Chapter 13 #3
A slow, knowing curl tugs at Noah’s mouth before he turns to Rain. The blood drains from her face as she struggles to meet my gaze.
What’s going on? I try to catch her eye again, but she clears her throat and lowers her head toward the table.
“That’s a good question.” Noah’s focus narrows to Rain. “What could possibly bring us to the Falls, hmm? I wonder what?”
Err? What’s going on? The tension is thick enough to cut with a knife. Sure, that’s expected when the heirs of the founding fathers show up, but this is something else entirely.
Beside me, Jackson is locked in a silent staring match with Maverick. Across the table, a flush creeps up Rain’s neck before she abruptly pushes back her chair and excuses herself. Okay? What was that about?
Noah watches her slip toward the restroom. I know that look. He’s checking her out—nothing new or surprising. Men do it all the time. Hello, it’s Rain we’re talking about. But the way his dark gaze slides down her body reminds me of how Kane looks at me sometimes.
“Why are you really here?” I ask.
He turns that territorial gaze on me. “We were in the neighborhood.”
Bullshit. Did Kane put him up to this? Is he checking on me?
“Where’s Kane?”
His lips tug to the side. “Why? You miss him?”
My pulse spikes. He can’t say shit like that around Jackson. He’ll get me into even more trouble. But Jackson isn’t paying attention to us because he’s still scowling at Maverick, who looks like a fox that slipped into the henhouse. That little grin of his? Arrogant as ever.
Sighing, I wish I could take Summer home, but I’m not leaving Rain and Jackson here with these two. I don’t know what their deal is. Don’t care. But I also won’t sit by and watch them start trouble.
Noah stands up. “I’m getting a drink. Do you want anything, Mav?”
“I’d like a stiff one,” he drawls.
Next to me, Jackson tenses, clenching his fists on his thighs.
“I don’t think they sell alcohol here, man.” Noah sounds bored as he types a message on his phone.
“Just get me whatever.”
I look from Maverick to Jackson to Noah, who’s walking away. “Did Kane ask you to come here?”
“Believe it or not,” Maverick says in a disinterested tone, “not everything is about you, princess.”
This isn’t the Maverick I spent time with last night. This is a darker version of that guy.
“So Kane didn’t put you up to this to spy on me or something?”
Jackson finally breaks from their staring contest to look at me. “Why would Kane want these guys to spy on you?”
Uh-oh. Me and my big mouth.
“No reason,” I mumble, inspecting my nails while Summer fights back a smile next to me. I wish I could blend into the background like she does. It would come in handy right about now.
My phone vibrates with a new text, and I flip it over on the table to see who it’s from.
Kane:
Did you leave just to make me miss you?
A soft heat blooms under my skin. Is it wrong that I miss him too? Especially now that his friends are here and I’m wondering where he is and what he’s up to. It’s not like they’re attached at the hip. So what is he doing?
Kane:
Because it worked.
Kane:
Where are you?
Jessica:
Is this the part where you ask me what I’m wearing?
Kane:
What are you wearing?
A small laugh escapes before I can swallow it. He’s disarmingly charming when he wants to be.
Jessica:
I’m not sending you nudes.
Kane:
Are you sure? It sounds like an excellent idea to me. My cock agrees.
I press my lips together as a giggle builds in my throat. Nope. We’re not doing that. I refuse to giggle like a schoolgirl.
Jessica:
Your cock agrees?
Kane:
He misses you.
When I don’t respond, he types again.
Kane:
Stay at my place tonight. I’ll pick you up when I’m done.
It’s not a good idea. I’m already in too deep with Kane Ravencourt. My heart aches to give in, but my common sense has a lot to say about acting recklessly and falling deeper in love with a man we can’t have.
And like a grumbling brownie—one of those household spirits from British folklore—it climbs up my arm and settles on my shoulder, knocking on my head to see if anyone’s home.
I’m pretty sure my skull is a hollow shell anyway because I’m far more inclined to listen to my heart. And just like one of those goblin creatures, I’m tempted to show up tonight in exchange for simple offerings like… cream.
Oh God.
I put the phone down and rest my face in my hands. Did I just think that shit? Goblins and cheesy innuendos? No, stop it. It’s not like I’m a brownie spirit staying the night for his, uh, milk.
“Are you okay?” Summer asks.
I peek through my fingers. “I’m great.”
“Oookay…” She doesn’t believe me.
I pick up my phone to respond.
Jessica:
I’m busy tonight.
Bubbles appear on the screen as he starts typing. Kane never takes no for an answer. He’ll keep pushing until I cave.
I power down my phone before he can break what’s left of my fragile willpower.
It’s only one night… I can stay away.
Yes, this is good. We both need space to breathe.
Now that my mind is made up, I can breathe easier, except my eyes still drift to my phone.
I’m so screwed.