Page 164 of By His Rule

Despite my body wanting to head across town to Lorelei’s place, I let my head lead and drive home. Although, once I get there, I don’t let myself up to the penthouse. Instead, I wander down the street to the bar.

I need a drink, and for some reason, I don’t want to be alone quite yet.

The security guard sees me coming and lifts the rope so that I don’t have to slow my stride.

“Evening, Kian. How lovely to see you.”

“You too, Brian,” I say before continuing.

The place is busy. Almost every table is full, and there are more customers than usual lining the bar.

I instantly regret my decision. Maybe hiding in my apartment would have been the best option.

“Mr. Callahan,” the barman smiles when he spots me. “To what do we owe this pleasure?”

“Missed you,” I tease as I hop onto a barstool.

“Well, I’m honored. You usually have much more beautiful company on a Saturday night than me.”

“Don’t I fucking know it.”

He smirks. “Usual?”

“You got it.”

Spinning away from me, he grabs their finest bottle of scotch and pours me a more-than-generous measure.

“I hope that does what you need it to, man,” he says as he places the glass before me.

I’m about to ask what he means, but he’s already gone, serving others.

With a sigh, I pick up my glass and swirl the amber liquid around.

Maybe all the answers do lie at the bottom.

I quickly check my cell again in case I missed her message, but when I find nothing but work emails and other shit I don’t care about right now, I lift my glass to my lips and swallow every drop.

Tucked at the end of the bar, I’m awarded some kind of privacy, allowing me to watch the comings and goings around me.

I watch the couples on dates and the friends having a long overdue catch-up. Thankfully, everyone leaves me alone to get lost in my own little world. I’m about to call it a night after my third scotch, but just as my feet hit the floor, the worst noise possible hits my ears.

“Kian Callahan. Well, I never.”

Fuck.

My body acts of its own accord, and I spin around to face a woman I haven’t seen for years.

We had a couple of nights together when we were younger, before she landed a job in Hollywood and disappeared to live the dream on the Golden Coast.

“Tia,” I say, sounding much happier than I feel.

Women like her are the exact reason I proposed that fake relationship deal to Lorelei yesterday.

Tia’s eyes glitter with excitement and ulterior motives as she moves closer, ready to kiss both of my cheeks.

“Honey, it has been way too long,” she purrs, her hand gliding up my arm. We might have once been close, but we’re hardly long-lost lovers.

I take a step back, but she follows.

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