Page 42 of The Companion Love Trap

Kieran’s body shook with what I assumed were nerves as we neared the dining room. With my hand clutched around his arm, I could feel every tiny vibration. You’d think he was headed for the gallows instead of dinner with the level of fear that engulfed him with each step. My heart ached for him in a way I wasn’t used to, empathy pouring from my touch as I attempted to soothe his worries, but feeling like I was failing miserably.

Shit. What would a girlfriend do?

“It’s going to be fine,” I affirmed, squeezing his bicep and smoothing my hand over his dinner jacket. “I’ve gone to dinners like this a million times before. I’ll help you navigate the passive-aggressive bullshit.”

Kieran gave me a soft smile as I continued to pet his arm. He’d gone with a classic look for the first dinner with a white dress shirt and black jacket, matching his slacks and shoes.

I, on the other hand, had gone for a bit of liveliness in a sunny yellow dress that flowed around me. It had been one of my favorites that Ferro had made. Though now I wondered if we resembled a bee? Focus, Everly. You’re meant to soothe him, not become nervous yourself!

Jace had gone ahead to meet Cruz so he could be added to our table, so I didn’t know what either of them wore. I had to admit I was excited to see what they ended up in since both men were more casual in their everyday styles.

Yeah, because that’s the only thing you’re excited about. It’s not like you haven’t been thinking about all three of these delicious men while you were getting dressed, and all the things they said. And didn’t say. How you secretly loved that Cruz followed you here, forcing you to confront—Okay that was enough of you for now.

Companion Rule #8—suck it up buttercup. You still had a job to do.

Stepping into the main dining room, I took in the other guests as they sat around their tables. It felt like everyone had stopped to stare at us. The room was extravagant with gold filigree and lush floral arrangements decorating the space. It looked like every other high-end restaurant, from the people gathered to the food being served. Yuck. Looked like I’d be hitting the all-hours buffet and dessert bar later.

“Mr. Byrne and Ms. Carlisle, right this way,” the maitre’d stated, directing us to our table.

It had surprised me at first how they knew our name. But considering the amount Kieran paid for the staterooms and usage of the ship for his presentations, I’d bet they had his picture stapled to a wall somewhere with the words ‘exclusive guest’ under it.

We walked around tables, men and women of various ages filling the space. Surprisingly, there weren’t any children present, and I wasn't sure if it was because of the dinner time we had, or if it was adults only. That would be good to know.

Not surprisingly, the men were dressed similarly to Kieran, some with or without a tie. And the women were decked out in dresses, some more formal than others. Thankfully, mine was right in the middle, not putting me at the bottom or over the top. I had to admit, Jace knew exactly what to select. I wouldn’t tell him though; the man was smug enough already.

“Dane and Harden will be your waiters while on board the Brilliance. Please let them know if you need anything. Enjoy your meal.”

The man stepped away, and our table came into view. Cruz and Jace had stood at our arrival, and I momentarily forgot to breathe. Cruz wore an all-black suit, his jacket shiny like the fabric had a sheen to it. His shirt was open at the collar, his dark skin gave the hint of chest hair peeking out at the top. He’d worn his dark hair down and pushed behind his ears. The curls and length had been unknown to me until right this moment, stunning me into silence. He had to know how incredible his hair was and kept it up to stave off the jealousy of women everywhere. Like damn, it was gorgeous. I had a sudden, intense urge to run my fingers through it.

“You look breathtaking, Firecracker,” Jace said, stepping up to kiss my cheek. I took the chance to take him in, finding him just as mouthwatering in a navy blue jacket, white shirt, and navy slacks. His auburn hair shimmered under the lights, the swoop in the front so perfect I wanted to mess it up with my fingers. In my daze, Kieran directed me to my chair, scooting me in like a gentleman.

He sat beside me, giving me a few seconds to recover from ovary overload. I’d never been happier to have an IUD than I was right then. If I had to worry about taking a pill, I was pretty sure my ovaries would reject it and get themselves pregnant. It would be a fertilization riot, leaving me with the repercussions.

Images of how cute a baby would be with any of the three men’s features popped into my head, my lady parts doubling down full force.

Retreat! Retreat! Flirty and thirty! Not thirsty and birthy.

“Everly, I’d like you to meet a few of our investors. You’ve already met Mrs. Combs. This is her husband, Barry.” I nodded my head, Mrs. Combs giving me a smile in greeting. “And our other two this evening are Mr. and Mrs. Huber. Everyone, this is my girlfriend, Everly.”

Kieran spoke with confidence, but I could still feel him shaking next to me. It made me instantly worried how much he pushed himself to be what other people expected of himself, and understanding even more why he tended to appear so unapproachable. If it took this much energy, he’d be a husk of a person. I smoothed my hand on his thigh and felt him relax instantly.

“It’s lovely to meet you,” I said, smiling as I took in the new faces. The Hubers didn’t appear to like me, returning to their conversation after a brief dismissal. Barry Combs at least seemed kind, and I liked him more than the other two.

“Each night, there will be different guests at our table so that they all get to dine with Kieran,” Jace whispered, his breath eliciting goosebumps. His hand lingered on my thigh under the table, and I gulped as I tried to slow my racing heart. Do not get turned on at the table. Do not!

Before I could ask any questions, the servers introduced themselves and saved me from letting out a moan as Jace’s hand continued to run over my skin, using the slit in the dress to his advantage.

Dane had a friendly smile and shared that this was his tenth cruise. He was originally from Croatia and loved traveling and meeting new people. Harden was more subdued, giving off a mysterious vibe, informing us this was his sixth cruise and that he hailed from a small village in Brazil.

That intrigued Cruz, who immediately began speaking in Portuguese with him. Harden transformed into a different person when he spoke in his native tongue. I didn’t know what they said, but I enjoyed listening to them. And if the slickness developing below was anything to go by, it was having an effect on me.

The table held small conversations as the first course was brought out, with people talking to those nearest them. Since both Jace and Kieran had been pulled into discussions with the person on their other side, I observed and listened as I oriented myself to the experience. There were so many things going on that I both loved and hated it. I wanted to watch all the other servers, intrigued by how they interacted with their tables, some putting on more of a show than others. But I also wanted to hear what was said at ours. Eventually, I gave up, unable to attend or follow anyone with any actual concentration.

“Everly, how did you and Kieran meet?” Mrs. Combs asked around the fourth course, pulling me from my battle with Jace’s hand and Cruz’s eyes that were practically undressing me. I’d believe he had x-ray vision at this point.

“We met through Jace at Howlers,” I said, smiling. Jace’s hand tensed on my thigh, but I focused on the woman across from me. “I couldn’t take my eyes off him,” I gushed, turning and kissing Kieran’s cheek. He blushed but wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

“And what do you do?” Mr. Huber asked, giving me a shrewd look as he took a bite. He’d become more interested in me as the dinner passed. Or at least more interested in hating me since all of his looks had been heavy in derision since course two.

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