“Well. He loves a challenge, so I’m sure he’s eating that up.”
I don’t take it as an insult. I am a challenge. When I first met him I had trouble letting down my guard. It’s still tough for me. My spine is stiffer than I’d like tonight. I can’t escape feeling like I’m lying about who I am to a bunch of very kind people—Cris, especially.
“You two look good together. You fit.” She turns her head to check on Benji, though I’m not sure she meant to. She consistently clocks his whereabouts. He’s dancing close to Trish, his lips grazing her bare shoulder. Cris reroutes her gaze to the upstairs lounge where Archer and Nate lean on the railing, drink glasses in hand.
“I’ve never seen Nate this gaga for anyone,” she says, but it sounds like a cover-up for her actual thoughts after observing Benji.
I pull my attention away from my gorgeous date and his brooding brother. When I don’t respond, she winces.
“Did I say too much?”
Sort of, but I’d die before telling her that. “Not yet.”
She laughs. “Told you. I’m a romantic.”
Which might explain why she’s holding out hope for a clueless Benji. If we were friends, I’d give her some hard-knocks advice, but it doesn’t feel like my place. I glance up at Nate. He must feel me staring. He turns from his brother and gives me a wink. Archer follows Nate’s gaze and gives me a bland blink that might be his version of a smile.
“Is Archer always so morose?” I ask Cris. “His new club is open and packed to the walls. Shouldn’t he be happy?”
“I think this is him happy.”
“And Benji is always happy,” I say, unable to resist my curiosity about Cris and her wayward boss.
“Not always. Generally, he’s upbeat. His teen years were rough.”
I imagine any kid who had to be adopted because his parents were no longer alive would categorize their teen years as “rough.” He evidently dealt with it differently than Nate. Benji is as upbeat as a motivational speaker.
“So, you know him well,” I pry. I can’t help it. The look she’s been giving him since Trish arrived is more than a crush an assistant develops for her boss.
“We’ve known each other going on ten years.”
“Wow. Long time.”
“I started interning for William Owen when I was fresh out of college. Mostly at the office, but the entire family would pop in from time to time. Benji hired me to manage his personal schedule about eight months ago, but he’s always been in my periphery. I mean, not just him. They all have,” she amends. “It’s hard not to notice the Owens. They’re each so…unique.”
They are. Nate’s gruff good looks mask a tender heart, Archer’s scowl seems to be hiding more turmoil, and Benji’s joy and happiness are absolutely contagious.
I suppress a smile and sip my martini. Benji hired Cris eight months ago. He’s oblivious, unlike his super-observant brother, Nate.
“Have Benji and Trish been together long?” Not to rub salt into a wound, but I need more details. I don’t tend to hold back, in case you haven’t noticed.
“I met her one other time. She had a meeting with Benji the other night that ran late.” She rolls her eyes. “He’s a player and a half. Any woman would be crazy to become involved with him.”
“You should warn Trish, being his life coach and all.”
“Life assistant coach,” she corrects, holding up a finger.
I laugh. I like her. Way more than I like Trish. “What does that even mean?”
“It means he can pay me more than William paid me. I demanded a raise.” Her tone suggests she believes she deserves it. Interesting. Maybe the “thing” she has for her boss is nothing more than inconvenient attraction brought on by proximity.
Inconvenient attractions can fool you into wanting more. Trust me.
I crane my head to look for Nate, but he’s gone. He appears beside me a second later and runs his finger along the back of my arm. I jump and spin around, startled. He fills the space around me. I always imagined those open cracks would let the monsters in, but look who’s guarding the door.
“Dance with me.” He sets his empty glass on the bar and takes my hand. I check on Cris, hesitant to leave her alone.
Archer is next to her offering her his hand. “Shall we?”
She smiles up at him and Archer slants me a knowing glance.
“Who knew Archer had a heart,” I remark as Nate leads me to the dance floor.
“We hide our hearts in whatever way is convenient,” he says. “Benji with his women.” Nate settles his hands on my waist, claiming me. “Archer with his warm, fuzzy personality.”
I laugh at his sarcasm. “And you?”
My arms around his neck, I sway to the slow beat of the song. We move well together. Just as good as when we’re wrapped around each other on the couch. Or a hotel bed. Or in the bathtub…
“I hide behind giving luxurious gifts.” He gives up his secret easily. “What about you? Where do you hide your broken heart, Vivian?”
“Up my skirt,” I answer cheekily. “Want to check?”
“Behind that sass,” he answers for me. Then he lets me off the hook with a, “And yes, I’ll have a look for it later.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Vivian
There is a strange woman in my house.
I don’t know her but Walt does, and he’s fond of her, given his wide, goofy smile. He excitedly introduces her as Dee. I recognize the name. This is one of the “friends” he lived with while he was in Atlanta. Oddly enough she resembles him. She’s thin with dark hair, though she’s a good foot shorter than him, and covered in tattoos. Just on her arms and legs from what I can tell, but there could be more.
Beneath a pile of black eye makeup are pale blue eyes. She doesn’t strike me as a particularly warm person, but she’s friendly. She’s chattering about how she recently achieved her thirty days of sobriety. Hence the visit to Clear Ridge.
“We’re heading out for tacos. You want to come with?” Walt asks.
No way am I going on a date with my brother and this chick. Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad he has a friend in town to occupy his time who isn’t me, but I’m not hanging out with them after a full day of work. I mentally tack on that Walt hasn’t worked a full day in a very, very long time. I want to vent, but I don’t feel comfortable in front of a guest.
“Can’t. Nate and I have plans tonight.”
Before Dee walks outside she turns, her hand on the doorframe. “Walt told me about your boyfriend. Said he owns a bunch of properties. I heard he’s super rich.”
I don’t know what to say so I nod. My brother also used to be “super rich.” I wonder what he’s told her about our family, if anything.
“The car is here,” she tells him and then she skips outside to climb into an Uber. Walt tells her “one second.” After she scampers outside, he turns to me. “Can I borrow twenty bucks?”
“Is that why you invited me? So that I’d pay for dinner?”
“Don’t be a bitch, Viv. I need an allowance or something.”