Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11
O ctober 10 th
There’s one main difference between best friend’s brother tropes and the date I am going on with Eli’s brother. The main difference is that in books, dating is usually secret because the heroine hides that she has a crush on said best friend’s brother. This is not the case here. My best friend is practically dragging me into his brother’s bed.
The pain of Fraser’s betrayal is still fresh, but what’s the saying about falling off a horse and getting right back on it? I wonder if the expression holds true for men. I guess I’ll find out. My work life might be going gangbusters, but my dating life needs reviving. Let’s hope Rex is the cure.
Riding the train in New York was always an adventure, so Paige decided the increase in her salary made it okay to take an Uber. It was only ten miles to Brooklyn, but with traffic it could take an hour to get there. The ride was expensive but worth it. That had been a major adjustment when she’d moved from Vermont to the city. In Vermont, ten miles could take, at most, fifteen minutes to cover, not here in the city.
The Uber pulled up to a small restaurant. Brooklyn had a completely different vibe. It was neighborhood-y and family-friendly in certain areas. This one being one of them. Trees lined each side of the street. Families were walking down the street and stopping at stoops to talk to each other. It seemed a world away from Paige’s apartment.
Paige got out of the car and looked at the cute Italian restaurant. A man was standing on the sidewalk in jeans and a sweater. He was around six feet tall, an outdoorsman’s tan, dark brown hair, and deep brown eyes. He looked a lot like Eli, just darker and thicker, which was a little strange. Paige wondered if she’d think of Eli all night.
“Paige?” Wow, that voice was deep and rough and sexy.
“Hi, you must be Rex.”
Paige shook his hand and appreciated the firm handshake. “Wow, if I knew Eli’s friends looked like you, I would have come into your part of the city more. Is Italian good for dinner tonight? Eli always watches what he eats, but our Italian genes run deep and this is my favorite place to eat in the neighborhood.”
“Yes, it smells wonderful.” Paige could smell the garlic, the butter, and the bread and it was drawing her in more than the idea of sex with Rex was. Her stomach rumbled as Rex opened the door for her. He was a perfect gentleman as he escorted her to their table and pulled out her chair. He was handsome. He had to be with Eli as his brother. The two men were ridiculously hot, just in two completely different ways. Eli was all toned muscles and agile, smooth movement. Rex was bulky muscles with more of a bulldoze anyone who gets in the way type of movement as he walked.
Paige opened her menu as they began the small talk. The small talk vanished as soon as they placed their order and the waitress left. “So, you’re trying to get laid?” Rex asked bluntly.
Paige choked on her wine. “Is that what Eli told you?”
Rex nodded. “Eli tells me everything. I feel as if I know your little group already. That’s why this date feels so easy. I know so much about you.”
“Oh.” Paige didn’t know what to say. It was as if someone burst her bubble. That whole first date mystery of trying to get to know each other wasn’t really there.
“I gotta thank you for helping Eli get together with Kenneth. Bro seems like a keeper. Ma and I are going to head out to their Friday night show next week to meet him. We haven’t heard Eli this excited about a boyfriend in a really long time. It’s all because of this resolution and your book club’s support.” Rex took a sip of his wine and paused for only a moment. “And Leah, finally. What took her so long to see that Noah is perfect for her? And I’m so proud of Amelia going after Felix.”
“Right?” Paige answered instantly. And then it was on . They talked for over an hour about the book club, the new friends they’d made during these book adventures, and their resolutions.
“I figured you’d call Amelia’s older brother, but after you almost castrated his best friend, I guess I understand why you called me,” Rex told her over tiramisu.
Oh yeah. Paige was here on a romantic date. She’d forgotten about that. She’d been having so much fun talking to Rex. Rex might be Eli’s opposite in a lot of ways, but the openness and ease she had talking to him was the same. She’d forgotten this was a date since it felt as if she were hanging out with her best friend she hadn’t seen in a year as they got caught up on all the hot goss.
“You know, I’m surprised you’re still going along with this ‘finding a random guy’ thing. It’s obvious you’re down to two potential virgin card punchers.” Rex said before setting his spoon down so she could take the last couple of bites of dessert.
“I am?” Paige asked.
Rex nodded. “The cop and the mystery guy at the sex club. I mean, I’m happy to take you home and punch your card, but I really thought it would be one of them.”
“You know, Rex. I thought it would be one of them too. But Max is taken and I have no idea who Mr. Paris is or how to get in touch with him.”
Rex looked at her as if she were dense. “Lenora, the movie star. Just ask her to pass a message to Mr. Paris. You said they’re friends, right?”
“Yes, they are,” Paige said slowly.
“So, if you tell Lenora you really enjoyed your time with Mr. Paris and hope to see him again . . . She’s obviously a romantic. A very sexual romantic, but a romantic nonetheless. She’ll totally tell him.”
“That’s a really good idea, Rex.” Paige paused and looked up at him. “You’re a really good friend. It’s like we’re besties already.”
Rex nodded. “I think it might be strange to see you naked. I mean, you’re hot, but I kinda feel as if I’ve known you for years.”
“Same. However, you really need to come to book club every now and then.”
Rex smiled as they stood up to leave. “I’d like that. And, I know it’s not my business, but I agree with the cop.”
“What do you mean?” Paige asked as they walked outside to wait for her car.
“Have fun on these adventures. Live in the moment. But you’re a really great woman, Paige. You deserve someone who appreciates you for your first time.” Rex looked at her and grinned. “I see you overthinking it,” Rex said with a chuckle. “That doesn’t mean you have to marry the guy. It just means you deserve to be with someone who respects you and the gift you’re giving them. And if all else fails, call me on December thirty-first. I got you. Until then, go have fun.” He grinned at her and winked.
Paige laughed and hugged Rex as her car pulled up. “You know, Rex, I like this plan.”
“I mean it, Paige. I can make your resolution happen. But first, try it your way. Have fun, go on adventures, and live in the moment and don’t worry about this deadline. Then text me if you need me.”
Paige hugged Rex one more time. “Thank you for a wonderful night out. I think you just became one of my best friends.”
“We were already friends. We just hadn’t met yet. Good night, Paige.”
Rex opened the door for her and she got into the back of the Uber. Rex might not know it, but he’d lifted a tremendous amount of pressure off her. Or maybe he did know and that was why he offered her a backup plan. Either way, tonight had changed everything for her.
Paige smiled the whole ride home. She had a sure thing if she needed it. Until then, she was going to dive headfirst into this experience because she wanted to. She liked the person she’d become following the heroines in her romance books. They faced adversity and they fought for what they wanted, both in life and in love. She’d signed four more elite authors to her book line. Mimi’s book was a hit and Lenora’s book was going to rock the world. Her group of friends had doubled, if not tripled, in size. She was confident walking into a room full of men to discuss business. She’d stood up for herself and what she wanted, and she was getting it. She’d never had the courage to go to a sex club, nevertheless, go into a room with someone as dominant as Mr. Paris before this resolution. Yes, this resolution was about so much more than sex. And now that the sex part was guaranteed, it was time to go all in.
Especially with Halloween coming up. Paige couldn’t wait to dive into paranormal romance with a flare. And that was going to start now. She pulled up her phone, did a Google search, booked the appointment, and sent a text to her friends. This was going to be an out-of-this-world experience.