What the hell, I decided and grabbed my phone. I handed it over once I pulled up a picture of Grey.
“Wow. Really? That’s your brother?” She stared at me, wide-eyed.
I shrugged, accustomed to this response. “Yep. Good ol’ Grey.”
“You two look a lot alike. Still, men aren’t supposed to be that beautiful,” she murmured, not able to tear her eyes off the picture.
“Careful there. You’re drooling,” I teased.
She barked out a loud laugh and passed my phone back. “Good God, girl. Can I go home with you?”
“Nice try, but Grey is officially off the market. He’s getting married.”
She pouted playfully. “That’s just wrong.”
Who is this girl, and why do I like her so much?
“You’re pretty cool, Lyric. I haven’t had this much fun since I arrived.”
“You’re not so bad yourself, Carolina.” She studied me for a moment. “Hey, I get off in an hour. I’m gonna meet my brother at a club afterward. There’s a killer band playing tonight. Wanna come with?”
I didn’t give myself a chance to second-guess it – I needed this. “Definitely. I’d love to experience the nightlife here.”
Lyric offered me a wide grin. “Awesome. You’ll love Paul. He’s a good guy, very laid-back and funny.”
I’d had a few, so if I was going to go out, I needed to sober up a bit.
“I’m gonna go upstairs and take a shower. I need to get some food in my belly soon, too. If I continue drinkin’, I’ll make a fool out of myself.”
“Good call.” She laughed and closed my tab, charging everything to my room.
I signed my receipt, leaving her a fat tip, and then stood, swaying a bit. “Maybe I should order some coffee, too. Jeez, I’m buzzed.”
“Go on and get out of here. Meet me in the lobby in say,” she checked her watch, “an hour and fifteen. That’ll give me time to change.”
“Perfect.” With a jaunty wave, I turned, thinking my trip had finally taken a turn for the better.
∞
The heavy bass pulsated through the air as we walked down the street. With a line already clear around the side of the building, the club was bustling. Lyric ignored it and boldly continued to the door, where she met a burly bouncer with dark ebony skin.
“Hey, Mick,” she called out.
The bald man smiled at her, reminding me of a blanket of snow against a dark horizon. “Lyric, love. Good to see ya. Paul’s already inside.” He unhooked the velvet rope and dipped his voice. “Save me a dance for later.”
Lyric pushed up on her toes and kissed his cheek, shooting him a flirty wink. “You got it, big guy.”
The man extended a polite smile to me as we passed him, so I returned the favor, feeling out of place. “Looks like you’ve made plenty of friends since you arrived, Lyric,” I commented.
Lyric gave me a sly glance over her shoulder and merely shrugged.
Another man opened the door for us and loud, soulful music hit me. When Lyric said we were going to see a band play, I expected rock or something punk. However, the singer had a beautiful voice, a low and sultry rasp, as she sang about losing someone. The words were heartbreaking, but the tempo was alive and seductive, something you could really move to.
Lyric beckoned me inside, pushing her way through the crowd, shouting, “Come on. You’ll love this place.”
Everything was dark and gothic, decorated in black and chrome. Three balconies overlooked a huge stage and dance floor – I’d bet it was once a concert hall or theater of some kind. Tables and couches lined either side, with a large bar taking up the whole wall opposite the stage. Subtle blue lights lit up from underneath the tables, the bars, the fixture, and some were in the floors and ceiling. Large gargoyles sat on perches in each corner of the roof, as well as on the rails of the balcony. The crowd was an assortment of people, from finely dressed business men and women to people wearing leather and studded jewelry and belts.
I was still fairly buzzed when I dressed, so I decided to go all out. I put a ton of curls in my hair and went dark and heavy with my makeup, staining my lips red. My black dress was short, clingy, and flashed plenty of cleavage and back. Lyric’s eyes nearly popped out of her head when she saw me, but then a smile brightened her face, and she told me I’d fit in perfectly.
She was right.
I was glad I went with this ensemble instead of jeans and a cute top. I would have stuck out like a sore thumb.
