Chapter One (2 page)

“I need to think about this,” she said, her gaze flitting to reluctantly turned from the window of his office and leveled a both of them. Actually, she didn’t. She wanted to jump on it glare at Seth.

right now before they changed their minds. But she really Seth leaned against the corner of Mike’s desk and needed to talk to Blair and Callie first and get their advice. The folded his arms. “Yeah, you were Mr. Suave yourself.”

only man she’d ever dated was Chad. It wasn’t like she was

“Fuck off.”

loaded with experience here.

Mike grinned back at him. “Okay, so neither of us

“You do that,” Mike said. “No pressure. God, I’m handled it well. Not the easiest subject anyway.”

really sorry about this, Abby. We mangled this whole

“If you’d just back off we wouldn’t have this problem.”

invitation pretty badly.”

“Or you could back off.” But neither of them would.

She stood and, despite wanting to end the conversation Which was the problem they’d faced ever since they realized on a professional note, couldn’t manage to shake the smile they both lusted after Abby. Not the first time they’d had this from her lips. “Actually, I think you both did a pretty good job dilemma. Friends for over thirty years, they had grown up of making my day. Quite possibly my entire year. Thanks.”

together, fought together, shared toys and battled over them,

“Oh, Abby. One more thing,” Mike said.

shared girls in high school and occasionally came to blows She paused. “Yeah?”

over them, too, but usually gave up on the girl before they let He pulled a file from his desk and handed it to her. “I their friendship suffer.

want you do the Jackson spay tomorrow.”

This time it was different.

She grinned and took the file. “You got it.”

Abby was different.

“You’re going to make a helluva vet, Abby.”

Mike loved women. He mostly loved fucking women.

“Thanks to both of you. I’ve really enjoyed my time He wanted to fuck Abby. Beyond that, who knew? But Abby here and I’ve learned so much. You’re really too good to me.”

didn’t give him the time of day other than respect as a boss, Before she embarrassed herself any further, she hurried and that intrigued the hell out of him. Usually women fell all out of their office. After finishing up her paperwork, she over him.

hightailed it out of there and called Blair and Callie from her Okay, so her nonchalance bruised his ego a little. He cell phone, scheduling a lunch for the next day.

had to laugh at himself over that. Maybe he was used to the If ever there was a need for her best buddies, it was adoration. Seth always referred to him as the pretty one, now.

because he was tall, with black hair, tanned skin, and blue eyes, Holy hell, what a day.

and he worked out enough that his body was in prime shape.

6

Jaci Burton/
Wild, Wicked & Wanton
/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

So he had good looks and a great body and an easygoing Of course they’d occasionally lost a client that way, but personality, and maybe he used those charms once in awhile.

it had helped maintain their business and their friendship.

All right, he used them a lot.

When a client wanted more from them than just business, they Seth called him a “pussy magnet”. It made him laugh, had to say no.

but damn if it wasn’t true. Then again, after awhile he wasn’t But now they wanted Abby. Both of them.

sure if it was his looks, his money, or his sizable cock that And Mike was a pretty good judge of women. Abby attracted the women. Maybe a combination of all three.

might have been shocked, but she was also interested. He’d Funny, though, none of those seemed to interest Abby seen the flare of interest in her eyes when they talked about at all. And she’d been around the clinic long enough to hear all wanting her. And if anyone needed a man and a seriously good the rumors. Yet she hadn’t batted one eyelash at him in the fuck, it was her.

entire time he’d known her.

Are you thinking this’ll be one on one or two on one?”

Maybe that’s why he was interested in her. He’d never Mike asked.

had to chase a woman before.

Seth shrugged. “It could go either way. She was

“So what do you think?” Seth asked.

interested, though.”

Mike shrugged. “It’s up to her.”

“Which way do you want it to go?”

“We probably scared the shit out of her. Especially you.

Seth laughed. “I want her for myself, asshole.”

You’re a little…much, sometimes, Mike.”

“Selfish bastard,” Mike said, then snickered. They were

“What? My dick?”

too close for Mike to be insulted. “Not if I can talk her into Seth snorted. “She hasn’t been graced with the taking me first.”

