Chapter 1 #2
It’s full of a lot of men. Wealthy-looking men. There’s a woman, holding a beer in her hand, staring at us, and I can tell from her expression that she’s bemused.
“I opened the door for you. Wasn’t that welcoming enough?”
“Not really.” I shake my head and try to internally displace the feeling of oddness that has crept inside of me. “But I suppose you can make it up to me?” I gravitate back to my normal flirting. Not because I want him, but because I hate feeling so unnerved.
“And how would I do that?”
“A drink for my sister and me?”
“Your sister?” He looks over at Rosie and offers her his hand, like he’s some sort of gentleman. I don’t even know the man, and I know he’s not one.
“Hi, I’m Rosie. Nice to meet you.” Rosie’s practically beaming, and he smirks as he looks back at me, like he’s won a game I didn’t even know we were playing.
“Nice to meet you as well. Have a seat, ladies. Your drinks are on me.” He nods his head in a bow and walks away while Rosie and I head over to a booth.
“He’s cute.” Rosie leans forward and whispers in my ear, “Like Adonis cute.”
“He’s okay,” I say, but I can’t stop myself from watching him as he whispers something to the bartender, who looks back over at us and nods.
Who is this man?
“We should call Juniper and let her know we’re here so she doesn’t worry.” She mentions our favorite cousin, the one we recently visited, and I nod.
Juniper is the only member of our family who actually means something to us, but even she doesn’t know the truth of our lives. Though, if I’m honest, I know Rosie doesn’t know either. I want to continue living life on the blissful road of willful ignorance.
“Call her and let her know.”
I pull out the folded napkin from my pocket and read the hastily scribbled words one more time.
Kettle King. I didn’t think I’d find it so quickly.
I didn’t know whether that was serendipitous or not.
I suppose I’ll find out soon. I quickly place it back in my pocket before Rosie can see it.
She doesn’t know the real reason why we’re here, and I’m not going to tell her.
Not yet. The fact is, I am her big sister.
Her protector. As such, I have certain secrets I have to keep.
“It’s ringing.” Rosie stretches out one of her arms and offers me a warm, lazy smile. “I bet she’s with Rafe somewhere, doing who knows what.” Rafe is Juniper’s new boyfriend and the love of her life, and she spends every free moment with him.
“I bet you’re right.” I grin and rub her shoulder. “Send her a text, and we can call her back later. Right now, let’s grab some drinks and food and then check out our place. I’m sure excited to see it.”
“Me too.” She ends the call and puts the phone back into her Louis Vuitton bag.
The one that my ex, Davis, gifted me and I gave to her.
She loves that bag almost as much as I hate him.
“You know this is going to be our first real home.” Her eyes meet mine, and we stare at each other for a few moments. “Thanks, Sage. This means something.”
“Don’t thank me yet. I haven’t milked any billionaires out of their money yet.” I lighten the mood with a joke, and we both laugh as we sit back and wait to be served.
I can feel the hot stranger’s eyes on me.
It hasn’t gone unnoticed that he hasn’t asked my name or given me his, but maybe that is for the best. I don’t need any distractions.
Certainly not from some steely-eyed man who looks like a warrior from the Odyssey movie.
No matter how much he makes my heart race, I know a man like him only equals one thing, and that is trouble.
“I’ll be right back. I need to use the restroom,” I say before getting up and making my way toward the back of the bar.
I can see eyes on me as I move, and I very much feel like a hamster on a wheel, on display in front of the world. I make my way past a large painting of some historical figure, and I almost bump into someone.
“Sorry.” He looks me directly in the eyes, and I notice it’s the man from before. “Fancy seeing you here.” He offers me a lopsided smile. “Did you get your drinks yet?”
“We just sat down.” I shake my head. “So, unless the speed of service here is otherworldly, I don’t think so.”
“So, you believe in other worlds then?”
“Huh?” I frown at him, trying not to question why he’s teasing me. “If you were to tell me you were from Mars, I would believe you. So, there’s that. Does that answer your question?”
“I’m not an alien.”
“You just look like one?”
“Something like that.” He grins. “I should be offended, but I’ll pretend that’s your way of complimenting me. You really should stop being so friendly with strangers.”
“You really should be much more cautious.” I wink at him. “I could be the black widow for all you know.”
“Maybe I’d quite like that.” He winks back at me and then whispers in my ear, “Maybe I’m a bad boy who would love to find a bad girl.”
His breath is warm in my ear, and I shiver as I step back. His eyes are dancing in merriment, and I can tell he’s trying to get a reaction out of me. But I’m not going to let him.
“Well, that’s a pity,” I say demurely as I step past him. “I guess you’ll have to keep looking.”
I continue making my way to the back of the bar, but I can hear him laughing behind me.
Like our exchange amused him. I would bet a hundred dollars that he’s some Goody Two-shoes accountant or something, getting off on playing a big man with strangers.
I try to dismiss him from my thoughts. Sure, he is handsome and slightly witty, and he smells amazing, but I don’t need to waste my time and energy on some random man.
I need to focus and find my billionaire.