Page 10 of Mr. Big Mistake
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, please, I’ve just never seen him around before. Who in the world is that guy?”
“Well, you know the rumored ‘big brother’?”
I slowly looked over at her. “That’s Clint?”
She smiled. “Yep. That’s him.”
“The guy’s that rumored to have -?”
“That’s him,” Karina assured me.
“Oh, my God,” I gasped, looking away out over the crowd.
Club Verona was a bit on the chill side tonight, which I loved. Their weekends were always loud and bombastic. But, during the week? They toned it down a bit. The lights of the club didn’t flash or strobe. Instead, the warm white and red lights set off an ambiance of relaxation while the smooth jazz music filled the club from corner to corner. A live band had been booked for the evening, and the smell of cigar smoke lingered around the entrances and exits. No one on the dance floor was gyrating or grinding. Instead, they were swaying and smiling up at their partners while the rustic band crooned and ad-libbed into their microphones.
I enjoyed it when things were toned down like that.
The leather chair greeted me as I sat with my cosmopolitan martini in my hand. Then, I crossed my leg over my knee, drawing in a deep breath of air. Fresh, too, which was almost unheard of in a club like that on the weekends. While sipping my drink, I let the taste of cranberry and cotton candy dance on the edges of my tongue. I closed my eyes, allowing the alcohol to seep through my veins. The soft, pulsing rhythm of the plucked bass downstairs made me sway and sigh. A smile crept across my lips as I leaned back against the buttery leather chair.
I could’ve stayed like that all night.
Had the girls simply left me alone.
“Kelly, here, thinks Clint’s cute,” Karina said.
Roxy squealed. “Oh, my God. That would be perfect. So, so perfect.”
My eyes snapped open. “Uh, what? I didn’t say--.”
Karina shot me a look. “Come on. A man built like that. And let’s not forget he was a Navy SEAL, yum.”
Roxy grinned. “And his nickname. Have you heard it?”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t care about any of that kind of stuff.”
Roxy sat down on the edge of the chair. “Seriously. He would be perfect.”
“For what?” I asked.
“Seriously? You’re going to act like you don’t know what we are talking about?” Karina asked.
I shook my head. “No. I’m not going along with something like that.”
Roxy shoved me playfully. “Oh, come on. You know it’s going to help you gain some confidence. A bit of no-strings-attached fun to get you going and get you some experience, then boom! You’re ready for the market.”
My drink sloshed onto my hand. “Thanks. You owe me another one.”
Karina giggled. “Not like you paid for it.”
I blinked. “Yeah, I did. I gave you the money for it.”
She nodded. “Yep. And Clint usurped me and bought our drinks. Yours included.”
I quickly set it down. “Wish you would’ve told me that sooner.”
Roxy sighed. “Come on, you damn party pooper. I’m tired of seeing you this way. Always moping, always pining, and never actually getting out to have any fun. This isn’t college anymore. You get to own your space now. Go out there and show them who’s boss. You’ve got your own clothing line, for fuck’s sake!”
I pointed at my sister. “Almost. I almost have my own clothing line.”
