Unraveled

Chapter Two

Kellan

Russ leaned over to whisper, “Guess this would be a good time to tell you that’s my sister, Layla, walking in. She was going stir-crazy at my parents’ place tonight and needed a reason to get dressed up and out of the house. Now act as if she’s your girlfriend.”

I had no time to react as the gorgeous girl gave a wink to her brother and proceeded to sit on my lap, her arms entwining around my neck as if she did it every day.

“Hi, handsome,” she greeted breathlessly, amusement dancing in her emerald-green eyes.

“Hi.” I was happy I wasn’t expected to say much more because my thoughts were fried. My brain knew nothing but the beauty on my lap.

She leaned in, whispering in my ear, “Russ recruited me to stage a rescue.”

“For you, I’ll pretend I need it.”

Her smile came easily, and she moved her face to mere inches from mine.

Her skin was flawless. Her face was the perfect heart shape, her nose like a button.

Her makeup had been applied to enhance her green eyes without taking away from her natural beauty.

We were in a crowded bar, and yet I could no longer hear the music playing in the background nor the noise from the conversations around us.

Although she was here as a favor, it suddenly didn’t feel that way.

Instead, it felt as if I’d found someone I hadn’t realized I’d been searching for.

I didn’t believe in love at first sight, at least not until this moment when my entire world tipped on its axis.

“If my brother had mentioned he had such a handsome friend, I would’ve insisted upon getting out of the house sooner.” She paused, peeking over my shoulder. “I take it the blonde at the end of the table staring daggers at me is the ex?”

I brushed the hair away from her face as if I’d practiced the gesture a hundred times. My voice was husky. “Indeed.”

“Not that you two would notice, but I’m heading to the men’s room,” Russ said with a grin causing both of ours. “I’m glad you came out, sis. Feel free to take my chair.”

Now it was my turn to whisper in her ear. “I like your name, Layla. I’m Kellan.”

“I’m a fan of your name, too, Kellan.”

Just hearing my name on her lips sent a shiver through me.

“I suppose I should take the chair unless there’s something else you want to do with this fake greeting. Maybe something to guarantee your ex gets the message loud and clear that you’re off-limits?”

I pretended to contemplate. “Hm. Something that would leave no doubt we’re together. What could possibly do that?”

She laughed, the lyrical sound managing to further my attraction to her. Then she framed my face with her hands and murmured, “I think I have an idea.”

My breath caught. And once her lips touched mine, I was a goner.

It was as if I was thirsty, and she represented the last drop of water.

Every fiber of my being craved her in that moment.

Shifting her on my lap in order to angle her head better, I raised my own hands.

One caressed her face while the other tangled in her hair.

The sensation of her tongue sweeping into my mouth caused a small growl to emit from my throat.

I had to have her. Naked and writhing under me.

But for now, I needed to remember I was in a crowded bar. Kissing my best friend’s sister.

We pulled apart and stared at one another. I think we both were surprised by the power of our fake kiss.

She was the one who broke the trance. “I believe your ex got the message. She’s stomping out the door.”

“I’d forgotten she was here,” I blurted out. It didn’t occur to me to worry that Carly’s disappointment might have consequences for the new job I was starting on Monday.

Layla’s laugh came again as she gracefully got to her feet and took Russ’s vacated chair beside me.

I immediately missed the warmth of her on top of me, but this vantage point did give me a better opportunity to study her. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“Mm, I’m not sure. I didn’t mean to crash your boys’ night, but when I told Russ I was dying of boredom at our parents’ house and he offered me the chance to come play a fake girlfriend, I couldn’t resist.”

Did that mean she was leaving? “Stay. Or I’ll go with you somewhere else.” Jesus. I sounded desperate.

She quirked her perfectly arched brow. “Aren’t you in the middle of a fantasy football draft?”

“You’re right. I am.” And as a reminder, it was my turn to pick. I shouted out my next name and wrote it down so I wouldn’t forget later.

Thankfully, she only smiled at my brain taking a hiatus and grabbed my beer bottle to hold it up. “May I try yours?”

“Of course.”

Her taking a sip of my IPA had to be the hottest thing I’d ever seen. She didn’t even make a face at the bitter brew.

“I’ll have the same as you’re having, then. But I’ll only stay on one condition.”