Lyric changed into a short hot-pink leather mini, a black halter top, and tall go-go boots. Multiple leather and silver bracelets adorned both wrists. Two high pigtails jutted out from either side of her head, giving her the illusion of innocence. Before walking into this club, I’d never seen anything like it, and I gaped for a solid five seconds before I could gather myself.
You wanted something different, Sam, and you most certainly got it.
A waitress greeted us within our first few steps inside. She carried a tray of tubes filled with neon-colored liquid. Lyric paid for two and passed me one without saying a word. Overwhelmed, I followed her lead and shot it back. It was fruity but strong, and I had to breathe through the burn.
“Hell, yeah!” Lyric shouted, swaying to the beat. She held up the tube. “One more?”
I shook my head – it’d be stupid to get intoxicated in an unfamiliar environment such as this. “Maybe later.”
Lyric danced, shaking her ass like a mad woman, as she deposited our empty tubes on the waitress’s tray. She pointed to the top balcony, shouting, “Paul’s usual table is up there. We can grab a beer and watch from here for a bit.”
Before I could answer, the singer, a woman similar to Lyric – tattoos, piercings, and bright blue hair – sang her last note and the lights brightened some, giving me a better view of my surroundings. She said a big thank you and told the crowd they’d be back after a short break.
“Or we could hang out at the bar,” Lyric suggested, beaming.
“Nah,” I shook my head, “we can go up. I don’t want him waitin’ for you.”
“You sure?” she questioned, searching my face.
I squeezed her hand, not wanting to be an inconvenience. “Of course. You’re here to hang out with him.”
Shrugging, Lyric linked our fingers and headed for the staircase in the far corner next to the bar, weaving in and out of people as she tugged me along. “Stay close,” she shouted again and started ascending the steps.
With each floor we passed, I was shocked that we even got in – people stood shoulder to shoulder almost. I was saying thanks to all things holy when we arrived on the top floor. For someone who didn’t wear heels all that often, why did I decide to wear my tallest ones?
Damn tequila.
The music wasn’t as loud as it’d been when the band played, but the conversation going on around us was loud and boisterous. Lyric smiled from ear to ear, in her element. I was accustomed to bars. I’d been to many in North Carolina and some during the vacations I’d gone on with Patrick. Still, this club was like a whole other world.
As we neared the center edge of the balcony, I heard a familiar laugh.
Surely not.
Then I heard it again.
“Fuck my life,” I growled, unable to understand why I couldn’t get Ben out of my head.
“What?” Lyric hollered, glancing over her shoulder.
I forced a smile and shook my head. “Nothin’.”
She eyed me strangely and turned back around, weaving through some more people. The crowd split suddenly, and I got a good view of two men sitting at a table along the balcony. One man was facing me, and the other had his back to me. The man facing me looked similar to Lyric, if she didn’t have all the tattoos, piercings, or the multicolored hair. He was good looking – chocolate hair, a slender runner’s build, and a three-piece suit. If I wasn’t so distracted, I would have been blown away at how opposite the siblings appeared. Instead, for the second time today,
I was gaping at the back of a very familiar man.
I’m cursed.
There was no doubt about it. The man was following me no matter where I went.
Did God want to punish me?
What did I do to deserve this?!
Maybe Ben had just stopped at Lyric’s brother’s table. Perhaps he dropped his wallet and Ben picked it up for him.
It could happen.
Yeah, and maybe I’m not in hell right now.
“Hey, guys!” Lyric shouted and let go of my hand, skipping the remainder of the way to their table.
Me, I dragged my feet, wanting the ground to gobble me up.
Both men stood, but Ben got to Lyric first. Much to my dismay, he dipped down and gave her a huge hug, picking her up a bit and shaking her. Both of their laughs intermingled, speaking of a close friendship.
This can’t be happening!
Out of all the people in London, I had to befriend the one person that knew Ben.
“It’s been too long,” Ben spoke, and his voice damn near curled my toes.
“I know!” Lyric sang happily, grinning like a loon. “It’s so good to see you!”
