Page 9 of Unraveled

“Are you asking or telling me? Because if you’re asking whether or not I’m worried about how this will make my brother feel, I’m going with no, I’m not.”

My grin came quickly. “I have a room at the hotel next door. How do you want to play this?”

“We don’t have to. My little brother is not my keeper. I promise you he’s just happy I’m out of the house.”

Made me wonder if she was typically the type to stay in. Didn’t seem like it.

Meanwhile, she seemed to sense that my conscience, though not putting up much of a fight, wasn’t completely satisfied. “How about you follow my lead?” she suggested. “We won’t be obvious.”

“All right. Sounds like a plan.” I was curious about what she had in mind.

After the song ended, we walked hand in hand over to the table. Russell had returned to his chair and was presently on his phone.

“We’re thinking about getting out of here and going to another bar. You, uh, want to come?” she asked.

I hoped it wasn’t obvious I wished he’d say no.

Russ glanced between us. I noticed Layla was standing a half step back from me, and out of the corner of my eye, I could see her motioning. Was she shaking her head? Giving him cues?

I turned but not in time to catch the movement. Instead, she looked the picture of innocence.

“No. You two have fun. I’m gonna finish my beer and head home soon. I’ll see you both later.”

Yes, he would. I’d promised to help him build a deck off of the rear of his house in the morning.

She bent down and kissed him on the cheek. “See ya, Russ. Thanks for inviting me out.”

I settled my tab quickly, paying for Layla’s beer along with Russ’s, and left a cash tip. I was trying to play it cool while my Neanderthal side wanted to haul her over my shoulder and take her next door to my hotel. I’d had one-night stands, although the numbers of such were few. This was the very first time, though, the matter had been instigated by the woman.

Most didn’t wish to give the impression they were slutty. Or perhaps they simply lacked the sexual confidence to put it out there. But this girl—she was unapologetic about what she desired. I glanced over at her as we walked the hundred or so yards to the front of my hotel and had to ask.

“Were you signaling your brother back there at the bar that he shouldn’t come with us?”

She gave me an exaggerated, “Who, me?” and proceeded to giggle.

“You’re bad.”

“You have no idea.”

Chapter Three

Kellan

It was a good thing the hotel was close—and that we were already walking into the lobby. Since I was actually a gentleman, and sincerely intrigued to find out more about her, I quelled my desire to drag her straight up to my room. “You want a drink in the hotel bar before we go upstairs?”

Her lips curved up in a sexy smile. “Sure. A margarita on the rocks with salt on the rim. I’ll be right back. Need the ladies’ room.”

The bar wasn’t very crowded, allowing me to take two stools at the end and achieve semi-privacy. As I ordered her margarita and a whiskey neat for myself, I realized I was nervous. What the hell? Normally I was completely confident with a woman. I was trying to put my finger on why I was feeling this way when she returned, sliding onto the stool next to me where her drink had already been delivered.

She lifted her glass for a toast. “Here’s to Russell texting me tonight.”

I chuckled. “Yes. Here’s to Russell.”

We clinked glasses. Then she took a sip in what had to be the sexiest way possible, with her pink tongue darting out to taste the salt before she tipped the glass for a drink.

“Now that you know far too much about my baggage, tell me about you. What made you move up here from California?”

She shrugged, staring into her glass. “I needed a change of pace. LA has been very exciting to me for the last few years, but lately it hasn’t held the same appeal.”