Name it. It almost came out until I realized I’d be doing myself no favors if I came off too eager. “What’s that?”

“You have to dance with me later.”

I looked beyond our group to the dance floor where a half dozen couples shuffled along to the country music. Although I wasn’t much on dancing, I wasn’t about to deny this woman anything. “You got it.”

The first order of business was to flag down the waiter to get the lady a beer.

The second was to find another chair for Russ, who happily joined us a couple minutes later.

I wasn’t sure if he’d be annoyed that his sister was staying, but the affectionate hug he gave her showed he didn’t mind her presence.

She took a sip of her freshly delivered beer. “So, tell me about this ex?”

Carly was the last person I wanted to talk about. “There’s not much to tell.”

Humor etched her features. “Messy breakup?”

Russ almost spit out his drink. “God, you’re nosey.”

She shrugged it off. “I call it curiosity. But you don’t have to tell your new fake girlfriend about your breakup with your ex-real-girlfriend if you don’t want to.”

Her out would’ve been easy to take, but I decided to get it over with.

That way I wouldn’t have to waste another minute thinking about a college ex-girlfriend.

“I don’t mind. We dated for close to a year during my senior year of college.

I came home early from work to find her naked and on top of my roommate on the couch.

I broke it off. She blamed me. I was in love with her enough that it hurt, but not as much as the sting of my pride.

Not sure what she thought would happen tonight, but I haven’t thought of her once over the last five years. ”

That wasn’t entirely true as getting cheated on had left a bitter taste and given me wariness around relationships. But Carly’s betrayal had been nothing compared to the betrayal of the person she’d cheated with.

“Why did she blame you?” Layla’s tone was light, but the question seemed deeper.

Unlike other kids in college, I’d had to work to help offset the costs of tuition and housing.

Although supportive, my parents were middle class and couldn’t afford to pay for everything without my pitching in.

I figured the experience helped shape my work ethic.

I appreciated that my job helped pay for every credit, every grade, and every class.

This motivated me to take it very seriously.

Carly, on the other hand, had come from money.

She’d had little respect for the fact I had to earn every penny or that my job necessarily took time away from spending it with her.

“She blamed me because she felt I wasn’t paying enough attention to her. I was working part-time while going to school.” To my mind, I’d been doing everything I could to juggle things, putting her first whenever I could. Nowadays, I made work the priority and didn’t apologize about it to anyone.

Russ snorted. “Clearly, that made Carly trip and fall on your cousin’s penis.”

I grinned. “Clearly.”

Layla picked up on the new piece of information. “Your cousin?”

Shit. The last thing I wanted was to get deeper into this conversation.

Luckily, she left it light. “That must’ve made for an interesting family dynamic.”

“You could say that.” One which would never be the same, thanks to that night.

“Clearly her loss.” Her eyes were full of amusement, and yet I could see something else. Assessment perhaps. Definitely flirting.

“So, you recently moved up here?” I had a million questions, wanting to get to know her, but I didn’t want to come on too strong.

“I did, but to Seattle, not all the way up here in Bellingham.”

Thump. Thump. She was local to me. “I’m there, too. You like it?”

“For now.” She changed the subject and turned the focus onto her brother. “Russ, did you ask Suzanne out?”

He rolled his eyes, undoubtedly not appreciating the question. “Not yet. Unlike you, she’s shy. The students return to school in a few weeks, so we’ll both be busy.”

From what I knew, Suzanne was a fellow teacher he’d been crushing on.

“You’re making excuses, which means it’ll never happen. Come on. Promise me you’ll do it this week? No students yet make it easier to talk to her. Life is too short to wait.”

Although Russ’s face was turning pink with the attention on his dating life, he seemed to take her words to heart. “Okay. I’ll do it. I’ll ask her out for coffee on Monday.”

She lit up at his answer. “Terrific.”

It was obvious Russ was out of his comfort zone. While Layla appeared very extroverted, her younger brother was anything but. Although Russ was a good-looking guy, he was generally reserved and could be painfully shy with the opposite sex.

“Ugh. What if she says no? I wish we could skip this awkward dating part and go straight to the relationship.”

“Says no guy ever,” she quipped, making us all laugh. She patted his arm. “Then again, you’re one of the good ones. The short answer is if she turns you down, she’s a fool, and I’ll treat you to a night out at a strip club to forget all about her.”

