I caught Gia smiling out of the corner of my eye when I said, “Uh, no. We’re still considering our options.”
“Well, congratulations,” Casandra said. “I just know you guys are going to be so happy together! Kelly will be your server tonight, ladies. She’ll be right with you.”
“Thank you,” Gia and I said in unison before she walked away.
“Don’t say it,” I warned, holding up a finger at Gia. “I don’t want to hear it.”
“What? That your bitch-face was impressive just now?” She laughed. “You were so jealous. I could practically see the wheels turning while you were sizing her up, wondering if she’d ever had a thing with your man.”
I considered telling her Rhett wasn’t my man, but I didn’t know if someone might overhear, so I gave her the stink-eye instead. “Rhett has a past, Gia. Just like I do.”
She leaned in, whispering, “What the hell is going on with you two? You’re acting like this is a real relationship.”
I bit my lip while considering my response. I turned around to make sure no one was within earshot before I said, “It’s complicated. The lines may have gotten a little blurred when he was staying with me.”
Her jaw dropped. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” When I didn’t respond, she said, “Briar, are you in love with him?” She mouthed the last four words while her eyes bugged out.
We’d been friends since our freshman year of college and she’d never known me to fall hard for a man. She knew about my relationship with Rhett, but I always claimed it was casual. Convenient. Based on great sex and noting more, so I couldn’t blame her for being shocked.
“I wouldn’t go that far.” Love. That word still scared the shit out of me. “I’m just…” I shrugged. “Feeling kind of weird, that’s all.”
“Define weird,” Gia said, studying me closely.
I sighed, wishing she would let this go. “I think about him. A lot. I think about calling or texting when he’s not there. I miss him.” I tried to ignore her look of amusement when I traced my fingertip over the stitching on the leather menu. “And the sex, well, that’s always been legendary. And I don’t like sleeping alone as much as I used to.”
“How about other guys?” she asked, leaning in, her voice low. “Do you miss dating?”
“No.” I thought I would, but I’d been too busy thinking about Rhett to consider meeting someone new. Not that I could date, even if I wanted to, given our arrangement.
“So, let me get this straight,” she said, raising her hand. “You think about him all the time. You miss him when he’s not there. You miss the sex and have no interest in dating other guys? That about sums it up, right?”
Ugh. I felt like squirming, but knew that would be a dead giveaway. “I guess.”
“You know what this means, don’t you?”
I didn’t think I wanted to know.
“You’re in love with the man.”
“No.” I shook my head frantically. “No way, not possible.” Not that I was an expert on love. I just knew I’d never felt like this. Oh God, was Gia right? Was this what love felt like?
“Um, pretty sure it is possible, girl. And honestly, how could you not fall for him? Rhett Lennox is a serious catch.”
I thought of the stupid lists he made every year, identifying him as one of the most desirable men in the country. I hated those lists. And I hated every woman who wanted to bag him just because he’d made the list. They didn’t know him the way I did. They didn’t know his heart. They didn’t know how protective he was of the people he cared about. They didn’t know how much he donated to charity every year. Or how respectful he was to his mama, even when she drove him crazy. They didn’t know how brave or selfless he was. They didn’t know what a good friend he’d been to my brother and countless others. They didn’t know… the man I loved.
Oh god, I felt sick.
“What’s wrong?” Gia asked, reaching for my hand. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“G,” I whispered, leaning in. “I think you’re right. I think I’m in love with him. What the hell am I going to do now?”
ChapterThirteen
Rhett
I tried to spend as much time as I could with Briar, but I’d been slammed all evening and when I was able to spend a few minutes with her, she seemed off. I wanted to find out what was bothering her, so I offered to drive them home. She’d declined at first, but it was Gia who’d eventually accepted my offer.
We’d already dropped her best friend off when I reached for Briar’s hand. Just the touch of her soft skin was a rush. I’d been making myself crazy thinking about her all week, so when she texted to let me know she planned to stop by the bar, I re-scheduled an important business dinner so I could see her. But when I learned the new bartender we’d hired might be skimming off the top, I had to check receipts, review video, and keep an eye on him, hoping to catch him in the act.
