31. Mila #2
“I guess Parker’s here.” I put my drink down and walked toward the front door. “You going to be okay?”
“I’ll be fine,” Lara said as she took a deep breath. “God, I hope I don’t make a fool of myself.”
“You won’t.” I grinned at her. “I’ll make sure you don’t.” I winked at her and then continued on my way and opened the door. “Hey, bro,” I said and hugged him.
“Hey, you.” He kissed me on the cheek and surveyed my face. “You look happy.”
“I am happy.” I nodded, then noticed two guys standing next to him. “Hi, I’m Mila,” I said as I stepped away from him.
“Oh, yeah, this is Brody, and this is James,” Parker said as he nodded to his two handsome friends. “I hope you don’t mind that I invited them.”
“It’s no problem.” I smiled at him, but inside I was shouting. I hoped I had made enough food.
“Great,” he said and grinned at me. His eyes searched inside the apartment and stopped when he saw Lara. “Hey, Lara, I was wondering if you were going to be here.”
“She’s my best friend; of course she was going to be here,” I said, answering for her. “Are there going to be any other surprise guests tonight?” I gave Parker a look.
“Like who?”
“Barbie?” I choked on her name.
“Oh, she’s got a boyfriend.” He shrugged. “I heard she’s dating some rich, older dude.”
“Already?”
“I don’t know the story, but she had my jacket, and I went to get it back and, well, she said her ‘rich, older boyfriend’ wouldn’t appreciate me coming over to get it.”
“Okay.” I shook my head but didn’t continue the conversation. I didn’t want Lara to hear us talking about Barbie and be reminded of his dalliance.
“Hi, guys.” Lara did a sexy strut toward the four of us, and all the guys’ attention was on her and her long legs in the heels she wore.
“Hi, I’m Brody.” The tall, stocky blond guy stood forward and shook her hand.
“Hi, Brody.” Lara gave him a dazzling smile. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too, my dear, you too.” He was grinning at her and continued to stand close to her.
“And this is James.” Parker looked at Brody with an annoyed expression on his face.
“Nice to meet you, James.” Lara smiled at him as well, and he gave her a warm, genuine smile before turning to me.
“Hi, I’m James,” he said, his big blue eyes sparkled at me.
“Mila. Parker’s sister, if you didn’t figure that out yet.”
“You’re much prettier than him,” he said, and I laughed.
“That’s good to hear. Thank you.” I blushed as he continued to smile at me.
“You’re very welcome,” he said as he ran his hand through his short, wavy brown hair. “Thanks for having us.”
“You’re very welcome,” I said.
“He’s very welcome for what?” Ryker’s voice came booming into the room.
“For Mila being so gracious having me over for dinner,” James spoke up, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Sorry, who are you?” Ryker frowned, looked at James, and then at Brody.
“Ryker, this is Brody, and this is James. They’re in my baseball league. We were batting earlier, and I figured they could come for dinner as well. The more the merrier, right?” Parker said nonchalantly, and I saw Ryker’s eyes narrowing at him. Hmm, I wonder what was going on there.
“Sure.” Ryker shrugged, walked over to me, and kissed me on the lips. “I hope you didn’t miss me too much.”
“I didn’t.” I smiled up at him.
“That’s what you say now,” he said, then turned back around. “Okay, who wants a drink?”
“I thought you would never ask, bro.” Brody laughed and then looked at Lara. “What are you drinking tonight, beautiful?”
“I think I’m sticking with vodka-Sprites for now.” Lara beamed at him, and Parker frowned at their exchange.
“And what about you?” James turned his attention to me. “Actually, let me guess.”
“Go on, then.” I smiled as we all walked farther into the apartment. Ryker was standing to my left, and James was standing to my right.
“I think you look like a white-wine girl. Am I right?” He stared into my eyes with a teasing expression.
“Actually, tonight, I’m drinking vodka as well.” I smiled back at him, and I felt Ryker’s hand on my arm.
“And she prefers red wine to white wine,” Ryker spoke up. “Nice guess, though. What do you want, James?” Ryker had a smile on his face, but his voice was gruff.
“I’ll take a whiskey neat,” James replied, a huge smile still on his face. “What is cooking, by the way? It smells amazing in here.”
“I’m making my famous roast chicken with roast potatoes and baked macaroni and cheese with a salad.”
“Oh, my God, that sounds amazing.” James licked his lips. “Marry me.”
“Ha, ha, ha,” I laughed and blushed.
“Mila, let’s get the drinks,” Ryker said and grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the kitchen.
“Okay,” I said, annoyed with his attitude. “What do you want, Brody?”
“I’ll have a whiskey as well.”
“I’ll take a beerski,” Parker said, and I saw Lara giving him a glance.
“Sounds good,” I said and walked over to the fridge.
“Are you paying attention to the food?” Ryker said as I took out a beer.
“Sorry, what?” I looked at him, confused.
