by K. I. Lynn
Everly: I’m not second guessing my decision.
Alyson: We’ll talk when you get here. Call me when you land no matter what time it is I want a call!
Everly: Okay.
Alyson: GET ON THE PLANE! Grabbing my screwdriver if you don’t!
Everly: Screwdriver?
Alyson: LOL It’s how I start my new car. Don’t ask! LOVE YOU!! XX
Everly: Love you too! See you soon! XX
She starts her car with a screwdriver? I think and shake my head. I’m not in the right mindset to think about Aly and all that seems to have changed with her, but I make a mental note to ask her more when I get back to Boston.
I call the waiter over and pay my tab before picking up my bag and making a quick pit stop. Ten minutes later I’m settling into my seat in first class, ready for the near six-hour flight.
I down a glass of wine during the hour-long tarmac wait, which helps me to relax.
When the plane finally rockets down the runway, I picture Niko in my mind, hoping for good dreams as I feel the lack of sleep take hold. No amount of caffeine can keep me up after being awake for over twenty-four hours.
WALKING INTO THE PUB in Newton is like stepping into one of my happy places. It’s been our hangout for years, starting when we were in training, spending every night we could pounding down pints after a hard day. Years later, we’ve officially become regulars.
It’s oddly the same after a decade. The dark woods, rich hops smell, and the dim mood lighting set up a level of comfort and sophistication. Their level of snotty didn’t always like our brand of celebration, but the ladies liked our energy over their stuck-up dates.
As we sit at the bar, I notice they’ve updated the menus in the last few weeks. The items look the same, with a few new dishes. It’s always been great, which is one reason why we come so often.
“Thanks for coming, man,” Cameron says as he signals to Mike, the bartender. “Coke and a Sam Adams.”
I turn and stare at him. “You said beer. Do you think I’m going to turn that down?”
He lets out a chuckle and shakes his head. “Nah, but it’s different since I’m waiting for Ev.”
It’s been about ten years since I last saw Cam’s little sister, Everly. The last time I saw her, she was a teenager and the definition of geek: glasses, braces, messy ponytail, and clothes that were unflattering to her flat body. She used to follow us around, as much as she was allowed to anyway. I always thought it was funny, but Cameron, not so much. Kind of hard to make it to first base with your kid sister in tow.
“Red Sox are playing tonight,” I say as I look up at the screen. The game, the second one of the season, is just starting.
“Why do you think I suggested here?” Cam asks. “Besides, it looks like we’ll be waiting awhile. Her plane’s delayed.”
“Doesn’t surprise me from what I hear about that airport.”
“It’s unbelievable, especially with all the construction. Then again, what airport isn’t a nightmare?”
I shrug. “You fly more than me.” The last time I took a plane was to visit my mom’s family in Greece when I was sixteen. “I can’t believe your sister has been in California for so long.”
“Good thing technology is on our side.”
“Facetime?”
He nods. “I don’t think I’d even know Everly anymore if it wasn’t for that.”
“You have stayed weirdly close,” I note before taking a sip of my beer.
“She’s the only sister I have. Plus, once I became an official adult, she wasn’t that annoying.”
I tilt my head back in laughter. “You mean once you were off to college and away from her.”
Cam’s brow scrunches before he rolls his eyes and lets out a sigh. “Yeah. That. But then I did want to, you know, have a friendship with her.”
“Guess I never really realized how close you were since she’s not around.”
“Don’t act like I never talk about her,” Cam says.
“Not saying that, because you do. Just, it’s not a relationship I can understand.”
He nods. “Charlie is like a brother.”
“Same last name, different situation,” I say. It’s been weeks since I even talked to my cousin. He got a girl about a year ago and disappeared, only to be seen at family functions or when he’s not all curled around her.
“How about this; when Everly gets here, she can be your honorary little sister.”
I purse my lips and take another sip of my beer. I’ll look after Everly because she is Cam’s sister and Everly means a lot to him, so I suppose that works. Besides, how much trouble can she be?
