“It’s not that weird.”
“No?” she said, her voice raising as she squared off with him. “Well, excuse me if I’m not used to a guy eye-fucking another woman while my hands are on him. Or if I find it totally weird that your sister’s date is playing footsie with me under the table while your sister fumes like a jealous wife every time Rori and Luke brush up against each other—which Rori is only doing so you’ll be more into me, by the way. Don’t think I don’t see those competitive glances you two keep sending each other. Just fuck her already, and let the cards fall where they may.”
“But she’s engaged to my—”
“Such a joke,” she said over him. “And no offense, but your sister’s the worst. Frigid as hell, but still wanting Luke to get jealous? That girl needs to raise her game, like yesterday. Luke is nice and all, but he’s totally clueless. Even for a man.”
“I don’t interfere in my sister’s love life,” was all Mike could think to say, even as his mind raced to process everything Sydney had just said.
“Well, that’s obvious!”
“And what did you mean about Caleb playing footsy?”
“Well, what I mean is that the guy is playing footsy with me under the table, but you’ve been so busy sneaking peeks at Rori while I handle you that you haven’t even noticed.” Her face turned thoughtful. “And he’s not bad, I have to say. He found the doorbell pretty quick, if you know what I mean.”
“What?” Mike said, spinning toward the table in reflex. Sydney grabbed his arm and stopped him.
“Oh, please. No need to defend my honor. It happens all the time.”
Her honor? In truth, that hadn’t even occurred to him. Caleb was on a date with his sister and cheating on her right under the table. That was it! Ruse or no ruse, there was no way Kris was seeing him again. Not a single chance.
“But this does present a dilemma,” Sydney mused as Mike fumed. “You all clearly need help. Maybe even professional help. Who knows? But I’m all you’ve got, so what’s a girl to do?”
Mike was only listening with one ear. “I’m going to kill him.”
“Aw. You make such a cute protective older brother. I always wanted one of those.”
“He’d have his hands full,” Mike said, before thinking better of it. Luckily she laughed.
“I imagine he would, but Mike? Look at me.”
She got his full attention back when she grabbed his chin in one hand and forced him to look at her. “Answer me this: what color are Rori’s eyes?”
“Jasper,” he said without thinking. “That deep green with brown threading through it.”
For a moment Sydney merely stared at him, then she burst into laughter and released him. “Holy shit. Rori is a disgrace to the female sex. A woman who could have you, but chooses instead to fuck your clueless best friend because he has a bankroll as thick as a telephone book? No offense, but Rori’s life is going to suck, and she deserves it.”
Finally! Someone was taking the thoughts out of his head and saying them for him. “How do I change that?” Mike asked, stepping forward and gripping her shoulders. “What can I do for a chance?”
Sydney’s shoulders gave a lazy shrug. “Hell if I know. Her kind are brainwashed from the day they’re born to uphold certain familial expectations. And from what I hear, she already tried rebelling and got burned for it.” Her eyes glanced back the direction of the table. “Your sister, though. That’s easy. She just needs to get naked and lay down on your friend’s bed. He’ll seal the deal in record time. Promise.”
Mike shut his eyes against the thought. “Lay off on the imagery, okay? I’m still trying to get used to the idea of them. I love Luke and all, but I always pictured my sister with someone more her speed.”
Sydney shrugged again. “Not your call, big bro. Because once those two go Tab A-Slot B on each other, they’re going to be joined at the hips for life. And that’s a Sydney Barnes guarantee.”
Barnes. So that was her last name. Good to know. And a much better thing to focus on than her Tab A-Slot B metaphor.
“I can’t help you when it comes to getting Rori to break rank with her people, but I can take Caleb off your hands.”
Mike flinched. “Wait. Are you saying—”
“I’ll fuck him,” she said with a shrug, making things about as clear as they could possibly get.