“Maybe pay more attention to the food and less time flirting,” Ryker said as he grabbed his decanter of whiskey. “I don’t think any of us want burnt food for dinner.”
“I am paying attention to the food,” I said, annoyed. “I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m just making sure,” he said as he put two ice cubes in his glass and poured.
“Well, thanks for making sure,” I said and left the kitchen and handed Parker his beer. “Here you go.” I handed it to Parker, but he wasn’t paying attention to me; he was too busy watching Brody flirt with Lara, who was laughing her head off at something he was saying.
“Here are the whiskeys.” Ryker followed me out and handed a glass to James, then to Brody. They nodded their thanks, and both started sipping their drinks.
“Are you guys hungry? I have bread and cheese for an appetizer.” I looked at James and Brody.
“You had me at ‘cheese,’” James said, and I smiled at him.
“Well, you’re easy to please, then.” I laughed. “And to clarify, it’s French bread and Brie.”
“Even better.” He grinned. “Tell me that you have strawberry or raspberry jam as well and I’ll be an extremely happy man.”
“I think we do.” I smiled. “Though I’ll have to check.”
“I have strawberry jam,” Ryker said thinly. “Mila just moved in with me, so she doesn’t know the complete contents of my fridge yet.”
“You guys roommates?” James asked curiously.
“Something like that,” I answered.
“What do you do, James?” Ryker asked, stepping closer to him. “Garbage man?” he said under his breath, and I gave him a side-eye.
“Sorry, what?” James asked with a cheery smile.
“What’s your job?” Ryker asked again, and his eyes looked at me as he spoke.
“Oh, I’m an attorney. Patent litigation.” James grinned. “You’re in business, right? Parker was telling us.”
“Yeah.” Ryker nodded and then smiled. “Mila’s in retail therapy.”
“Sorry, what?” James looked at me and half-smiled. “You work in retail?”
“Somewhat,” I said and tried not to glare at Ryker. “I work for my family company.”
“She kinda works,” Ryker said. “She likes to shop a lot more. So any guy she dates should have a lot of credit cards.”
“Ryker,” Lara spoke up for me, “stop being an asshole.”
“I’m just joking.” He laughed, though he still looked pissed off.
“I don’t mind spoiling my girlfriends,” James said as he walked closer to me. “In fact, I consider it a pleasure.”
“Oh, yeah?” I smiled at him, trying to be beguiling, trying to annoy Ryker for embarrassing me like that.
“So do I,” Brody said to Lara with a huge grin as he sidled up closer to her. “In fact, I think I plan a pretty good first date as well.”
“Oh, yeah?” she said with a grin.
“Yeah.” He stared into her eyes. “I’d like to take you on one sometime.”
“Brody.” Parker slapped his friend around the shoulder. “Lara doesn’t want a player like you,” he said with a smile on his face, but I could tell that he was very jealous. Hmm, interesting.
“Mila, is the food nearly ready?” Ryker asked me. “I think we’re all ready to eat.”
“I’m not hungry for food,” Brody said and licked his lips as he stared at Lara’s legs. Parker glared at him.
“Don’t be a pig,” James said and smiled at me. “Excuse my friend. He can’t contain himself around a beautiful girl.”
“And you can?” Brody said with a laugh.
“I’m doing so right now, aren’t I?” James answered and then looked at me. “I think I’m being a gentleman—right, Mila?”
“Oh yes, I think?—”
“Mila, let’s go and check the food.” Ryker grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the kitchen. I followed behind him quickly, amused that he was jealous. “Is it ready?” he asked me as we walked into the kitchen.
“Unlikely,” I said as I rolled my eyes at him and opened the oven. “There’s no need to be rude to our guests, Ryker.”
“I’m not being rude,” he said as he poured some more whiskey. “I’m sure they’re hungry, just as I am.”
“Yeah, you weren’t complaining of hunger when you got home.”
“I didn’t want to be rude.” He shrugged.
“Ryker.” I rolled my eyes at him. “You’re jealous.”
“Jealous of what?” He shook his head at me, his eyes looking pissed still.
“Nothing,” I said as I ladled some gravy over the chicken to baste it, before covering it again and pushing it back into the oven. “It’s not ready, like I said.”
“Well, just make sure you’re paying attention to the guests as well as the food.”
“Yes, sir, no sir, three bags full, sir.”
“Keep calling me, sir, Mila.” Ryker’s eyes sparkled at me.
“And what will happen if I do?” I put my hands on my hips and stared at him. “Huh?”
“You really wanna know?” His lips tilted up to the right.
“Yes, sir,” I said and licked my lips naughtily at him.
“Come with me,” he growled and grabbed my hand.
“Where are we going?” I batted my eyes innocently at him.
“I should take you to the living room and give everyone a show.” He pulled me toward him, leaned down, and kissed me roughly. “But I’m not going to do that.”
“I wouldn’t let you do that.” I kissed him back passionately and bit down on his lower lip.