The familiar sounds of Twenty One Pilots “Heavydirtysoul” blares from Cam’s phone sitting on the bar in front of him. “Hayes,” he says into the receiver. A small nod, quick, “Okay,” and then he’s hanging up, hissing, “Shit.”
By Cam’s tone, I know what the call was.
“That was fast.”
He throws back the rest of his Coke. “I was hoping if it did happen, it could at least wait until Everly arrived.”
I shake my head. “Fire waits for no man.”
Cam stands and pulls on his jacket. “Are you cool with waiting for her?”
I nod. “No problem.”
Cam pulls out his keys and unclips a single key ring with two keys on it. He holds them out and drops them into my palm. “Do me a solid, okay?”
“What?”
“Don’t try and pick up my sister.”
I roll my eyes and let out a very unflattering snort. “Seriously, man? We’re talking about your little sister.”
“Seriously. Ev’s not the same girl she used to be.”
“Dude, I’m not that big of a manwhore.”
I watch as Cam purses his lips. “Yeah, I don’t believe that for a second.”
“Well, I wouldn’t call myself a manwhore exactly, but, come on, man, you know me better than that.”
“I do. You forget I’ve been with you when you have met many of your ‘dates.’ Not only that, but if you’re not a manwhore, then what does that make me?”
I laugh at his statement, taking a swig of my beer before raising it toward Cam in salute.
“Touché, brother, but you, my friend, have nothing to worry about here. You know that out of anyone, you can trust me, and we’re talking about your little sister. I would never go there,” I say and look him directly in the eyes so he knows I mean what I say.
Cam isn’t just my best friend; he’s like my brother, which I guess already makes Everly my little sister.
“Besides, I’ve got my eyes on a few exciting prospects for tonight,” I say as I eye the redhead that’s sitting across the bar from us. She’s been eye fucking me since I walked through the door. I’m not usually into gingers, but she’s got a rocking body that I bet won’t quit.
Cam stares at me a moment, looks over at the redhead, and then throws some money down on the bar while shaking his head. He smiles at me before holding his fist out.
“I know I can trust you; I just needed to say it. She’s my sister, and she’s been away from home a long time. She’s . . .” he trails off when he sees my smirk, and then he turns and starts to make his way out, throwing me a look that says, “Just stay out of trouble for one night while I’m gone, would ya.” Asshole. “Later, Niko. I’ll see you at the firehouse tomorrow.”
I continue to peruse the evening’s prospects, noting the lack of options. Then again, it’s a Tuesday.
The redhead from across the bar is a bust seeing as I watch a male companion join her only minutes after Cam leaves. Can’t trust some women. I shake off the thought and order some food and another beer.
A meal later, and the Red Sox are down by two runs. Two hours have passed, and still no sign of Everly. I text Cam to see if he’s heard anything but get no response, which means they’re out on a call.
I weigh my options, which are slim to none, the bar filled with regulars and game watchers.
It’s after nine and it doesn’t look like Cam’s little sister is coming or that I’m going to take home some dessert, so I pull out my wallet to pay. With a nod to the bartender, I let him know I’m ready to cash out, and he holds up a finger. I guess I should tell Cam that his sister hasn’t shown and that I’m heading home.
Just as I’m typing the message and hit send, the sexiest fucking woman I’ve ever laid eyes on takes the seat next to me.
Brunette waves frame her face, which is full of large hazel eyes and full pink lips. Tits that could fill my hands, slender waist flaring out to hips leading to long legs capped with four-inch heeled boots. Sun-kissed skin that I can’t tell whether or not that is her natural skin tone, but she looks like she’s spent some time on the beach. The thought of her in a string bikini floods my mind and has my cock instantly standing at attention.
There is no fucking way this girl is single; she’s fucking gorgeous.