“What?” Mike said. “No way. He’s a total—”
“Asshole?” Sydney offered, completely nonplussed. “Sure he is. It’s God’s cruel trick on women that dicks come attached to assholes. But if Caleb’s hands and mouth are half as talented as his feet, then he’s going to be worth the ride. Besides,” she added, scowling at him. “I’ll fuck whoever I like, thank you very much. And I’d rather an asshole like him, than an asshole like you who is going to close his eyes and pretend I’m someone else. That’s just insulting, Mike. Really. Grow a pair and fuck the woman you want to fuck, not some proxy.”
Mike was speechless on every account. The only thing he knew for sure? He had grossly underestimated Sydney Barnes when they’d met only a few hours before.
“Caleb is going to get a call to go into work for an emergency,” Sydney said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. “And when that happens, you’re going to offer to give your sister a ride home. Then you’ll have the brilliant idea of dropping me by the hotel so I can get ready for our night date and you can go back home and get your own car. Kapeesh?”
Mike nodded that he understood. He didn’t get what she was saying, but he understood the directions. Directions were things he’d been following his entire life, it seemed.
“Good. Now listen, because this is the most important part. Are you listening?”
Mike nodded, not even questioning her authority for the moment.
“Once you get home, Mike, you’re going to gather what you need and make yourself scarce. You’re going to leave and not go back home until tomorrow morning, got that? You’re not going to answer your phone or even a text. You’re just going to get lost so that there is plenty of room for your sister and your friend to get tangled up without fear of interruption. Got it?”
No. That image was one his mind still refused to compute.
“Mike,” she snapped, her tone losing what little patience it had. “Do you want a shot with Rori?”
He took a deep breath, feeling like he was betraying Luke just by saying the word, “Yes.”
“Then go home and get lost. Twenty-four hours. Then your friend will fuck your sister instead of Rori, and this twisted dynamic you all have got going for you will have a shot at correcting itself. That’s all the help I can offer you.” Her hands came up then, and adjusted her cleavage. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to go see if I can get your sister’s ‘boyfriend’ to blow his load under the table without your sister even blinking an eye.” She gave her breasts a light pat, letting them bounce for him. “Think about it, Mike, these beauts could have been yours tonight.”
He eyed them, part of him wanting to reach out for the goodbye caress he knew she would allow him, while another part felt relieved that Sydney was taking them off the table.
“But you’d rather have a very specific pair of B-cups in your paws, wouldn’t you?” she said with a touch of confusion pursing her lips. “I can see it in your eyes. Hmm. That’s a new one.”
“I don’t pretend to understand it myself,” Mike said honestly.
“Yeah. Well, good luck with that, I guess.”
“Thanks.”
She stuck her hand out for a platonic shake. “Well, Mike. It was fucked up meeting you, but at least one of us is going to get laid out of the deal.”
Mike couldn’t help it. He laughed as he clasped her hand in his. “And Sydney, I’m pretty sure I’ll remember you until the day I die.”
She gave his hand a solid shake to match the authoritative tone in her voice. “I’m going to friend you on Facebook, and you’d better accept me. Because you better bet that
I’m going to cyber stalk you to see how this shit storm plays out. You owe me that much.”
“And more,” he said.
“Damn straight,” she said, releasing his hand and heading back to the table without a backwards glance.
Chapter 24
Once they got back to Luke’s place, everyone seemed content to scatter. Rori wasn’t sure about anyone else’s motives but she needed some time to think.
It wasn’t going to work. No matter how she looked at the situation, she came to that same conclusion. The whole thing with Luke and her was doomed for as long as Kris was in the picture.
And Kris would always be in the picture.
How the two of them had stayed away from each other as long as they had was beyond Rori. Apparently they had Mike to thank for that. But if Rori was reading Mike’s signals correctly, he didn’t intend to stand in their way much longer.
Rori had no doubt that Kris knew what she wanted with Luke. Luke was the only one who seemed confused—as if his mind was stuck in a place of considering Kris a sister even though he was completely in love with her.
