Page 22 of Take You

“Okay, that’s great. So, let’s go, then.” The tone of her voice suggested a challenge, or dare even. Interesting.

“Go where?”

“To Bar None. I want to meet these friends you’re ashamed of.”

“I’m not ashamed of them. I’m just saying that they’re a lot, is all. I guess I’m warning you... I dunno.” I shrugged to emphasize my point.

“Oh, so you don’t think I can handle ‘a lot’, is that it?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“No, but I get the impression it’s what you think. Well, I’m here to tell you that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, as there could very well be more within those pages than meets the eye. Much more, in fact.” There was a gleam in her eyes that definitely hadn’t been there before, and I liked it.

“Really? Sounds like a challenge.”

“Oh, it is. Do you accept?”

“Are Pop Tarts a food group unto themselves?” I winked.

“What?” For some reason, I enjoyed the look of confusion on her face.

“Yes. The answer to both things is yes. Let’s go. This is going to be interesting.”

If I lived to be one hundred years old, I didn’t think I’d ever figure out why women were so contrary. Even without meaning to, I’d just accidentally double-bluffed her into the next phase of the plan without even trying.

What I’d said to her initially was true—I wasn’t ready to call the date to a close, but I’d had no idea that seeming to take the option of meeting the boys off the table would have had her running for Bar None like her shoes were on fire.

Of course, I could think of another way to extend proceedings, that didn’t involve introducing her to the likely hot mess which was the Cygnus guys on a night out. But then there was also the plan, and Fox would probably have gutted me like a fish if I’d failed to carry it out, or if he knew I’d already majorly deviated from it.

As we entered the bar, I was hit with a last minute pang of regret about what I was leading Rose into. We’d gotten on so well at dinner, where the conversation, jokes, and wine had flowed easily. There was definitely a connection, and chemistry there, above and beyond the amazing sex we’d already shared, and suddenly I felt like I was trashing all of that, and throwing her to the wolves.

On the other hand, I knew it was what I had to do, and what needed to be done. But back when it was just another step in Fox’s larger scheme, I hadn’t anticipated giving this much of a fuck about it, or about her. I needed to keep my conscience in check, and remember the very valid reasons for the plan in the first place. I definitely needed to remember that I was doing it all for Fox.

I heard the guys before I saw them—obviously they were having a great night, also.

“Let me guess, your friends are the group in the back corner?”

“Bingo. What gave it away?” I grinned, obviously yanking her chain.

“Um... I don’t know, but it could be the fact that they are a bunch of Kane clones—hot, well-dressed, monied-frat-boy types.”

“I’m not...”

“Well-dressed? Hot?” Her grin matched mine, and the twinkle was still in her eye.

“A frat-boy type.”

“Okay. You keep telling yourself that. Over here in the real world, shall we find a table, or are we literally going to join the brothers, and spend the rest of the night trying to see who can toss the most peanuts in the air and catch them in our mouths without choking?”

“That’s not what we...” She nudged me in the ribs as I spoke, and when I looked back across at the guys, Drew was throwing peanuts in his mouth and catching them. Fuck. Fox on the other hand was staring our way like a psycho. Double fuck.

I ushered Rose over to a vacant table on the opposite side of the room. “Okay, so probably best we sit over here.”

She was laughing and taking it all in good humor. “Yeah probably for the best.”

“What can I get you to drink?” We’d settled in our seats, and I’d purposely made sure that Rose had her back to the guys.

“No, no, let me get these. You paid for dinner.”

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