Her suggestion made me almost spit out the beer I’d been sipping.

Russ was already shaking his head. “No. Nope. Never. There is no way I’m going to a strip club with my sister. Ever.”

She winked, leaving no doubt she’d try to make good on her promise.

We spent the next hour chatting while drinking a couple more rounds of beer and finishing up the fantasy football draft. When Russ excused himself to go to the restroom, I decided to make my move.

“I owe you a dance,” I murmured, standing up and taking her hand. I was grateful the music had switched to something slower. I wasn’t a dancer, so I would take all the help I could get when it came to moving to a beat.

The zing of our first touch didn’t fade.

Instead, it turned into a live wire now where our hands connected.

Out on the dance floor, she didn’t hesitate or hold me away from her like most people would if they’d only met for the first time that night.

Nope, she threw her arms around my neck and practically molded her body to mine.

Her face came up to my chin as I stood almost six foot two.

“You don’t dance much, do you?”

“Is it that obvious?” My steps were slow, but at least I wasn’t treading on her toes. I had no idea how she kept from falling over in her stilettos.

“You’re very tense.”

My hands itched to move south from where they rested on her hips. I had to remember I’d just met this girl, and we were in a public place. “Maybe it’s because I’m trying to remain a gentleman.”

She tilted her head to the side. “Hm. That’s too bad. I’m not really into gentlemen.”

My cock enjoyed that statement. A lot. “What are you into?”

Was it just me or did the air seem thicker? She ran one of her hands down to my chest.

“Only one way to find out.”

Somewhere in the back of my mind, a little voice warned I should think twice about having sex with my good friend’s sister. Having a conscience was a real bitch sometimes. “What about your brother?”

“I don’t think we should invite him.”

I threw my head back and laughed at her deadpan retort.

But wasn’t there an unwritten rule about sisters?

I knew I wouldn’t be cool if Russell took my baby sister to his hotel room for a one-night stand.

But then again, he’d invited Layla to pretend to be my girlfriend, and he didn’t appear to mind our flirting. “There’s Russ’s feelings to consider.”

“Are you asking or telling me? Because if you’re asking whether or not I’m worried about how this will make my brother feel, I’m going with no, I’m not.”

My grin came quickly. “I have a room at the hotel next door. How do you want to play this?”

“We don’t have to. My little brother is not my keeper. I promise you he’s just happy I’m out of the house.”

Made me wonder if she was typically the type to stay in. Didn’t seem like it.

Meanwhile, she seemed to sense that my conscience, though not putting up much of a fight, wasn’t completely satisfied. “How about you follow my lead?” she suggested. “We won’t be obvious.”

“All right. Sounds like a plan.” I was curious about what she had in mind.

After the song ended, we walked hand in hand over to the table. Russell had returned to his chair and was presently on his phone.

“We’re thinking about getting out of here and going to another bar. You, uh, want to come?” she asked.

I hoped it wasn’t obvious I wished he’d say no.

Russ glanced between us. I noticed Layla was standing a half step back from me, and out of the corner of my eye, I could see her motioning. Was she shaking her head? Giving him cues?

I turned but not in time to catch the movement. Instead, she looked the picture of innocence.

“No. You two have fun. I’m gonna finish my beer and head home soon. I’ll see you both later.”

Yes, he would. I’d promised to help him build a deck off of the rear of his house in the morning.

She bent down and kissed him on the cheek. “See ya, Russ. Thanks for inviting me out.”

I settled my tab quickly, paying for Layla’s beer along with Russ’s, and left a cash tip.

I was trying to play it cool while my Neanderthal side wanted to haul her over my shoulder and take her next door to my hotel.

I’d had one-night stands, although the numbers of such were few.

This was the very first time, though, the matter had been instigated by the woman.

Most didn’t wish to give the impression they were slutty. Or perhaps they simply lacked the sexual confidence to put it out there. But this girl—she was unapologetic about what she desired. I glanced over at her as we walked the hundred or so yards to the front of my hotel and had to ask.

“Were you signaling your brother back there at the bar that he shouldn’t come with us?”

She gave me an exaggerated, “Who, me?” and proceeded to giggle.

“You’re bad.”

“You have no idea.”