I turn and put my wallet back in my pocket, deciding then that I’m not ready to call it a night after all when the bartender decides to come and close me out. I wave him off, but the hot-as-fuck brunette next to me stops him before he walks away and orders a drink.
“Can I have something fruity?” she asks the bartender.
“Sex on the Beach or a daiquiri?” he asks her back.
“Sex on the Beach sounds good. Reminds me of the night I turned twenty-one,” she says, and before I can stop myself, I let out a groan. Sure, it’s one of those drinks most girls ordered back in the day, but the thought of sex and the beach coming from those lips of hers just did something to me.
I take a moment to compose myself and try not to make it evident that I’m staring, but I can’t help it, and my eyes roam, looking her up and down. This woman has fucking legs for days.
Another vision of those legs wrapped around my shoulders hits me, and I almost groan out loud again. I’m tired tonight after working a double shift, but I want this girl. I know I can work this to my favor, that being she warms the other side of my bed in the morning.
She clears her throat, pulling me from my visual assault and one hell of a fantasy. Busted! Of course I’d get caught. She smirks at me, and I know she knows that I just adjusted myself under the bar. Smooth, Callahan, real smooth. Bikinis, sex on the beach. I’m fucking done.
“Um . . . Hi, how are you?” Um hi, how are you? What the fuck am I, sixteen? If Cam were here, I’d never hear the end of this.
“Fine. Surprised to see you alone.”
Wait, what? Is she serious? Is she pulling my lines on me?
“Well . . . I’m not alone anymore, now, am I?” And he’s back!
I don’t know what happened to me for a few minutes, but the shock of her seems to have settled down.
“I guess. If you call me company,” she says as she looks around the bar before her eyes land back on me and I watch her mouth turn up into a half smirk. Oh, this girl is good, but I know I’m better.
“I’d like to call you a lot more than some company.” What I’d like to call her is mine, for the night anyway.
Fuck, is she hot. Actually, for her, I’d reconsider my one-night rule. This chick is so sexy that I can see myself letting her knock on my door twice. Hell, the thought of taking her back to my place alone is enormous. I honestly can’t think of anything to say right now, and for me, that’s rare. What she says next has me completely struck stupid.
“Going to scream my name?” Right then the bartender brings her drink over and she immediately takes a sip while watching me, and I swear I can see the fire in those gorgeous hazel eyes of hers. They almost look like liquid gold.
Oh yeah. Trouble. This woman is trouble with a capital T. I almost get lost in those eyes, but then I find myself before I have a chance to make more of an ass out of myself and blow this.
Did I just say blow? Shit, now that’s a visual I’d love to see become a reality. If I don’t stop all these fantasies going through my head right now, I’m going to embarrass myself like a teenager about to bone his first chick ever.
“Baby, you tell me your name, and I’ll scream it all night and pray to it all day.”
She stirs the drink sitting in front of her, and I see her suck her bottom lip into her teeth, and all I can think is how great those full lips would look wrapped around my cock.
I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket and decide it’s the perfect time to adjust myself under the bar again while reaching for my phone. I don’t care at this point if she sees what she’s doing to me, but I’m not too keen on Cam’s sister showing up while I’m sporting major wood. I pull my phone out and see the message from Cam in reply to my earlier one to him about his sister not being here yet.
Cam: Dude, just head home. I’ll text Ev to meet me at the station.
I type out a quick reply letting him know I’m heading out and I’ll see him tomorrow, then look up at the sexy-as-fuck chick next to me who is staring at me.
That’s right, baby. I’m game if you are.
For a second there I’d say she is surprised or shocked, but there is no way she’s not used to guys zoning in on her. Not looking like she does. She’s more than my type. I usually go for straight tens, but she’s surpassed my female rating by twice that.
It looks like my night just got interesting. I smile and then wait for her next move while contemplating my own.
I STARE AT HIM, not blinking. Is he serious? He doesn’t seem to recognize me. Hasn’t Cameron shown him a picture in the last few years? Granted, I don’t post photos on Facebook due to my career. It is strictly to connect with my family since I was living three thousand miles away.