Someone needed to tell Luke that he wasn’t Kris’s brother. Someone needed to give him permission to do what he’d probably wanted to do for half his life. And if no one else planned on doing it, it might as well be Rori. After the day she’d had, there was no point in pretending that things would get better rather than steadily worse between her and Luke.
Luke belonged with Kris, and Rori belonged in New York. She had put off her arrival there three days so she could come home with Luke and learn if they had a future. Well, she’d gotten her answer. Now she just needed to let Luke know her decision…as soon as she finished up with the airline.
“Okay, Miss Townsend, it looks like we can move your flight up to this evening’s red eye. You will arrive in New York at 7:30 a.m. local time, and we can keep you in business class.”
“Perfect,” Rori said. “I’ll take it.”
“Excellent, and would you like me to check you in for the flight while we are on the phone?”
“Yes. And assign me a bulkhead seat if one is available.”
“Window or aisle?”
Rori thought of Luke and smiled. It would be night, so it didn’t really matter. Still, she said, “Window.”
“Okay. You’re all set then, Miss Townsend. Anything else I can do for you?”
“Nothing at all. Thank you.”
After they hung up, Rori went through the guest room again to make sure she wasn’t leaving anything behind. The place was just as she found it.
“Just one more thing to do,” she muttered to herself and headed down the stairs and left her suitcase just inside the front door.
She wasn’t quite sure what she would say yet. She’d never had a conversation quite like this before, where she would be telling the man she was dating to date someone else. It felt right, and in the end she was sure it was the right move, but that wouldn’t make the conversation any less awkward.
Still, best not to think about it too hard. When it came to things like this it was best to just get the ball rolling and let things unfold organically.
Rori took in the quaint little neighborhood one last time from Luke’s front porch. After today she would never see it again. She should have taken the time to sketch it. That was her last thought before she opened Luke’s front door and nearly ran into Mike. They both flinched back, clearly not expecting to see each other.
“Sorry,” she said noting his overnight bag and computer case.
“Didn’t hear you,” he said, looking a little guilty.
“Same here.” She gave his bags a pointed look. “You headed somewhere?”
“Just for the night.”
Oh. Of course. His date with Sydney. How stupid could she be? “Have fun.” Did she seriously just say that? “Do you know where Luke is?”
She could have sworn she saw panic in Mike’s eyes. “I, ah, well, he’s downstairs. With Kris. They’re kind of talking, I think. I dunno. I’m staying out of it.”
Rori mustered up a smile and started past him.
“Where are you going?” he asked, grabbing her arm.
“Downstairs,” she said, not pulling out of his grip but sending him a warning look even as her heart picked up its pace. The traitor. “To Luke.”
“I, uh, well, he’s not the best multi-tasker. Maybe if you just wait for him up here you’ll have better results.”
This time Rori did pull out of his grip and started for the top of the stairs. “Mike, while I appreciate your attempt to think for me, I’m pretty sure I can handle this all by myself.”
He fell in step behind her. “I didn’t mean to… I mean, I’m just saying that the vibe was wonky when they went down there. Sometimes it’s best not to step in the middle of that.”
“And sometimes it’s exactly for the best,” she said, starting down with Mike no more than a step behind.
Chapter 25
Mike was trying not to freak out. Before Kris and Luke had disappeared downstairs they’d been having the kind of argument that led to one of two things. Sydney had totally called it. One little push and his best friend and his sister would fall straight into bed.
Mike was ready to accept it, but that didn’t mean that Rori needed to see it. If only she would just listen, or stop walking, or both. But she didn’t. She wouldn’t. And when she opened the door to the downstairs all Mike could do was thank his lucky stars that both Kris and Luke were fully clothed and standing a good three feet apart. Neither of them heard the door open, though. They were both too busy arguing.
“You deserve better!” Luke said, punching the wall for emphasis.
