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“Have you talked to Ash about life as a Crowley wife?” I ask, trying to find a casual conversation, but failing miserably. I don’t know how to do small talk.
“She doesn’t say much.” Keely’s staring out the window, ignoring me.
“My brother seems very devoted. To an almost unhealthy degree.”
“Yeah, he’s a total obsessed psycho.” She glances over. “Like you.”
“I wouldn’t call myself obsessed.” I sigh, stretching my legs as Roger pulls the town car down the long driveway and parks near the side entrance to the family mansion. “I’m more devoted. I like to think I’m loyal.”
“Too devoted.” Keely gets out first. I follow her, watching her ass sway in the casual dress she chose, a navy thing with a belt around the middle. Even though she’s going for somewhat conservative, she still looks incredible, and I don’t mind her shitty mood.
Though I wonder what’s wrong. It started last night, when I was talking about children. I figured I scared her by moving too fast and that she’d be fine in the morning, but it’s lingering. Like I put the idea in her skull, and now she can’t get away from it.
Before we can step inside, I catch her arm. She looks surprised as I pull her back against me and bury her lips with my own. It’s the only thing I can think of that might snap her out of this funk. I love the shocked yelp she makes, but she relaxes slightly into the kiss, until I break it off.
“What was that for?” she asks. The way she looks at me after getting kissed never fails to send my guts into a knot.
“You’ve been strange all day. I want to know why.”
“You think making out with me will get me talking?”
“I think it’s a good way to break the ice. What’s bothering you, Keely?”
“Nothing. We’re all good. Can we go inside?”
I tighten my grip. “Tell me.”
“I’m just nervous about this, that’s all.” She chews her lip, clearly lying. “Plus all the other stuff, like the blackmail and whatever.”
“Right. The blackmail.” He tilts my head. “How long are you going to use that as an excuse?”
Her gaze sharpens. “I’m sorry, what now?”
“You like this.” I kiss her again. She whimpers, the most erotic noise I’ve ever heard in my life, but she pulls away. “You and I are good together, even if you’re not happy about how it started.”
“How it started defines everything else. Now, will you let me go? I don’t want to be late, and I don’t want to get into a fight with you right now.”
I hold her for a moment longer but finally release her arm. We head inside together and a staff member escorts us to the main formal dining room.
Ash is already there. The girls hug, Ash greets me, and the pair of them split off to get drinks. I notice Keely’s only pouring herself seltzer, which is curious. I assume she’s too nervous to drink. I linger at the bar alone while the girls find spots at the table, chatting away happily.
“Brother.” Carson enters the room. He greets Keely with a stiff hello, kisses Ash with a surprising tenderness, before joining me at the bar. I pour him a measure of bourbon. “I never imagined the day we’d be double dating.”
I snort, sipping my whiskey. “I never imagined the day we’d bedatingat all, period. Except here we are, both of us married.”
His expression darkens. “Yes, here I am, married. While I don’t know what you are.”
“Married,” I say firmly, fighting back against the rising tide of anger. “Your approval doesn’t make a difference.”
Carson’s silent for a moment. His jaw flexes, and I can tell he has more to say, but Ash summons us over to the table and interrupts before he can get into it.
But he’s such a selfish prick. No matter what I do, no matter how well things go, he’s always going to be annoyed about this arrangement. He used Ash’s feelings as an excuse, but now that it’s clear Ash isn’t in any danger of getting upset, he has no reason to oppose my marrying Keely.
And yet he remains silent throughout the first salad course. Ash carries the conversation, chatting with Keely about the donut shop, about Smoke, while my brother glares at the table and says almost nothing. The sullen asshole is going to ruin this night for the girls out of spite.
“What do you think about Keely’s new venture?” Ash asks me.
“There’s a reason I’m so heavily invested,” I say, glancing at my wife. She’s doing her best not to look back. “I think she’s going to do great.”
