I am going to be hanging on to every naughty word Memphis Black rock star says in a club full of beautiful, well-dressed women.

When I walk out, Memphis stops mid-sentence and smirks. “Damn, Tales.”

“Leave her alone.” Madison swats his arm jokingly.

“Leave her alone? I’m going to have to watch out for you both tonight. No motherfucker within a five foot radius or he’s going down.”

His eyes are locked on me the entire time he says it. My gaze is taking in the black T-shirt that fits his muscular build like a glove. He is wearing dark denim jeans and those black boots. He looks hot. So, so hot.

“Let’s roll. The car is waiting,” Finn says, walking into sight.

His hair is long on top and cut close on the sides. Tonight, he has it pulled back and has trimmed his beard. He is wearing an unbuttoned, black button-down with a white tank, black jeans, and black boots.

River walks in, smirking. “Be right back.” Then he walks toward his room.

“Chillz.” Finn shakes his head.

“Hey, at least he remembered to put it away and didn’t bring it with him this time,” Billy says.

Billy is dressed in a white linen shirt, khaki shorts, and loafers. No black boots, I think to myself. He sticks out, but not like a sore thumb. He is beautiful yet much less the stereotypical rock star.

River walks out in a white tee, black pants, and yes, black boots.

After dinner, we stand in line to get into the club, and Memphis is behind me. I feel his breath on my bare neck when he whispers, “Neck porn. Fuck, that’s hot.”

I glance back at him, eye level to his chest. “I like that shirt.”

“Looks better on the bedroom floor.”

I can’t help laughing.

He leans against the wall. “Do you know how badly I want those long, sexy legs wrapped around my waist, Tales?”

I roll my eyes.

He laughs and pulls a coin out of his pocket. “Heads, I get whatever I want from you tonight. Tails, I make you cry out my name.”

I look around to see if anyone heard him. All three of the guys are surrounding Madison and listening to a story about Memphis when he was younger.

“Wing men.” He winks.

“OMG, I think that’s Zach Efron,” I hear a whisper behind us.

“Here we go,” he huffs.

“Is he here?” I whisper.

“Could be, but I am pretty sure they’re talking about—”

One of them taps him on the shoulder. “Are you—?”

“Yes,” he answers before she even asks a question.

“We loved you in High School Musical. Aren’t you dating Vanessa H—?” Again, he cuts her off.

“Broke up with her because she wouldn’t swallow.”

They all gasp while I laugh.

“It’s important,” he says, defending himself or, rather, defending the real Zac Efron.

“Some girls just don’t like to do that,” the dark-haired one says.

“Understandable. I just won’t waste my time with them. I need my girl to swallow. I mean, honestly, I can’t imagine going through life—”

“You ready?” I interrupt him, nodding toward the door.

“She must swallow, then.”

I whip my head around and look at the girl who just said that.

“She does, and she likes anal. Begs for it even.”

“You are a pig.” I try to be angry, but my nerves get the best of me, and I laugh.

“Can we get a picture?” one calls out from behind us.

Memphis doesn’t respond, only looks up at the bouncer. “They’re asking for pictures.”

“Thank you, sir.” He nods.

We walk in, and I look behind us, expecting them to follow, but they don’t. They are denied access.

We walk up to the bar where Memphis orders a round of slippery nipples.

“Are they good?” I ask.

“I’ll tell you later. Have I mentioned how hot you look tonight?”

“Come on, Tales; let’s dance,” Madison shouts over the noise.

It is then that I look around and see just how beautiful the club is. Not only is the club architecturally appealing and extravagantly designed, but it’s a mix between an exclusive lounge and an ultra-modern nightclub, and the people are just as beautiful.