Chapter Five
Y ou want another, beautiful?”
Whether it was the two glasses of wine at her house or the blue drink she’d slurped down upon arrival, Delilah regretted not pacing herself as the room swayed like the deck of a ship when she shook her head.
“I think I’ll stick with water for now.”
“Coming up.” Grant held a hand up to get the bartender’s attention, and Delilah caught Holly’s gleeful expression. When they’d sat down, several men approached them, offering to buy their drinks. Although Holly politely informed them she was taken, Grant had focused all his attention on Delilah. He was a big man in his thirties with dark hair and hazel eyes. His cheeks and chin were covered in a dark shadow of whiskers, and his boyish smile was vaguely familiar, making Delilah relax the minute he’d flashed it at her.
“So, Grant,” Holly asked, swirling her straw in her empty glass, making the ice hit the sides with a clink . “What do you do for work?”
“I’m a truck driver. I took a little detour on my way to Boise and thought I’d grab a drink.” His gaze swept over Delilah, lingering on her mouth. “Sure am glad I did.”
Her cheeks warmed at his apparent interest, and when Ricki, the bartender, came over with her water, she took it with a trembling hand. She’d never gone home with someone she didn’t know. Every man she’d ever hooked up with had been an acquaintance at least. She knew nothing about this man except he was a truck driver passing through.
You wanted to attract the attention of a sex-god, and this guy is giving off those vibes in spades.
“Where do you call home?” Delilah asked, wanting to know more about him.
“If you’re asking about a city, Boise would be it, but I’m all over the place. My truck has everything I need.” He dropped his mouth close to her ear and murmured, “Well, almost.”
The warmth of his breath on her skin made her shiver and she tried to come up with something flirty to say, but was completely at a loss. The man was smooth as pudding.
“Delilah, are you good if I check in on Declan?” Holly asked.
Delilah cleared her throat and waved her best friend off. “Yeah, sure.”
“Thanks.” Holly hopped off the stool and entered the crowd where her boyfriend sat with her brother, Nick, his friends, and her sister’s husband, Clark. She’d noticed Pike hovering around earlier, but he’d gone back to the table.
“Is Declan her boyfriend?” Grant asked, looking over to the table.
“Yeah, he’s sitting over there with the group of guys—”
“Holy fucking shit!” Grant crowed, jumping to his feet. “Is that my baby brother?”
Delilah watched Grant push his way through the crowd with her mouth hanging open as Anthony stood up. Grant was a few inches shorter but lifted Anthony off his feet in a bear hug.
His brother?
Delilah got down from the stool, unable to believe her rotten luck. How could the one guy she’d seriously considered taking home be related to him ?
The universe had a perverse sense of humor.
Grant stepped back from the embrace when Delilah approached, his gaze traveling over Anthony in awe. “Man, how are you doing? I tried calling, but it said the number wasn’t in service.”
Anthony’s small smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I changed it about five years ago when I switched services.”
“Why didn’t you tell me at Mom’s funeral?” Grant asked.
“Probably because there wasn’t time to catch up after everything.”
“We don’t need to rehash that!” Grant slapped Anthony’s arm. “Let me buy you a drink, and we can catch up.”
Anthony’s gaze flicked to Delilah. “Seemed like you were in the middle of something.”
“Oh, shit, Delilah!” Grant shot her a sheepish grin. “You don’t mind if we put a pin in this so I can catch up with my brother, right?”
“Not at all,” she said.
“Thanks, honey. I knew you were a good sport.” He wrapped an arm around Anthony’s shoulder, leading him toward the bar. Delilah sat down in the empty seat, frustration rippling through her. Holly was settled onto Declan’s lap, giving her a sympathetic look.
“Want a drink, Delilah?” Pike asked, sliding a golden shot her way. “It was meant for Anthony, but it’s yours if you want it.”
He stole my potential sex partner, so why not?
“Thanks,” Delilah said, tossing back the shot. The sweet, tart taste of apples and cinnamon teased her tongue before the warm liquid slid down her throat. “What was it?” she asked Pike.
“Warm apple pie shot.”
Delilah laughed as she set the glass down. “I’d take another of those.”
“I thought you were going to slow down,” Holly asked, frowning.
“I changed my mind.” Delilah got to her feet but Pike shook his head, waving her down.
“I’ll get it in exchange for one dance.”
