A small smile flirted at the corners of Skylar’s mouth. “Look, I’m here to save you from yourself. Because if I have to guess, you’ve probably already f**ked this up royally. You can thank me later.”

Swanny sighed. “I don’t need you to tell me how badly I’ve f**ked up.”

“Yeah, you do,” she said bluntly. “Look, Eden has a thing for you. I think it’s wonderful. It’s obvious she’s not some obnoxious snob who thinks she’s better than the rest of the human population. And she’s very interested in you. While you’re doing your best to f**k everything up. You couldn’t have looked more displeased when she asked you to room with her. She looked crushed.”

It irritated Swanny to be lectured by his own teammate, but at least it wasn’t one of the guys giving him shit. Skylar had a heart of gold and he knew he could count on her to keep her mouth shut.

“Look,” she said quietly. “Eden appears to be a very special woman. I’d say even more special in my eyes because she recognizes the good man you are and isn’t put off by the scars that would put off lesser, more superficial women. And she’s beautiful. But more than the fact that she’s beautiful on the outside, she seems to be genuinely beautiful on the inside. And that’s what’s more important. So don’t f**k this up, Swanny. I know you. You’ll spend all your time befuddled and asking yourself why instead of just going with it. I’m certainly not going to lecture you on not getting involved with a client because hell, the Kellys have made a regular practice of it. Not to mention our esteemed team leaders, Rio and Steele.”

Swanny sucked in a deep breath, embarrassed at what he was going to ask Skylar. “What am I supposed to do?” he asked in a desperate voice. “I’ve already hurt her feelings by suggesting I was just a distraction for her, a quick lay to pass the time and that she’d move on when this was all over.”

Skylar winced. “Ouch. Not cool, Swanny. No woman wants to hear that. That’s more of a man’s M.O. We women tend to be more emotional creatures. Having sex or making love, whatever you want to call it, means more to us than it does to men. I’d say you have some groveling to do with her now.”

“You really think she wants me,” he said bluntly. “Look at me, Skylar. I’m not a typical guy. Eden is surrounded by men a hell of a lot more polished and sophisticated than I am. Hell, she told me we all had to wear tuxes to her launch event, and I broke into a cold sweat.”

Skylar grinned. “Now that I’m taking pictures of.”

“Be serious a minute,” he pleaded.

“Yes, I think she wants you, Swanny,” Skylar said in a more serious tone. “She’s certainly made herself obvious at great risk of embarrassment to herself. She doesn’t strike me as the ho type who’ll make it with any available dick. Most men would be on their knees because she chose them. Any particular reason you aren’t?”

He took a long moment to answer as he grappled with his thoughts. “No,” he finally admitted. “Not a damn reason at all. I’m just not into the whole one-night-stand, casual-sex scene.” He was a little embarrassed to admit that to Skylar, but her face softened in understanding.

“I know you aren’t, Swanny. But if you think your scars make you any less desirable to a woman, you’re an idiot. I see the looks women throw your way. You, on the other hand, are oblivious. You’re so conditioned to see the worst in people that you never notice when you don’t get just that.”

He had no idea what to say to that. “You don’t think I’m . . . ugly?”

Skylar’s face softened even more and she briefly touched the scar that puckered his face. “I don’t find you ugly at all, Swanny. In fact I find you very handsome.”

The door opened and Eden stood there, a startled look on her face. Then crimson flooded her cheeks as she stared at Swanny and Skylar, Skylar’s hand still cupped over Swanny’s cheek.

“Uh, sorry to interrupt,” she mumbled.

She hastily slammed the door back and Swanny swore viciously. “I can’t do anything right with her, it would seem. Now she’s going to think you and I are involved. Jesus, but when I f**k up, I f**k up big.”

“Let me go in and talk to her,” Skylar said. “It’s a woman thing. I’ll explain better than you. Men aren’t so good when it comes to words. Give me half an hour. Go wait in the room with Edge. I’ll be back in a bit.”

CHAPTER 11

EDEN was mentally kicking herself in the head when a soft knock sounded at her door.

“Eden? It’s me, Skylar. Can I come in?”

Eden let out a silent groan. The very last thing she wanted was a confrontation with the woman who was apparently involved with the man she’d just thrown herself at.

With a resigned sigh, she opened the door and gestured for Skylar to come in. Before Skylar could say anything, Eden took a deep breath.

“Look, I’m really sorry. I had no idea about you and Swanny. I know I way overstepped my boundaries. It won’t happen again. I promise.”

Skylar smiled, her eyes warming as she took in Eden’s dismay. Then they softened in sympathy, which made Eden cringe all the more.

“Maybe we should go into the living room to talk,” Skylar suggested. “I kicked Swanny out and he’s hanging with Edge until we’re done here.”

Eden trudged into the living room on Skylar’s heels, her embarrassment growing with every step. Of course Swanny would be attracted to someone like Skylar. She was confident and capable of holding her own in a sea of testosterone. She was kick-ass and beautiful. What man could resist that combination?