Theo choked back a laugh. Once the alcohol wore off, she was going to regret the words spilling from her mouth.
“I haven’t changed my mind.” Damn, he wished he could.
“Right…” She twirled a finger in front of his face. “I see the sex-me-up eyes you give me. You want me b-a-a-d.”
He needed to shut this conversation down. Not only would she regret what she’d said in the morning, he didn’t want to accidentally tell her she was right about him wanting her.
“Ethan asked me to watch out for you while you got settled,” he blurted out. Secrets were a bitch to keep. It sucked up too much energy. He should know, because he’d been keeping one for years and it weighed around his neck.
Chloe’s hand dropped. “Ethan asked you to spy on me? Are you kidding?!” Her voice rose. “I’m gonna kill him.” She sprang from the chair. All drunken talk aboutsex-me-up eyesforgotten.
Theo stood too, stepping in front of her. “Shhh… calm down.”
“Don’t shush me! How dare he think he can do this to me? Do I get spies to chase him around the world to keep an eye on him? No! You know why?” She didn’t wait for his response. “He’s a freaking grown man, that’s why.” Pointing a finger at her chest, she added, “I’m thirty. Not three. He needs to start treating me like an adult.”
“He’s worried about you.” He glanced over his shoulder. They were attracting attention. “Let’s go somewhere where we can talk in private.” He put his hand on the small of her back to guide her.
She sidestepped his touch. “I’m not going anywhere until you explain what the hell Ethan’s trying to do.” She frowned and stared at him for a beat before her eyes grew wide. “Did you have something to do with Henry not showing up? Did Ethan tell you to sabotage my date?”
“No, God. I would never do that.”
She made a scoffing sound as she grabbed her purse off the table and pulled out her phone. “Don’t get offended when I tell you I think you’re full of shit,” she said with a sarcastic tone. “I’m calling Ethan and telling him to stay the hell out of my life.”
Why did he have to open his big mouth? Theo placed a hand on her wrist. “Wait!”
“Why should I?” she snarled.
“Just take a minute. Breathe. And think about this. If you tell him you know, he’ll be pissed at me for telling you.”
“So? You look like a guy who can handle someone being pissed at you.” She waved her hand up and down like his appearance explained his personality. “I’m pissed at you, and you’re handling it just fine.”
She had a point. “True, but it won’t do you any good.”
“What do you mean?” She tilted her head to the side.
“If Ethan is worried enough about you being in the city on your own to send me out to keep an eye on you, after he finds out you know, he’ll just find someone else to take my place. Maybe fly your mother or Aiden here.” Why was he stopping her again? If he let her make the call, he’d be free from his obligation to Ethan.
Biting the corner of her lip she said, “They’d come here too, even though Mya is pregnant.”
He’d forgotten Aiden was newly married but nodded anyway. “On the next available flight if Ethan asked them to.”
Her fists clenched by her side. “I’m still so angry at him.”
“Big brothers are painful. Just ask Blake. He bitches about me to Logan all the time.”
Her eyes lit up, and a smile spread across her face. “Logan… That’s right. Logan. You have friends, right?”
Oh no, no, no. She couldn’t be interested in Logan, could she? He was a dog. Couldn’t keep his dick in his pants for two seconds. Ethan would skin him alive—assuming he let Logan anywhere near her. “Arrh, yes, I have friends.”
She tapped his chest with the palm of her hand. “Then you’re just the guy who can help me.”
Why did he feel like this was going to be worse than helping Ethan? “I’m not setting you up with Logan if that’s what you’re thinking.” He’d rather have a root canal on all of his teeth without anesthesia first.
“No, I don’t want to date Logan.” She shook her head loosely. “He’s a dog.”
Oh thank God, she’d noticed. “So ask your friends for help with whatever you’re thinking about.” He was done doing favors.
“Clearly, they can’t help. I’m done with their suggestions.” She paused. “Although, really, they were only Blair’s suggestions.”