Ben tugged on one of her pigtails, his lips twitching. “I like the new color. Very you.”
“Who’s your friend, sis?” the other man, Paul, asked, watching me carefully.
I knew I probably looked like a deer in the headlights. “Uh…?”
Ben turned his head and froze. “Samantha?” he questioned, shocked – his brilliant eyes were practically bugging out of his head.
He remembered my name?!
Slow your roll, Sam.
It doesn’t matter that he remembers you or your name. He was with a woman earlier…a very pregnant woman.
“You two know each other?” Lyric asked, her gaze darting between us.
“Kind of,” I squeaked.
Yes, I squeaked.
Damn it!
A smile began on Ben’s lips, starting slow, and then grew wider and wider until it nearly split his gorgeous face. “Small world,” he murmured and then stared down at Lyric. “Samantha and I sat next to each other on the flight here.”
“No shit?!” Lyric grinned and met my eyes. “That’s crazy!”
I forced a laugh and shuffled nervously. “Yeah…crazy.”
“What am I, chopped liver?” Paul asked from behind Ben and Lyric.
Lyric rolled her eyes and greeted her brother. “Oh, shut your trap. I see your ugly mug all the time.”
Laughing, they embraced quickly, and then Paul pulled out the stool next to him for Lyric. Lyric introduced us briefly and then demanded, “Sit.” She tilted her head toward the stool next to Ben’s, the one that sat next to the railing, overlooking the dancefloor and stage.
I took a deep breath and faked another smile. “Sure.”
Like Paul, Ben pulled the stool out for me and didn’t take his until I was settled. His scent tickled my nose, causing my nerves – don’t forget hormones – to go up a notch. I was thanking all things holy when the waitress arrived and took our drink orders. I needed the liquid courage. I silently reprimanded myself for sobering up earlier and for not taking another shot with Lyric when I had the chance. I needed to be totally blitzed to get through this.
“So…” Ben said, observing me. “How are you enjoying your trip so far?”
“Oh, uh…fine,” I replied, fidgeting, not sure what to say.
“Don’t lie, Carolina,” Lyric interjected. “She’s been bored to death the last few days.”
I shot her a glare.
Traitor.
Seeing my glare, she held up her hands, confused. “What’d I say?”
I sighed in defeat and rolled my eyes. “Nothin’.” I met Ben’s gaze again. “She’s not lyin’. Bein’ by myself wasn’t what I expected.”
“How do you two know each other?” Paul questioned, glancing at Lyric and I.
“She was at the bar where I work, drinking her sorrows away,” Lyric informed him.
I wanted to crawl under the table and hide. If they only knew the reason why.
Stay calm, Sam.
Lyric went on, “We started chatting, and before I knew it, I asked her to join us. She needs someone to show her around and make sure she has a good time.”
A small smile snuck its way to my lips. How could I be annoyed with her after saying that?
“Well, I’m glad you did,” Ben murmured, raking his gaze down my body. Heat filled his eyes, and arousal shot through me, making me all hot and needy.
Wonderful.
I was disgusted with myself…and him. What kind of man hits on a woman when he has a pregnant girlfriend at home? And why weren’t his friends not slapping him upside the head?
I stole a peek at Paul and Lyric, wondering what they were thinking. Paul was watching me thoughtfully, and Lyric’s eyes were lit with glee.
Okay…?
Our drinks arrived, and I practically downed the entire glass of Crown and Coke. Lyric must have felt how uncomfortable I was because she turned to Paul and changed the subject. “How’s Mags feeling?”
Paul’s expression morphed into one of complete love and joy. “Great. She had another ultrasound done today. Wanna see?” He pulled his phone out of his suit jacket and showed it to her, his pride radiating off of him.
Lyric squealed and snatched it from him. She stared at the picture in awe. “How gorgeous is she…” Reverently, she ghosted her fingers along the screen.
“Who said anything about a she?” Ben questioned, playfully cocking a brow.
Lyric shot him an annoyed look. “This face is way too pretty to be a boy, Ben.” Beaming, she glanced at me and offered me the phone. “What do you think, Carolina?”
