Chapter 9
My anger had dissipatedby the time we sat down in first class. What I’d initially interpreted as snobbish and entitled behavior from Kieran didn’t fit anymore. Jace had said he was grumpy and didn’t like people, and while that seemed accurate, there was something else hidden below. Kieran seemed almost shy and a bit awkward, if anything, and used the resting Grinch face to ward off people.
After the first hour of silence, I decided to test the waters and see if he was a snob or if it was something more. If we wanted this trip to go well, then we both had to sell it. This was like employee training or something. Perhaps since there wasn’t a handbook, I should write one for the next helpless sap who found themselves fake dating a hot, grumpy businessman.
Companion Rule #1—know your strengths and how to use them.
I might not know the difference between further and farther, but my superpower was reading people, and I was great at making conversations. Time to shine, Everly!
I’d placed my hat into the overhead bin so I had an unobstructed view of Kieran’s profile as I leaned on the armrest to study him. He tensed for a second, but his gaze stayed fixed on his work like he didn’t see me. Nope, that just wouldn’t do fake boyfriend.
“I make you nervous,” I said, staring at his face. Okay, so maybe that wasn’t the best soft startup, but there was no turning back now. This time Kieran froze, his fingers halting on the tablet he’d been working on.
“Pardon, lass?” he asked, his eyes flicking over quickly before returning to the screen.
His right hand started a rhythm, and I was certain it was chords. His use of lass with his accent melted my heart a little. Not to mention they were the first words he’d spoken directly to me. Time to chase the dopamine and get more. I smiled at him, tracing my finger up and down the armrest dangerously close to his arm.
“I’m not sure if it’s people in general or me, actually, but you start tapping your fingers when I’m near and you’ve avoided looking me in the eye at all costs since we sat down.”
He swallowed, his fingers stopping on the tray. “Oh. Um. Habit.”
“You don’t have to stop. I was only pointing out how I knew you were nervous. So, what is it? People in general, or me specifically?”
Kieran gave me another look which I saw as nervous now and not snobbish. His brow was creased, and the lines around his eyes and mouth were tight.
“I’m not the greatest with people to start with, but you do make me more nervous than most, lass.”
Okay, honesty. I kinda dug that. There’s hope for you yet, grumpy snack!
“Hmm. Well, that just won’t do. We’re meant to be a couple, so we need to be comfortable around one another.” I paused, observing him as I thought. “I’m guessing I’ll be the first woman you’ve brought around the investors if Jace’s gone through this song and dance?”
Kieran nodded, his eyes shifting to me before he took a breath and turned slightly toward me. His body was tense and rigid, the corded muscles in his arms on full display. I licked my lips at the forearm porn, his soft blond hair, and tiny freckles. When had he rolled up his sleeves? Focus, Everly! Taking his move as a baby step, I reached out with my hand and let it hover over him.
“May I?” I asked, softly placing my hand on top of his.
Kieran jumped before letting out a deep breath; his light blond eyelashes fluttered closed for half a second before he wrapped his hand in mine. His skin was soft, his touch warm, and his fingertips were more calloused than I’d expected for someone who worked in a lab.
“Okay, we’ll need to practice this more. If you jump every time I touch you, they might think I’m holding you for ransom or something,” I teased.
He choked. “What do you have in mind?” he asked, clearing his throat.
“We should practice; maybe, I don’t know… experiment? Get ourselves comfortable with one another. It might help if we knew more personal things about each other.”
“Experiment.” I watched as he rolled the word over in his head like he was tasting it on his tongue. When he came to some conclusion, Kieran dropped his eyes to mine. The blue looked stormy, but there was no hostility. “Okay. I can see the value in that. So, holding hands?” he asked, his voice low and smooth.
“To start, yes.” I smiled, liking how easy he was to talk to when he wasn’t jumping or avoiding looking at me. His eagerness to please and accept guidance was also kind of hot. “Tell me something real about you.”
“What do you want to know?” he asked, his voice seductive in a way that was causing me problems this close. “I’m not good at just saying things.”
“Hmm, I know what Jace has told me. You’re from Ireland and attended MIT. You like music and to snorkel. Snorkeling is a pretty interesting hobby and, I’ll admit, unexpected. What got you into it?”
Kieran glanced at my eyes before dropping them back to our hands. His fingers engulfed mine, but I liked how they looked together. He swept his thumb back and forth as he spoke.
“Snorkeling relaxes me. I didn’t grow up by the ocean, but the boarding school I attended was close to the beach, and we would go on school trips there. I’d never felt as calm as I did there. Under the water, everything made sense. The whole ecosystem amazed me, and I became obsessed with learning more. I really want to try deep sea diving next; once I have some free time.”
Kieran’s face lit up as he spoke of the ocean, transforming the dour man right before my eyes. His eyes sparkled, and he forgot to drop my hold as his cheeks pinked from excitement. His words came out faster and his accent thicker as he spoke of his hobby. It made me want to curl up in his lap like a cat and listen to him talk all day.
