Dear Rose 2: Winter's Dare Read Free Page A

riser among the group. And so damn cheery about it too. Like some nervous lab puppy.
    “Whoopee for them. Not for me.” Devyn looked at the menu, closing one eye. “Okay, where is the waiter?”
    “It’s waitress and over there.” Tucker pointed toward a woman hovering by the kitchen. She saw him point and came rushing over.
    “I’d like some coffee, please.” Devyn smiled his electric smile. The one that Tucker referred to as his BS smile. It was designed to charm. He always used it in restaurants and service industry places. He looked up and startled. “Josie. I didn’t know you worked here.”
    The waitress, who Devyn apparently knew, smiled. “I just started.” She scampered off to bring Devyn the manna that always got him going. They’d always joked that he needed an IV of the stuff with early morning classes.
    “Who was that?”
    “Josie.” Devyn yawned again and spoke as though that explained everything. He saw Tucker look at him and said, “She comes into Temples a lot.” Devyn looked at his menu as though it were the most fascinating thing on Earth.
    Tucker stared at Devyn until he looked up from the menu to peek at him, but Devyn glanced quickly back down. Why hadn’t Devyn asked him why he’d called him yet?
    Devyn continued looking down and finally slowly lifted his head. His gaze rose to meet Tucker’s. He looked behind himself first, then met Tucker’s stare. “What?”
    “What? I called you for an emergency meeting. And you haven’t even asked why?” The reason could be as simple as Devyn was hungry or as complex as Ally had already talked to Devyn, and he already knew the problem. The two of them were always talking. It had never made Tucker feel left out. Until now.
    “I’m hungry. I was going to order first.” Devyn’s gaze drifted down toward the menu. “And I’m guessing it’s a problem with Ally. As you said on the message, ‘I need to talk you about a problem with Ally.’” His gaze went back down south. “What? Did she use your razor again?”
    Tucker could beat the man. But he’d probably go to jail. And not only that, Ally liked the infuriating son of a bitch and would be even more melancholy than she already was. Neither was a good scenario, so he’d refrain from doing it. “ No . And that was years ago. We worked that out fine.” Ally had a drawer at his apartment. And Tucker made sure there was a razor there. A woman’s razor. They spent more of their time at Ally’s place anyway.
    “Can I order some food first?”
    Tucker must have thrown a murderous look Devyn’s way, because Devyn shut his menu with a deep sigh.
    “I guess not. So what’s wrong with Ally?”
    Only Josie came back to their table and poured Devyn a cup of coffee, so Tucker still couldn’t state the problem.
    “Here you go. Cream?”
    “Yes, please.” Another dazzling smile tossed Josie’s way. “I saw you last weekend at Temples. You were talking to Quinn. One of my dancers. And Zach. A friend.”
    “Sugar?” She didn’t smile at him. “Yeah. I was.” She didn’t elaborate further. Tucker thought he knew Quinn. But he didn’t know who Zach was. Rose must know. That bitch knew everyone.
    “Have any substitutes?” Devyn batted his lashes. “I’m trying to keep my figure.”
    She giggled. Both of them seemingly unaware that Tucker was stewing at each disturbance. Devyn could charm the socks from anyone. Tucker didn’t need his charm. He needed his knowledge of Ally to help fix this. “I do. I have blue, pink, and yellow.” She reached in her pocket and pulled out a trio.
    “Yellow.” Devyn took the small rectangle with a flourish. His movements were graceful and exaggerated at the same time.
    “Can I take your order?” She pulled a pad from her pocket and clicked a pen, getting ready to write.
    “Maybe if someone had let me look at the menu.” He cut his eyes toward Tucker who wondered how far someone could be pushed before it would be considered self-defense.