“Right? I thought it was. It would have to be a very surreptitious affair to get past Max.”
“Wow, look at you spending too much time on Google again.”
Chiara just shook her head, listening to the two banter. Their easy manner was part of the reason she loved them both.
“Look, no one else needs to know anything about this. In two weeks, it’ll all be over, so can we please keep it quiet? No Max or Parker. For that matter, I don’t even think Astrid needs to hear about this. There’s even a good chance it was a one time thing.” Chi looked between them until they both nodded. “Deal?”
With deep sighs, they finally agreed. “Deal.”
ChapterFour
Liam was pacing the bar,waiting for Chiara to arrive for her shift. She had dropped her identity on him like one of the massive bombs built down the road from where he was currently stationed. So far, he had been for a run, prepped the bar, and stocked up on groceries, trying to burn off his nervous energy at seeing her again.
It was his fault. Who slept with someone when they didn’t even know her name? He should have asked. But then, why didn’t she tell him? It wouldn’t matter much longer anyway, once her brother found out. The man wasn’t one of the best SWAT breach experts in the state because of his forgiving manner.
In all the time Astrid had given him advice on women, why hadn’t she included what to do when you unknowingly fucked one of your brother’s best friend’s little sister? It would have ranked right up there with always wearing clean underwear just in case you got laid or in a wreck. He’d added the laid part; he figured they both applied.
He had missed the rule on always having a condom handy also. How had the Army decided he should be one of the officers capable of leading men into battle? He was an idiot.
Well, however he was supposed to handle this, at least he was sure of one thing. He had been taught since he was a boy that Donnellys didn’t hide from their problems. They met them head-on. So, he was here standing nervously next to the bar, pouring sweat like a racehorse, waiting for his undoing to enter the door.
It wasn’t a problem. They would go somewhere private, he would apologize profusely, and she would explain he was just a one-night stand. Then again, being just her one-and-done didn’t sit right with him.
“Liam?” Oh thank God. He was about to drive himself mad overthinking it.
“Andrea!” he exclaimed as his brother’s long-time server came toward him. Throwing her arms around his neck, she pulled him into a hug.
“You weren’t supposed to get in until Monday.”
“So I keep being told. You look as amazing as ever,” he answered, pulling back so he could get a good look at her. She had been working here for as long as Joseph and had managed to survive his adolescent years also.
“Astrid said you were going to be in town for two weeks? We want you to come to dinner next week. I’ll make sure I have the night off.”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” With a kiss on his cheek, she turned him loose, crossing toward the bar.
“Who prepped the bar?”
His heart shot up into his throat hearing Chiara’s sultry voice wash over him. Spinning on his heel, he met her soft brown eyes watching him with a smile.
“Were you bored this morning?”
“Nervous energy. Do you think we can talk for a minute in the office?” he asked. She motioned her agreement with a nod of her head. He waited for her to come out from behind the bar before following her down the hallway.
Walking into the office, he closed the door behind them, leaning against it for support.
“I should apologize,” he began.
“For what?” Chiara asked, looking at him from across the room.
“I should have recognized you. I would have never…” His words drifted off as he struggled to come up with the right ones. Suddenly, he was struggling with what he should be apologizing for. He wasn’t sorry for last night.
She cocked an eyebrow at him, which only resulted in making him more tongue-tied.
“So, if you had known who I was, you wouldn’t have wanted to have sex with me?”
“Yes, I mean no. Shit,” he answered.
“So now you regret it?”
