Page 47 of You Don’t Kiss Your Brother's Best Friends

“Well you’re a long way from home,” the man noted. “How’d you end up all the way out here, Emily Langone?”

I could’ve lied, but those eyes were studying me carefully. Just as I knew they studied everyone this man met, for better or for worse.

“Originally I came here on vacation,” I told him, “and got stuck when my return flight got canceled. I got talked into staying an extra week. One week became two, two became four, and the next thing I knew…” I shrugged.

“So Greece sucked you in,” the man theorized.

“I guess so, yes.”

The best lies, I’d learned long ago, were ninety-percent truth. Rather than make up a story from scratch, it was easier to stretch the boundaries of what actually happened.

And that was a good thing, because this was the type of man who’d stayed alive this long by knowing when someone was lying, and when someone was telling the truth. He regarded me carefully, but I’d answered so quickly and with such conviction he detected no falsehood.

“If you don’t mind,” I entreated, I’m already late for where I need to be.”

“No you’re not.”

He was done testing me, I could tell. But now he was looking me over in a much more familiar way: the way a man looks at a woman in a tight black dress.

“Tell that to Raif,” I rebutted, “when he’s done chewing me out.”

“Yes, well you tell Raif or Evelyn or anyone else you work for that Victorsaidyou’re not late,” the man countered firmly. “You tell them you were with me. Understand?”

I nodded, numbly. He was still blocking the hallway when he reached up to touch my arm, smoothing my shoulder with one big palm.

“Sorry I almost knocked you down, Emily from New Hampshire,” he smiled. “But it’s very nice to meet you."

He extended his hand, and reflexively I shook it. His palm was so hot it felt like it was on fire.

“Nice to meet you, too,” I smiled back weakly.

“Maybe we’ll talk again soon,” he said. “One of these nights when we both have more time, and you’re not running full tilt through the hallways.”

“That would be nice.”

With that he turned sideways, allowing me to move past him. I gave him my back and brushed against him as I slipped by, but only because there wasn’t enough room. It left me wondering if he was simply a big guy in a small hallway, or if he’d intentionally left just enough space that our bodies would have to touch.

Either way, I had cold shivers all the way down to the kitchen.

~ 28 ~

KAYDEN

“Service!”

I slid the tray of filet mignon skewers onto the counter, just as the tiny blonde server arrived with an empty one. Dorothea, I think her name was. She looked nervous as hell, as if she’d taken a job she regretted and couldn’t see a way out of it. In that respect, I sympathized with her. We traded quickly, and I went straight back to work.

“Kayden…”

Evelyn sidled up to me, invading my space as usual. She was too busy to flirt, though. Raif had been through here like a tornado, twice so far, and at one point had ripped her a new one about something. Now she just looked angry and annoyed. Not at me, of course, but definitely about something.

“They want more of this,” she pointed. “And less of that.”

“Check.”

“Do you have enough?”

“I should,” I told her. “I’ll need to check the pantry.”

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