Page 26 of Into the Woods

But Eric wasn’t anything like I’d expected.

In fact, when he wrapped his hand around mine and brought it to his lips, it took me a second to figure out how to form words. The fact that Alex and Cami were making out less than a foot away was barely a blip on my brain.

Gray eyes sparkled at me through a fringe of dark lashes as Eric’s warm lips touched my knuckles. “Let me guess,” he began, speaking with a soft accent I couldn’t quite place and still holding my hand. “You thought I was some pathetic wanker who needed his big brother’s help finding a date for the night?”

“Something like that,” I admitted, as the car service Cami and I had taken to the club pulled away from the curb and disappeared into the bustling night traffic. My breath fogged through the chilly air.

Darkness had blanketed Paris, leaving everything under a shimmering blanket of lights from cars, buildings, and streetlamps. The bite in the air made everything seem sharper, clearer, and people waiting to get inside huddled together in groups.

The front of Frisson looked every bit the decadent nightclub, from the purple velvet ropes containing a lengthy line of people waiting to get in, to the burly bouncers dressed in black with ear pieces. The concrete under my heels trembled from the bass of the music thumping inside.

A thrill shot through me as I realized I was doing this. I was going to a freaking nightclub in Paris on a blind date with a guy who was actually really hot.

Even if his dad was pimping him out.

Eric winked at me with a boyish grin. “My father doesn’t quite understand that, unlike him and my brother, I prefer to focus on quality over quantity.”

My gaze jumped to Alex, and I wondered if my cousin knew that. If she did, she didn’t seem to care, judging by the way his tongue was shoved down her throat and his hands gripped her ass.

“Camille seems to be special. Or, at least that’s what Alex keeps telling me,” Eric added, sounding sincere as he glanced back at them. Then he made a face. “Reckon they know they’re in public?”

I couldn’t help a soft laugh as I watched Camille’s back arch. A few people in the line were starting to notice the show. “More like they couldn’t care less.” I cleared my throat loudly. “Uh, Cami?”

It took a second, but she finally pulled back, her hands still clutching Alex’s shoulders as she looked at me with flushed cheeks and glassy eyes. She shot me a rueful smile. “I suppose we’re being rude, aren’t we? Alex, this is my favorite cousin, Bex.”

Alex straightened and gave me his attention. He had the same gray eyes as his brother, but where Eric’s were warm, Alex’s were icy, almost calculating. He studied me for a beat before a smile that looked like he’d worked in politics all his life changed his expression.

One hand still on Cami’s waist, Alex leaned over and extended the other to me. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Bex,” he greeted, sounding genuine, but I’d grown up around enough of my dad’s politician buddies to know when someone was sincere.

This guy? Not even close.

Not wanting to offend Cami, I shook Alex’s hand, tamping down the sensation of spiders crawling over my skin as his gaze raked down me once more before coming up to meet my eyes. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

“Same,” I replied, forcing a bright smile.

Cami’s smile only grew as she cuddled against Alex’s chest. I tried not to stare, but it was kinda blowing my mind that my smart, sweet, amazing cousin didn’t seem to notice anything wrong with her boyfriend.

Then again, I’d just met him, so maybe I was the one being too judgy. Maybe Alex had one of those personalities that took some time to get to know before he showed that gooey center under all the layers of asshole.

Lord knew I’d had my own experiences with that type of man.

No, no, no. We’re not thinking about him.

“We should go in,” Alex declared, letting my hand go and turning to Cami, who nodded.

“Uh, there’s a line,” I pointed out as Alex took Cami by the wrist and led her straight to the bouncers.

Alex shot me a look over his shoulder like I was an adorable idiot.

Eric leaned in toward me. “I don’t think my brother understands the concept of lines,” he whispered.

Sure enough, Alex spoke a few words I couldn’t make out to the bouncer, and a second later, the man unclipped one of the velvet ropes to let us pass. Alex flicked his fingers at us to follow, and I had to fight not to roll my eyes at his big-douche energy.

“God, he’s a pompous ass, isn’t he?” Eric kept up the commentary as we followed them inside. “Been this way since he was born. Sadly it’s a genetic trait that the men in my family are renowned for.”

I shot him an amused look as we went through the front doors and stepped into a long corridor lit by sconces. “You seem to have emerged unscathed.”

He shrugged. “I take after my mother, plus I had the benefit of being sent to an all-boys boarding school starting at age eight.”

---