I hold out my hand and let loose a lie. “Alyson,” I say, giving him my best friend’s name.
His lip twitches up into a smirk as he takes hold of my hand and pulls it close, pressing his lips against my skin. If I weren’t so mesmerized by his actions and his beautiful eyes, the heat from his touch traveling up my arm would feel like an inferno.
Ten years have passed, and in less than ten minutes, he has me hooked all over again. The last time I saw him was right after his dad died. He was the same energetic, bright Niko, but his shadow was filled with sadness. I wanted to hug him then, to take away his pain, but I was just his best friend’s little sister. Nothing more. Apparently not even worth remembering.
Then again, a lot has changed for me in that time. I finally grew out of my awkward phase and gained the curves my teen years denied me. A little help from Alyson, who I met my junior year of high school, and I learned how to tame and style my hair and how to use makeup. With all that, I finally had the confidence to wear clothes that accentuated my body.
I’m not the ugly little duckling I was when we were kids, following my brother around. No, now I’m the swan my brother seems to think he is forced to scare princes away from.
“Niko,” he says and lets go of my hand, his lips drawn up in a smile.
Oh, I know.
He hasn’t changed. Same vibrant, piercing grey eyes, dark hair, and smile that makes me go dumbstruck. There is energy moving between us, and after the last few weeks, I’m more than ready to run with it. He’s looking at me like an animal looks at its prey, and I want to be that so very badly.
Physically, he’s bigger. Broad shoulders, thick arms, and pecs for days. I couldn’t see them, but I was confident he had perfect abs and a beautiful V showing the way to what I’d always fantasized to be another ideal part of his anatomy.
Overall, his presence is even more significant than when he was a teenager. Sitting here, looking at him now, I can imagine just how large other things have gotten since back then.
God, he’s just what I need right now after all the Tate shit I’ve been dealing with.
An hour on the tarmac and six-hour flight followed by an hour of Boston traffic made me nearly two hours late to meet Cameron. It’s been four months since I’ve seen my older brother, and I don’t want to think about what Cameron would do if he fou
nd out that Niko was hitting on me. I look around the bar wondering where my big brother is and wonder just how long I can keep up this act of being Alyson before Cam returns and this blows up in my face.
“So, where is your friend?” There. The only way to know is to ask. He’ll think I saw him with someone and was here already.
He looks puzzled for a minute, and I know he’s apparently stumped. After all, I am two hours late. Cam could be anywhere now. My damn phone died, and I haven’t had the chance to check my messages.
“I have many friends. You’re going to have to be more specific, baby.”
I look at him and raise my eyebrow. I can’t forget all the stories I’ve heard about Niko. Of course, he’d have been sitting here with another woman.
“You mean the redhead? She wasn’t one of my friends, but I’d like you to be,” he says with the cockiest freaking smirk I’ve ever seen on a man. True, he has a right to be cocky. After all, he’s gorgeous. The epitome of tall, dark, and handsome, but I’m not falling for his shit. Let’s see how cocksure he is after I’ve gotten up enough guts to pull this off tonight.
“Umm, no, not the redhead, but now that you mention it, I’m surprised you’re here talking to me. I’m quite the opposite of her.” It’s a challenge just to get a better gauge on what he’s thinking.
“Not that there is much to compare where you’re concerned, but let’s just say I’ve got an eclectic taste.”
“Let me guess; you’re a ‘variety is the spice of life’ kind of guy.” It comes out more like a statement rather than a question, and I realize I sound a little snippy. Before he can respond, I keep going and decide not to touch that right now and move on to the more important things. Like the whereabouts of my big brother. “Ah, anyway, I was talking about the guy that was sitting with you earlier. That friend.”
He frowns a little, and then it’s gone. Back is that cocky smile he had when he told me he’d scream my name if I gave it to him. Oh, my God, do I want to give it to him.