Nottingham Monster yet unless you’ve been waving it at her

“I think Abby will get whatever Abby wants. And if she behind closed doors.”

wants both of us, I doubt either of us will complain about that.”

He rolled his eyes at Seth and tossed a file at him.

Seth was right. “We’ve never complained about

“Right. You know better than that. I save the pussy pursuits for ménage before. Just the thought of it makes my dick hard. So outside the clinic.” A fact they’d both agreed to when they set stop talking about it before I have to walk down the hallway up the partnership. Business was business. Fun was for after with a hard-on.”

hours only. And it had worked well for them the past ten years.

Mike shook his head and brought out a couple folders No personal pursuits at the clinic. No dating employees and for Seth to sign off on, but his mind stayed on the woman absolutely no fucking at the clinic. No entanglements with who’d captured their attention.

clients, ever. A firm rule that neither of them had ever broken, If Abby agreed, he’d see to it that she had a really good much to the chagrin of many of their female clientele.

time this weekend. He was already anticipating their party at the club, wondering if she could handle both of them or if 7

Jaci Burton/
Wild, Wicked & Wanton
/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

she’d choose just one. And if she did choose one of them, Except Mike just wanted to fuck her. Okay, maybe which would she pick?

Mike wanted more than that, he’d give his best buddy that.

“We’ll see how it goes, then,” Seth said, handing Mike Mike was the smoldering sex god, though, and Seth was the the folders. “I’m heading to my office.”

one who used charm and persuasion to get the women into bed.

“I’m out for the day. See you tomorrow.”

He was their friend first. Mike just used his sex appeal. They were completely different in their approach to women, and Seth sat down at his desk to finish up paperwork. He maybe that was one of the reasons they had never seriously liked nights after everyone left. Typically he was the last one pursued the same woman before. Maybe that was why their here. Mike always had a date. Or a fuck buddy, anyway. It friendship worked. But Seth had an idea they’d be competing wasn’t often that he would go home without a woman in tow.

over Abby, or possibly sharing her, which opened up endless Seth was more selective these days. And lately, he’d possibilities.

had his eye on Abby.

If she agreed to the party on Saturday night, this From her first day at the hospital, she brought change weekend could be really interesting.

with her. Divorced from one hell of a bitch on wheels, Seth was convinced that no woman, and he meant no woman, could ever make him look twice again. Maybe for a quick fuck, yeah, but more than that? Never again.

He’d looked more than twice at Abby, though. Granted, he wanted to fuck her. Hell yeah he wanted to fuck her. Up, down, sideways, on top, from behind, and every which way.

God, his cock twitched just thinking about the ways he wanted to climb inside that woman. With her chin length blonde hair and sky-blue eyes, her creamy skin and lithe body, she was a walking wet dream. But he also found himself wanting to spend time with Abby outside the bedroom. She was totally and completely guileless, which intrigued him more than anything. She had no freaking idea how attractive she was, didn’t know the first thing about using her beauty and knockout body to wrap a man around her little finger. Whip smart, funny as hell, and innocent, too. What man wouldn’t want to get down on his knees and worship her?

8

Jaci Burton/
Wild, Wicked & Wanton
/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

Drumming her long nails on the lacquered tabletop, Blair said, “You’re killing me here, Abby. You know I hate waiting. Give me a hint.”

“Uh-uh. We’re waiting for Callie.”

“Who’s late, but here. Sorry. Scoot over, Blair.” Callie slid into Blair’s side of the booth and grinned at Abby. “Casey Chapter Two

was sick today, and she normally covers lunch, so I had to wait for Jolene to come in.”

When Abby walked into Torinos, her favorite Mexican

“We could have rescheduled, Callie,” Abby said. “Your restaurant, she spied Blair at their usual booth in the corner of shop is important. You didn’t need to leave.”

the bar. A margarita was already waiting for her. Blair waved Callie raised her hand to signal the bartender for a her over, her wrists jingling with the tinkle of several silver margarita, then turned back to Abby. “Are you kidding?
You’re
charm bracelets.

important. When one of the ABCs calls a powwow, it’s serious

“Where’s Callie?” Abby shouted over the loud roar of business.”

driving music. She slid into the vinyl seat across from Blair.