“I’ve never been, but it sounds fun. Jace said we might get the opportunity?” I asked, wanting him to keep talking.
“I hope so. The water’s so clear in the Caribbean, so the views will be breathtaking.”
“I can’t wait then.” I smiled, and he gulped, his eyes moving down to my lips before dropping back to our hands and then his tablet. It was like he didn’t know where to stare. Gah, why was that so cute? It was like he was an innocent giant that I wanted to protect at all costs.
“What’s our cover story?” I asked, needing his attention back on me. The way he looked at me when he let himself have that moment of bravery was addicting.
“Cover story?” Kieran’s nose scrunched up in the cutest way at my question. Man, he was like an adorable Rottweiler. All bark and no bite. And now I just wanted to pet him and dress him up in cute clothes.
Focus. Don’t freak the man out too soon!
“Yeah. How did we meet? How long have we been dating? That kind of stuff.”
“Oh.” He licked his lips as he thought. “I don’t know. What,” he cleared his throat,“what do you think would be best?” His cheeks pinked more, and I had to restrain myself from crawling into his lap.
Geez. I never knew this type of man was my thing, but I’m here for it.
“Hmm. Well, I don’t date, so this isn’t my forte. But maybe we could say we met on an app? People do that.”
“App?” He looked horrified, and I bit my lip to stop from laughing.
“Yeah. They have dating ones. You can scroll through people’s pictures, and if you both like one another”s profile, you match.”
Kieran’s face paled, and he shook his head vehemently. “No. I wouldn’t do that. Maybe through a friend?” His shoulders drooped as he grimaced. “This is harder than I expected.” He dropped his eyes, biting his lip as he thought.
“Hey, it doesn’t have to be. Keep it simple. Let’s stick as close to the truth as possible, so there’s not as much to remember.”
“Okay. So, what do you suggest? What’s the truth?”
I smiled, becoming more endeared toward this giant man by the second; his prickly exterior was only a front to his sweetness, like a pineapple.
“We could say we met through Jace or a club. I frequent Howlers a lot. Have you ever been?”
Kieran’s eyes flew up to mine like a scared deer before dropping back down.
“Yes.” He cleared his throat, making me curious. It was all he said, but it didn’t feel like the entire answer.
“Perfect. So, we met at Howlers through Jace. I came onto you, and you couldn’t resist my charm. We’ve been dating for two months, and you couldn’t stand the thought of being without me for a week. How does that sound so far?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I can remember that.”
“Perfect. Now, what should my job be?” I tapped my lips in thought.
“What do you do… you know, in real life? Or are you a professional dater?” he asked, cringing slightly.
“I wish. It’s probably the job I’m best suited for.” I sighed. “I’ve had many jobs, but they never last long. The only one I’ve managed to keep past the two-month mark is the coffee shop. But I might sound like a gold digger if you tell people your new girlfriend is a barista.”
His thumb stroked my hand as he thought, and I wondered if he even knew he was doing it.
“I wouldn’t mind if that was your job. But for curiosity, if you could do anything, what would you choose to do?”
“That’s the issue. I don’t know. Despite having a college degree, it’s basically useless, and I don’t want to do the job I’d been groomed for my whole life. I volunteer a lot because I love working with kids and helping people, and it makes me feel good to give back. Jobs, on the other hand… I start a lot, loving them in the beginning. But either because I lack the skills or lose interest, I can’t seem to keep them long. I’ve been a beverage girl at a golf course, a vet assistant, and an extra in movies in the past year, along with many more. They always end in disaster.”
Kieran smiled, the action causing my breath to get stuck in my throat. Sweet molasses. The man could take out a whole city block with the megawatt of his smile.
“How did they end, lass?” he asked, a slight teasing in his voice.
I blew out a breath, sitting back in my seat. The direct hit of his smile was too much. I was likely to give into my urge to crawl in his lap and ask him to pet me if I didn’t get out of the direct path.
“Well, let’s see, the beverage cart…” I grimaced, flicking my eyes over to his this time, and found his blue eyes staring straight at me. “I thought it would be fun to race the golf carts. And I was right; it was fun but highly frowned upon.”
Kieran chuckled, leaning closer to hear me. His cologne invaded my space more, and goosebumps spread over me. Hello, seduction-in-a-bottle. Combined with his laugh, I was putty in his hands. Speaking of hands, ours were still interlocked, the feeling so natural now.
“And the vet didn’t work because I tried to take home the animals that people surrendered. My roommate made me quit after the second cat, third bird, and fourth puppy.” I shrugged, not even ashamed of that one.
Those pets needed a home, so why not share mine? Ultimately, I helped them find other places, but I still missed them. They’d been better roommates than Gloria, the roommate before Grace. Maybe I should stay away from G names.
“And then the movie extra? I imagine you were quite good at that one.”