It took her a moment to realize she hadn’t misheard him and a thrill of excitement raced through her. Pike was interested in dancing with her?
Since when? the snarky voice in her head asked, but she ignored it. She’d been waiting on this moment for over a decade and she didn’t care why he was asking her to dance … she was just happy he was.
“Sure, Pike.”
Delilah watched him walk away, but her gaze strayed from his retreating form to Anthony’s profile. He hadn’t seemed as happy to see his brother as Grant was to spend time with him.
Delilah leaned over to whisper loudly at Nick. “How have I never heard of Anthony’s brother?”
Nick shrugged. “When his parents split, Anthony was ten. Grant is six years older and went to live with their dad when he moved to Boise. Anthony stayed with his mom. He’s got four older brothers, but the rest were already out of the house.”
“I think it’s weird he didn’t want to say hi when he recognized his brother,” Clark said.
Delilah watched Grant and Anthony, noting the similarities between them. While Anthony was taller and Grant was broader, they had the same thick dark hair and jawline. If Anthony bothered to smile, Delilah could confirm her suspicion that they shared the same smile, which was why Grant seemed so familiar.
Of all the men who could have caught her attention, it had to be Anthony’s brother.
“Here’s your warm apple pie,” Pike said, holding out the shot glass with a dollop of whipped cream on top.
Delilah took the shot from Pike with a smile, knocking it back. Warmth spread through her, settling in her stomach. So far, the night had been relatively disappointing, but she was determined to salvage it.
The lead singer of the band belted out the first few lines of “Brand New Man” by Brooks & Dunn, and Delilah stood. “Pike?”
“Yeah?” he asked.
“You feel like dancing yet?”
His face lit up, and a flush of confidence rushed through her. “Sure, I was going to ask, but wanted to let you enjoy your drink.”
“I’m good,” she said, pushing in her chair. “I wasn’t sure if you were waiting on a slow song because you were a turn and shuffle kind of guy.”
“Nah, that’s Anthony.” Delilah resisted the urge to look at Anthony and his brother, who had seemed to forget all about his interest in her not a half an hour ago.
“I got moves that will make you dizzy.” Pike held out his hand, and Delilah took it, her palm settling against his. It was warm and smooth, which was odd. She’d thought it would be rough and calloused from all his years working road construction and his love of outdoor activities.
“Your hands are softer than mine,” Delilah said.
“Thank my expensive hand cream. Although, I’m probably losing manly points telling you that.”
Delilah laughed. “I didn’t know there was a point system, so you’re good.”
She followed him through the crowd and onto the dance floor, where he gracefully spun her into his arms. “Thank God for that. Can’t let my competition get one up on me.”
“What competition?” Delilah laughed.
“You must not be paying attention. Every guy in here nearly broke his neck when you walked through that door.”
Delilah blushed. “You exaggerate. Holly was with me—”
“Every man in here knows Holly is taken and not one of them wants to tangle with Declan. It’s you in that dress that has us all bewitched.”
Delilah didn’t know why his comment rubbed her wrong, like she wasn’t attractive without the dress, but her expression must have revealed her irritation, because he asked, “Did I say something wrong?”
Why are you being so sensitive? He’s trying to be charming and you’re taking it out of context.
“Of course not. I was just thinking you’re a great dancer,” she said, looping one of her arms around his neck. Her three-inch heels closed some distance between their heights, and she came up just past his chin.
“I took lessons as a kid until I got into high school.” He held on to her other hand, leading her around the dance floor in a swift two-step, his strong arm pressed into the small of her back. “I was afraid of giving people another reason to give me shit, but it gave me an advantage at school dances.”
“I bet,” Delilah chuckled. “My date to senior prom could only shuffle back and forth, but I appreciated the effort.”
“I tried to help Nick and Anthony, but they’ll never reach my skill level.”
She rolled her eyes in response to his boast. “Stated like a true narcissist.”
“Come on, have you ever seen Anthony dance?” Pike laughed, putting a sway into his hips as he spun her out and back in. “Twerking is his go-to move, and the man doesn’t have an ass.”
Delilah almost argued that he did, but that would mean admitting she’d checked it out. “I’ll take your word for it.”
Silence settled between them as they took another turn around the dance floor. When they passed by the table, Delilah saw that Anthony and Grant were caught up in an intense-looking conversation and she wondered what they were talking about.
“I like your dress,” Pike said, breaking the quiet.