“Who are you to choose what’s best for me? If I love Caleb—”
“You do not love that asshole!”
“Yeah? And why shouldn’t I? He’s smart, funny, and talented. He sends me flowers at work and pulls out chairs for me. Why shouldn’t I like a man like that?”
Luke stepped forward, bringing their faces inches from each other. “Because he’s a player. He does that shit to pave the way into your pants.”
Kris didn’t step back. “And what if I don’t mind having a guy in my pants? What if I like it?”
“Oh, so you’re into random fucking now, is that it?” Luke sneered. “Any man will do?”
“I—”
Mike started to push past Rori, ready to rip his friend’s head off, but Rori stopped him in his tracks with a light touch to let Luke do the interrupting.
“Any guy who buys you a bunch of flowers these days has an all-access pass? I had no idea so much changed while I was in Thailand.”
Rori stepped forward. “Nothing changed in Thailand, Luke.”
Kris and Luke spotted her at the same time and flinched away from each other as if burned.
“Rori,” Luke breathed, and Mike braced himself for the worst. “That wasn’t—”
“It was,” Rori said gently. “It’s called foreplay, Luke. And the answer to the frustration you’re feeling right now lies in a kiss—and not a gentle one. One that lets Kris feel how much you need her.”
Kris stepped forward. “Rori, you have it all wrong. He would never—”
“He should,” Rori said, looking at both of them in turn. “That’s what I came down here to say.” She looked at Kris, shaking her head. “Stop it with this Caleb crap, Kris, and tell Luke the truth. Tell him where you want his hands, his mouth—who you want them on.”
Kris pinked visibly and Mike felt his own cheeks go a little hot at Rori’s overly frank advice. But Luke just grew very still, his hands fisting at his sides as he looked at Kris.
“That’s the conversation you two need to have right now,” Rori added. “And trust me, it’ll be a short one. Don’t come up until you’ve had it, okay?”
Then, just as quickly as she’d entered, Rori spun on her heel and exited, dragging Mike behind her.
“Shut the door,” she said, and Mike did right before
she dragged him up the stairs.
“Holy crap,” he breathed.
“Yeah,” Rori said in front of him, not sounding so stoic this time. “Those two have some serious sexual tension.”
Mike chose not to confirm nor deny the claim as they reached the top of the stairs and he gathered up his bags. Yeah, he was totally getting out of there. Neither of them said another word until they were out the front door. What blew his mind was Rori’s reaction. So calm. So unsurprised. What in the world was going on in that pretty head of hers?
“That was crazy,” Mike breathed when he was finally out in the fresh air.
“More like inevitable,” she said holding out her hand. “It was a pleasure, Mike Cannon.”
He looked at her hand, blinking. “Wait, is this goodbye?”
“This is goodbye,” she said with a smile. “It has truly been a memorable weekend. For all of us, I think.”
“No joke,” he said, taking her hand and giving it a pump. “What about Luke? Are you going to say goodbye to him?”
She shrugged, withdrawing her hand. “We already have, in a way. But if he wants to hash it out, we can have a call.”
Mike shook his head. “He’s not a hasher-outer.”
“I know.”
So this was it? This was goodbye? On a scale of 1-to-10 Mike tried to gauge how much of an ass she’d think he was if he invited her somewhere for the night. As friends. He had no idea where he was going, but—
“I have a flight,” she said, backing away from him.
“So soon?”
She nodded. “I moved it up.”
“Oh.” What else was there to say? “Well, it was a pleasure.” So. Lame.
She grinned, her eyes sparkling at some joke she wasn’t sharing. “If you say so.”
“I say so.”
There was an awkward beat of silence that Mike was sure he would recognize as a missed opportunity at some later date.
“Thank you for your hospitality. I put in an order with Wendy as a thank you to your parents for hosting me. It should arrive tomorrow, if you don’t mind keeping an eye out for it.”
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