I nodded, grinning. “Yeah. That one was fun. I got to play a zombie and even a groupie at a rock concert. I guess that one wasn’t entirely my fault. An actor in the last movie I did broke something and blamed it on an extra. Amanda was a sweet woman who had a baby at home. She worked several jobs and wanted to work her way into the movie business. So I said it was my fault instead. I only did the job because it sounded fun, but I had no interest in being in movies.”
“You have a kind heart, Everly.”
My cheeks heated, the action so uncommon for me. There wasn’t much that made me blush. But a sweet guy telling me something equally sweet… apparently, that was my weakness. Plus, no one had ever said that about me before. I’d been a lot of things but never labeled as kind. I liked it and wanted to wrap his words up in a ribbon so I could carry them around with me forever.
“Maybe. But I still haven’t found that job that makes me excited to get up in the morning and can keep my attention. Did you always want to invent things?” I asked, wanting to change the subject.
“No.” Kieran’s smile fell, and he cleared his throat. “It wasn’t my first choice, just something I happen to be good at. My first love…” He shook his head, dismissing the words. “When I discovered I could use what I knew to make things to help others, it felt like a good fit, and it’s made me very wealthy.”
“Sometimes there are more important things than money,” I whispered, not wanting to meet his eyes. I couldn’t stand to know how he felt about that. Money had always caused more problems in my life than it cured.
The pilot’s voice came overhead just then, interrupting the still moment between us and abruptly ending our conversation.
“We’ll be arriving at our destination shortly. Please ensure your trays are upright, and if you don’t have your lap belt on, go ahead and secure it for us. The temperature here is a sunny 83°F. Welcome to Miami.”
Kieran released my hand, making me sadder than I wanted to acknowledge. We both stowed away our belongings, and I peered out the window as we descended. A quiet comfortableness settled between us, at least making it better than it was at the start. Despite the win of making him more relaxed, I felt drained, like I’d run a marathon in heels. My heart was becoming too invested, and I needed to take the night to remind myself why relationships weren’t for me.
Companion Rule #2—under no circumstance do you get attached. Fake is fake.
Yeah, good luck telling that to my head, heart, and pussy. Traitors!
Once we landed, the three of us quietly made our way to the luggage carousel. Jace had been glued to his phone the moment we’d landed; his typical jovial smile turned down into a frown as we navigated the terminals. My heart raced as I watched him, something in me shifting.
“Everything okay?” I asked, worried about him despite my finger waving to not care in my head.
“Yeah. Just a problem with one of the locations I’m shooting at. I’ll have to figure it out once we reach the hotel.” He glanced up and gave me a small smile.
I nodded in understanding but felt lost all the same. I wanted to help, but it didn’t seem like he wanted mine.
How cliche, Everly! Don’t pine for the one who only wants casual sex.
Our bags came around the carousel first, Jace and Kieran grabbing them off and leaving me with just the small one. Within minutes, we headed out the door toward the line of cars, neither of them stopping nor looking lost like I felt. I kept peering all around me and getting distracted as I took everything in. I’d never been to Miami before, and there was so much to see. The airport was bustling, with lights flashing on signs and people rushing to and fro to their loved ones.
The heat hit me as we stepped outside, and I took off my hat and fanned myself. Ugh, humidity. The guys motioned for me to catch up, their bags already loaded into a trunk. Quickly, I handed mine off to the man waiting and slid into the sleek black car. Kieran slid in after, putting me between them. Their bodies pressed into mine, and my mind roamed, remembering Jace’s words about how they worked well together. I cleared my throat, catching Jace’s smirk as he shifted his leg closer. My legs felt damp, but I couldn’t tell if it was the humidity or something else.
The ride felt like it took forever; the Miami traffic congested as we made our way to the hotel. I was ready to jump out of my skin by the time we arrived between my thoughts and their physical closeness. The guys looked at me oddly as I bolted for the door, taking a few steps to distance them and me.
Companion Rule #3—in case of feelings, retreat, retreat, retreat. Companions are above all professional.
Yeah, I didn’t believe that one either.
“You okay, Firecracker?” Jace asked, a twinkle in his eyes. Kieran peered between us like he was trying to solve an equation he didn’t know.
“Yep. But you know, I’m beat. Traveling just wears you out, so I think I’ll just relax and stay in my room for the rest of the night. I’ll meet you both for breakfast in the morning.”
I grabbed my keycard from Kieran’s hand and my luggage, zipping off toward the elevator before Jace could talk me into a three-way.
Yeah, “talk.”
I might need to look up what the definition of that one meant because I would’ve been a willing participant. But, if I gave in this soon, I’d be doomed for the rest of the trip.
Hah. Gave in this soon. So there will be a soon. Still doomed.
Once the door latched behind me in my room, I fell back against it, my heart slowing slightly now that I was alone.
“Cold shower it is tonight,” I mumbled, flopping back onto the bed. After some room service and another perusal through the binder, I crawled into bed, determined not to fall in love with my two bosses.
Companion Rule #4—thou shall not lie to thy selves.