“Thanks. It’s been hanging in my closet waiting for a special occasion, so I made one.”
“What are you celebrating?” he asked.
“Going after what I want.” Anthony’s back was to her, but she could see Grant’s expression locked in a scowl. Anthony walked away from his brother, heading toward the outdoor patio. Grant took a deep gulp from his glass, and Delilah thought he would follow his brother, but he went out the front door instead.
“What is it that you want?” Pike asked.
“I’m sorry?” She asked, jerking her attention back to Pike. “What did you say?”
“You said you were going after what you want. What is that?”
“I’m … ” Delilah wasn’t going to tell Pike she was on the hunt for a sex-god. He might take it as a come-on, and she was uncertain why he’d asked her to dance out of the blue. “I’m still figuring it out, but I’ll know when I find it.”
The song ended, and Delilah followed Pike back to the table.
“What are we talking about?” Pike asked, grinning as he held a chair for Delilah. She took a seat and Pike settled in next to her.
“The Broncos,” Nick said.
Pike dived into an animated conversation about football with his friends, and Delilah caught the wide-eyed look Holly gave her. She probably expected Delilah to be jumping for joy, but she couldn’t stop checking the patio doors for Anthony to return. Whatever happened with Grant, he’d obviously been upset, yet none of his friends had gone outside to check on him.
Delilah stood up, but Pike reached up to touch her arm before she could take a step. “Hey, where you going?”
“I don’t usually announce it,” she said, biting back a harsher response. “But the bathroom.”
“Sorry,” he chuckled. “Hurry back.”
Delilah experienced an unexpected rush of irritation at those two little words, followed by intense confusion. She should be excited by Pike’s sudden attention, yet his familiarity rubbed her wrong. He’d always been friendly to her but never flirty.
What are you complaining about? You wore the dress for exactly this reason. To get the right kind of attention.
Yet, it was one thing to catch the eye of a total stranger, but for Pike to suddenly trip over himself to get her a drink?
It didn’t seem real.
Delilah bypassed the bathroom and stepped through the back door. Out on the patio, a rush of cold air over her bare skin left prickles of gooseflesh in its wake. She searched the dim area for Anthony and found him at the edge with his back to her, staring at the trees behind the bar. Delilah crossed the cement slab and stepped up beside him.
“Hey.”
He jumped, turning to face her with a wary expression. “What are you doing out here?”
“I saw you and Grant talking, and it looked intense. When I saw you both head in opposite directions, I came out to check on you.”
“I’m fine.”
His clipped response should have been her clue to go back inside and leave him be, but she turned to the side, leaning her hip against the iron fence that enclosed the outdoor area. “I know family can suck sometimes—” she said, searching for something more to make him feel better, but he cut in harshly.
“Are you not getting enough attention from every other man inside?”
Delilah reeled back like he’d slapped her. “What?”
“You following me out here. Is it a game because I’m not drooling after you?”
Delilah’s eyes burned, but she wouldn’t cry in front of him. “Fuck you.”
She spun away from him but didn’t go back inside, heading instead for the side gate. Flipping up the latch, she closed it with a slam. Delilah heard him call her name, but she was not slowing down for him. Her only thought was escape.
Without warning, a large hand grasped her arm and spun her around. She lost her balance and found herself pressed into a hard male chest. She thought it was Anthony and placed both hands flat against his front, shoving back, but he didn’t release her. The smell of alcohol and smoke hit her nostrils and Delilah wrinkled her nose in disgust.
Not Anthony.
“Where you running to?” The slurred question came from a voice she didn’t recognize, and she looked up into half-closed eyes staring down at her in the dim lights of the parking lot.
“Back off,” she snapped, fear seizing her chest. She’s never been accosted like this before, and as she turned to search the parking lot, there wasn’t a single body beside the two of them.
“I just wanted to tell you how”—he made some kind of gurgling sound—“pretty you are.”
Delilah’s voice trembled as she shoved him again. “Get the fuck off me!”
The man heaved a stream of vomit over her chest and down the front of her body. Delilah cried out in horror as the warm, noxious ooze settled into the cups of her bra, saturating the soft fabric of the dress to her body. The sound of dripping preceded the sensation onto the tops of her feet and she stared down at the mess in horror.
“Oh, no,” the man mumbled. “I ruined your dress.”
Delilah almost laughed aloud as she thought, The dress can be cleaned but this night is flipping shot. Thanks.