I took the phone without questioning her and stared at the screen. My face gentled at the black and white 3D image of a perfectly formed baby. “How adorable,” I murmured and looked at Paul. “Congratulations. She’s perfect.” I winked at Lyric to rub it in, attempting to hide my unease with this whole situation.
“See!” She pointed at Ben. “I told you so!”
Paul and Ben chuckled at her exuberance.
Hoping to appear polite, I offered the phone to Ben. “Do you want to look?”
He shook his head with a grin. “I got to see in person. Paul,” he motioned at his friend, “the workaholic that he is, couldn’t make it to his wife’s appointment, so I offered to take her.”
I blinked a couple of times at him, surprised. “Oh.” I didn’t know what to say to that, so I ignored it and stared at Paul, moving on. “Are you waitin’ to find out the sex?”
“Yeah,” Paul answered, smiling big. “We want it to be a surprise. Secretly, I’m praying for a little girl.”
“I hope she gets her mama’s looks,” Lyric teased. “All that red hair and those green eyes…” She sighed happily and addressed me. “I don’t know how he landed Maggie, his wife, but she’s one of the prettiest women I’ve ever met, inside and out.”
“Hey,” Paul grumbled, scowling. “I’m a catch, too.”
“She’s way too good for you,” Ben joined in on the ribbing.
Wait?!
Red hair.
Pregnant.
Appointment today.
Realization dawned.
Ben wasn’t with his girlfriend earlier; he was with Paul’s wife!
I wanted to laugh and jump up and down in elation.
Thank you, Jesus!
Yes, my trip was definitely turning for the better.
Chapter 5
Ben
Samantha’s here.
The gorgeous woman that I couldn’t banish from my thoughts no matter how hard I tried was sitting next to me.
And to think Paul and Maggie had to cajole me into coming, telling me I needed to get out and have some fun for once. Of course I was looking forward to seeing Lyric again – it has been way too long – but I would have much rather done it at their place or a restaurant, not a club.
> Funny how life throws you curve balls.
At first, Samantha was standoffish and unhappy to see me, which I thought was strange. Yeah, when we separated I knew she wasn’t thrilled that I didn’t ask to see her again – she had a horrible poker face, and I could read her every emotion. However, we parted on good terms. The hesitancy didn’t make sense.
But now…whoa…she was glowing, beaming her first real smile since she’d arrived. It transformed her from beautiful to holy-shit-gorgeous.
The dress helped…undeniably. It should be illegal. It clung to her delicate curves and dipped low, providing a bird’s-eye view of her ample cleavage. The translucent ivory skin beckoned me. I wondered if it was as tasty as it looked.
Is my mouth watering?
“What’s with that goofy grin you’ve got going on?” Lyric questioned.
It took a moment to realize she wasn’t talking to me but was shooting Samantha an odd look.
Samantha stilled, her eyes darting to each of us in…panic?
What was running through this beautiful creature’s mind?
“Nothin’…” Samantha slowly drawled. “Just…um…your banter reminds me a lot of my family’s. I was just thinkin’ about them.”
God, that voice.
It was another thing that replayed through my mind these last few days. It was low and smoky, with a slight huskiness.
“Missing home?” I questioned, wanting her eyes on me.
As if she heard my wish, that golden gaze met mine. Her tongue snuck out and swept her lower, full lip. My heart jolted, and my dick became painfully hard in my jeans.
Holy shit.
How could a movement so small and subtle be that erotic?
“A little,” she admitted, her sexy lips curving upward. “I’m used to bein’ around them all the time.”
I wanted to punch Paul when he said, “From your accent and my sister’s nickname for you, you’re from South Carolina.”
I wanted her eyes on me, and only me.
Samantha fixated on Paul. “North Carolina.”
“What part?” I questioned, playing it cool. “We’re familiar with the area.”
Lyric and Paul were baffled by my comment. I gave them a subtle shake of the head, letting them know to keep their mouths shut.
Fated Bliss (The Bliss Series Book 2) Page 5
