Chloe ignored the last bit and focused on the most important bit of information. “You’re here in New York?!”
“Yeah, and I’ve booked a table at Lucciola’s for twelve o’clock, so don’t be late.”
Normally, Chloe would be excited to spend time with her brother, but her stomach lurched at the thought of food. “I wish you’d called first. I would have loved to meet you, but I’m not feeling up to it.”
“Are you sick?”
“Kind of,” she answered. She managed to get to her feet and staggered to the bathroom. Clutching the side of the sink, she glanced with horror in the mirror. Staring back at her was a pale face with dark circles under her eyes. A tangled bird’s nest sat on top of her head. She looked like death and didn’t feel much better.
“Wait… when you said you had a big night, does that mean you got drunk?” Ethan asked with a disapproving tone.
“Umm, I had a few drinks.”
More than a few drinks, she amended internally as memories of last night came flooding back. She slumped onto the edge of the bathtub and dropped her head in her hand. Nausea rose up her throat, but not because of the alcohol. This time, it was caused by something muchmuchworse. She dragged air through her nose; it did nothing to settle her rolling stomach. Oh my God, she’d almost had sex with Theo! Theo Campbell! Ethan’s childhood best friend. The best friend who he still kept in contact with.
The same Theo… who’d rejected her. She cringed. Had last night really happened? From the roiling in her stomach and the existential dread creeping up her spine, the answer was yes.
After getting home, she’d crawled into bed and fallen into a deep, dreamless sleep, forgetting about the most embarrassing night of her life for a few blissful hours. God, why had she thought pretending not to know Theo was a good idea? And when he’d recognized her and put a stop to things, she’d thrown herself at him, trying to change his mind. Apparently Drunk-Chloe had the decision-making ability of a rabbit. She slapped a palm to her forehead, which caused even more pain to slice through her brain.
Okay, she could salvage this. New York was a big city. What were the chances of running into him again? She’d keep clear of his club, and then she’d never have to see him again even though every cell in her body wanted to do just that. She doubted she’d ever forget the way he’d made her feel. How her body buzzed with ecstasy when he touched her. How her heart raced when he looked at her like she was the sexiest woman he’d ever seen. And then how the fear shot from his eyes when he learned her identity.
She must have made some kind of groaning noise because Ethan asked, “Are you hungover?”
“A little.” She pushed off the bath to stand at the vanity to rinse her dry mouth with water and picked up her toothbrush.
“You’re in a city in a new country. You need to be careful about doing shit like that.” Disapproval and anger filled Ethan’s voice. “You don’t know what kind of trouble you can get yourself into. There are some fucked-up people around here, and with no one looking out for you, you need to be alert to what’s going on around you.”
“Calm down, Ethan, it was my birthday. My friends took me out to celebrate. Nothing was going to happen to me. I’m thirty years old. I can look out for myself.” She might be a grown woman, but sometimes her brothers, especially Ethan, still saw her as a little girl. If she knew her brother, he would try to get her mother or Aiden to come stay with her for her own good.
As she predicted, Ethan said, “I’m going to call Aiden and see if he has time off. He can stay with you while you get settled.”
“Ethan, no,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Aiden has his own family to worry about. You can’t expect him to fly from Australia because I got drunk one night.”
“Then I’ll get Mum to come.”
“Dammit, Ethan, stop treating me like a kid!” She slapped her toothbrush on the sink and forgot she wanted to vomit.
“But you’re going out and getting drunk.”
“So? It’s my life. Keep out of my business.”
“Oh, keep out ofyourbusiness,” he chuckled. “How many times have you stuck your nose in mine? And Aiden’s, for that matter.”
“This is different,” she huffed. Except she knew it wasn’t. She’d even stuck her nose into Aiden’s drinking, and Ethan knew it.
“Payback’s a bitch,” he said in a smug tone.
“Whatever.” She knew she sounded like the kid Ethan made her feel like, but she was too hungover to care. “I’m going to pass on lunch. If you have time, come by my apartment before you head out.”
“I’m leaving straight after lunch. Take some aspirin, and I’ll see you at twelve.” With that, he hung up.
Damn Ethan and his bossy boots!
Chapter Five
Twoaspirin,aquickshower, one subway ride, and a brisk walk later she arrived at Lucciola’s. She gave the maître d’ Ethan’s name and was led to a table at the back of the room. Her steps faltered as she approached her brother’s table. Unaware of the icy wave washing over her, Ethan stood and wrapped her in a warm hug. Kissing her on the cheek, he said, “Happy birthday.”
Over his shoulder, her eyes clashed and held Theo’s cool gaze.What the hell is he doing here?
