What I’d said to her initially was true—I wasn’t ready to call the date to a close, but I’d had no idea that seeming to take the option of meeting the boys off the table would have had her running for Bar None like her shoes were on fire.
Of course, I could think of another way to extend proceedings, that didn’t involve introducing her to the likely hot mess which was the Cygnus guys on a night out. But then there was also the plan, and Fox would probably have gutted me like a fish if I’d failed to carry it out, or if he knew I’d already majorly deviated from it.
As we entered the bar, I was hit with a last minute pang of regret about what I was leading Rose into. We’d gotten on so well at dinner, where the conversation, jokes, and wine had flowed easily. There was definitely a connection, and chemistry there, above and beyond the amazing sex we’d already shared, and suddenly I felt like I was trashing all of that, and throwing her to the wolves.
On the other hand, I knew it was what I had to do, and what needed to be done. But back when it was just another step in Fox’s larger scheme, I hadn’t anticipated giving this much of a fuck about it, or about her. I needed to keep my conscience in check, and remember the very valid reasons for the plan in the first place. I definitely needed to remember that I was doing it all for Fox.
I heard the guys before I saw them—obviously they were having a great night, also.
“Let me guess, your friends are the group in the back corner?”
“Bingo. What gave it away?” I grinned, obviously yanking her chain.
“Um... I don’t know, but it could be the fact that they are a bunch of Kane clones—hot, well-dressed, monied-frat-boy types.”
“I’m not...”
“Well-dressed? Hot?” Her grin matched mine, and the twinkle was still in her eye.
“A frat-boy type.”
“Okay. You keep telling yourself that. Over here in the real world, shall we find a table, or are we literally going to join the brothers, and spend the rest of the night trying to see who can toss the most peanuts in the air and catch them in our mouths without choking?”
“That’s not what we...” She nudged me in the ribs as I spoke, and when I looked back across at the guys, Drew was throwing peanuts in his mouth and catching them. Fuck. Fox on the other hand was staring our way like a psycho. Double fuck.
I ushered Rose over to a vacant table on the opposite side of the room. “Okay, so probably best we sit over here.”
She was laughing and taking it all in good humor. “Yeah probably for the best.”
“What can I get you to drink?” We’d settled in our seats, and I’d purposely made sure that Rose had her back to the guys.
“No, no, let me get these. You paid for dinner.”
“I’mma pretend I didn’t hear that. Can I buy you a drink, please.”
“Okay, okay.” She put her hands up in surrender. “Can I get a root beer, please.”
“You’re sure? You don’t want a cocktail, or beer, or wine?”
“Are you trying to get me drunk?” She narrowed her eyes, and I wasn’t sure if she was serious, or joking.
“No, just making sure you have whatever your heart desires.”
“Well this tipsy heart desires root beer. Please.”
“Got it. BRB.”
On the way to the bar, I fired off a text to Fox.
ME: Dude, I said tone down the fucking psycho, not ratchet it up to 1000. You asked me to help you with this, and I’m happy to, but I’m going to be hella pissed if I put in all this work and you fuck it up because you can’t contain your crazy.
FOX: Suck a dick.
ME: Honestly, if it would get you acting right, I’d get down on my fucking knees right now, and suck yours in front of this whole room of people.
FOX: Don’t let your fingers write checks your mouth can’t cash.
ME: Try me…
I tucked the phone back into my pocket, bought the drinks, and headed back to the table.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, of course. Why shouldn’t it be?”
“Oh, no reason, just that I saw that you were texting as you crossed the room, and now you look kind of stressed is all.”
“Oh, I’m not stressed. Not really. Just some family shit I needed to take care of quickly.”
She didn’t exactly look convinced, but didn’t push the issue. “Speaking of family, I feel like you know a bunch of stuff about me, but I know nothing about you.” That was an exaggeration. I’d had to pry the information from her about her about changing courses, and she’d moved the conversation on pretty unsubtly, as soon as she could.
“Okay, so what do you want to know?”
“Well, where are you from? Do you have any siblings? What are you studying? That kind of thing. Nothing too outrageous.”
“Oh, okay, well, there’s not a lot to know. I’m pretty fucking boring, actually.”
“Oh, I very much doubt that, Mr. O’Neill. Spill. The. Tea.”
The twinkle was back in her eyes again, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get off on knowing that I’d put it there.
“Well, I grew up in the city. Lived there, in literally the same house since I was born, until I moved here. I’m a middle child. I have an older brother Karl who is kind of an asshole, but okay in small doses, and a younger sister Kerri, who used to be a little brat, but then one day seemed to just turn into a decent person overnight. Growing up, I would never have predicted it, but I’m actually closer to her than to Karl, these days.”
“Wait. So your names are Karl, Kane, and Kerri. All beginning with K?”
“Yep. What can I say? My parents are nothing if not consistent, so once they hit on a theme, they stuck with it. Speaking from personal experience, I do not recommend the same initial as a naming convention for kids. It’s no bueno.”
“Hahahaha, really? How so?” I loved watching her lips as she sipped on her root beer through the striped paper straw that almost exactly matched the red of her lipstick. For some reason, it was a stupidly evocative image that had my dick twitching with the thought of those some crimson-painted lips wrapped around it.
“Well, think about it. When mail arrives at our house for K. O’Neill, depending on what we think it contains, we’re either lunging at the mail box, or trying to run away and deny all knowledge. Then think of all the shit that “mistakenly” gets opened by the wrong person. It’s a fucking nightmare.”
She chuckled. “I didn’t even consider the practical side of it like that.” I was really beginning to love, and crave the sound of her laughter.
“What about you? Any siblings?”
She froze at my words, and the light in her eyes died instantly. “It’s complicated, I—”
“So, are you going to introduce us to your new friend, or are you keeping her all to yourself?” I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone look so relieved to be interrupted. Her face brightened into a smile before she even saw who was speaking.
When she turned to face Fox, it was the most game-changing moment of my entire life.
Chapter 14