“You got that right, honey,” Blair said. “I canceled a They all loved Torinos, mainly for the killer margaritas, but bikini wax for you.”

also because they could gossip to their hearts’ content without Abby rolled her eyes but grinned as she looked at Blair anyone eavesdropping. It was always crowded, noisy, and and Callie. Complete opposites, those two. Blair with all her nobody could hear what they were saying unless they were flash and beautiful mane of auburn hair, Callie with her practically sitting on top of them.

gorgeous mocha skin and raven hair. One all style, the other

“Running late. She had to find someone to cover lunch soft and subtle. Blair was an interior designer and Callie owned at the shop. She’ll be here in a few.” Blair took a sip of her a coffee shop. Her two best friends for the past twenty-eight margarita and grabbed a chip to nibble on. “So what’s up?”

years. Where would she be without them? Since kindergarten

“I’ll wait ’til Callie gets here. I don’t want to have to they’d been known as the ABCs—inseparable, sharing every say this twice.”

joy, every pain, and every secret, and giving advice when Blair arched a perfectly shaped auburn brow. “Really.

needed. Right now she really needed it.

That good?”

“I have a problem.”

“That…interesting.” She took a long swallow of the

“Figured that,” Blair said. “So spill it.”

margarita, wincing at the tequila burn. Her eyes watered and After a couple long swallows of her margarita for she munched on a chip to soak up the alcohol.

courage, she said, “You know the vets I work for?”

“Mike Nottingham and Seth Jacobs,” Callie said.

9

Jaci Burton/
Wild, Wicked & Wanton
/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

“AkA Hot Stuff and Hotter Stuff,” Blair added.

Abby shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s beyond bizarre. I Abby nearly spewed her drink and launched into a mean, I wasn’t even aware of their interest.”

coughing fit that brought tears to her eyes. Callie left her side

“How the hell could you be unaware that two hot men of the booth and hurried over to Abby, patting her on the back wanted in your panties?” Blair asked, leaning back when the until she could breathe again.

waitress brought another round of ritas. “Honey, that’s every

“You okay honey?” she asked.

woman’s dream.”

Abby nodded and used her napkin to clean up the mess

“Not mine.” Abby picked up a drink and sipped. She on her face. “Fine,” she croaked. “Jesus, Blair, give a girl some really needed cocktails and lots of them. This had been one hell warning next time.”

of a week. It had been one hell of a two year period, actually.

Blair quirked a brow. “What did I do?”

The past couple days had just been the topper. A pretty good

“Never mind.” How was she ever going to get this out?

topper.

“Well?” Blair asked, once again tapping her nails.

“Bullshit. Two guys, two prominent, rich, successful,

“Okay.” Taking a deep breath, Abby said. “I can’t hot-as-hell and sexy-enough-to-melt-your-clothes-off guys tell believe this happened, but they asked me out. Sort of.”

you they want to take you out. And by ‘take you out’, honey,

“They asked you out,” Blair repeated. The tapping they mean they want to undress you, lick you all over, and fuck stopped.

you until your brains ooze out your ears. And you’re telling me Callie moved back to the other side of the booth to grab that’s not something you fantasize about when you’re patting her margarita and take a drink, her amber eyes wide as saucers.

the ol’ pussy?”

“Both of them?”

Leave it to Blair to give it to her in graphic detail.

“At the same time?” Blair clarified.

“Okay, maybe I have fantasized about being screwed by more

“Yeah. Sort of. I think. I’m not really sure, but yeah, I than one man. But that’s fantasy. And beside the point, since really do think they did.” She drained her margarita this time, Mike and Seth didn’t say anything about a threesome anyway.”

then signaled the waitress for another round.

“They don’t have to
say
anything about one,” Callie

“When? How? I want a play by play of every word,”

said. “You know it’s on their minds. I’ll bet they wouldn’t Blair demanded, her eyes glittering with excitement.