I handed Molly her phone back. “Arrange the sale,” I told her. “I’d like them by the end of next week.”
Molly started clapping her hands like a certified fruitcake. “Oh, my God, they’re so pretty.”
“They are perfect, Molly Doll.” She was still grinning like a loon. “Thank you for finding them.”
“If you didn’t buy them, I was going to buy them for when I have kids one day,” she said before eating another piece of steak.
My brows went up. Molly never spoke about commitment. “Something I should know?”
She shrugged. “So, you know the Holbrook Foundation?” I nodded. The Holbrook Foundation dealt with scholarships for the less fortunate, females in particular. “Well, River Banks is one of the coordina-”
“I’m sorry,” I said, interrupting my sister. “Did you just say River Banks? Like, that’s his real name?”
Molly laughed. “Stop it, Lorcan,” she chided. “He can’t help what his parents named him.”
I scoffed. “No, but he can help what he did with that ridiculous name once he turned eighteen.”
She grimaced a bit. “He said it helps make him more memorable.”
“I bet,” I chuckled.
“Anyway, his name aside, he seems like a really nice guy, and he asked me out last week when I had stopped by the foundation with some donations.”
Containing my incredulousness at the man’s name, I smiled at my sister. “I’m sure he’s a nice guy.”
Molly laughed. “You’re a dick, Lorcan.”
She wasn’t wrong.
Chapter 21
Rowan~
I had no idea why I bothered waiting in the lobby whenever I came here. Mystic was never on time when I picked her up from here, and I always had to storm the castle and physically pull her to freedom.
The way the man was with his wife, you’d think he feared I was going to kidnap her and jet her off to some private island, never to be seen or heard from again, instead of going to get spa treatments only four blocks over.
Gage Evan was a complete nutjob.
Ready to kick off my vacation the right way, I had scheduled mid-day spa treatments for me and Mystic today, so that when I officially walked out of my office tomorrow, I’d be vacation ready.
And even if I was only going to dinner with my brother tomorrow night, you never know who I might meet at the bar, and I preferred to be waxed, buffed, and smooth-ready for the possibilities.
“Well, isn’t this a nice surprise,” came a smooth, deep, sexy-as-hell voice that I’d recognize anywhere.
Steeling myself-because one had to steel themselves against the man-I turned around to face Lorcan Cavanaugh. “Lorcan,” I acknowledged. He chuckled, and the sound sent tingles down my spine.
“Hey, baby,” he returned, and I rolled my eyes.
“Stop calling me that,” I said, repeating the request for the millionth time already. “My name is Rowan. Only two syllables, big guy. C’mon, you can do it. I have faith in you.”
The asshole smirked. “We’ll compromise, and I’ll just call you both.”
I cocked my head. “How’s that a compromise?”
“I’ll call you Rowan in public, and baby in private,” he said cheekily. “Perfect compromise.”
“Does that shit actually work on women?”
“Evidently not,” he huffed, and it took everything I had not to smile at him.
That was the problem I had with Lorcan Cavanaugh. I was attracted to the man because, well just look at him. What red-blooded woman wouldn’t be attracted to him? He was everything you imagined when you were in the privacy of your bedroom with your hand between your legs.
Lorcan Cavanaugh was the very definition of dominant, and I seriously doubted he was the type to let the woman call the shots in the bedroom. So, since control was the very thing I needed in that type of situation, I couldn’t let myself get distracted by his good looks and charm.
Because the bastard was good-looking and charming as hell.
“What are you doing here, anyway?” I asked as if it were my business.
He grinned. “Mystic called me earlier and told me to take Gage to lunch, so she could go have a spa day with you in peace.”
I laughed. “Christ, that man has it bad.”
Something came over Lorcan’s face, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think it was sympathy. “The man already lost her once,” he said. “I don’t blame him if he’s a little overboard now.”
“He’s lucky she loves him so much,” I remarked. “That kind of smothering would drive me crazy.”
Lorcan slid his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “You’re forgetting something important, baby.”
“What’s that?” I asked, ignoring the endearment.
“She lost him, too.”
I shrugged. “That’s a fair point.”
Stepping to me, Lorcan pulled his hands out of his pockets and slid one strong, warm around my waist, and pulled me close as if we were a couple.
I arched at brow at him.
“Let me take you to dinner,” he said, those piercing grey eyes staring down at me.
“Can’t recall when exactly it was that I gave you permission to touch me, Cavanaugh,” I replied, and the words should have made me panic a bit. No man has ever touched me without my permission since high school. I should have been shoving Lorcan off me, and demanding he never take such liberties again.
But what had me panicking was not that Lorcan had wrapped his arm around me like he had the right to, but that I liked it.
I shouldn’t have liked it.
I shouldn’t be liking it.
I shouldn’t be thinking things I wasn’t ready to start thinking about, because the last thing I needed was to freak out in bed with the likes of Lorcan Cavanaugh.
“Does my touch bother you?” he asked, and I wanted to ignore the sincerity in his tone.
I wanted to lie and tell him it did, but he wasn’t responsible for my issues. It wasn’t fair to make him feel bad about himself because I was confused and not ready to test myself.
“We’re in the middle of the lobby, Lorcan,” I pointed out. “A bit inappropriate, don’t you think?”
His silver gaze regarded me a bit, and I knew he knew I was bullshitting him. “You act like I have you bent over.”
I could have pulled away from his hold, but I wanted to see where this conversation was going. “Do you always wrap your arms around random women?”
The corner of his lip lifted a bit. “Now we both know you’re not just some random woman.”
“Okay. Do you always wrap your arms around women you aren’t dating?”
This time his lips curved into a rakish grin. “The only reason we’re not dating is because you won’t let me take you out.”
I took a step back, and his arm immediately gave way. “I’m sure there are plenty of women who would love for you to take them out, Cavanaugh.”
“I’m sure there are,” he agreed.
“So, why do you keep bothering me?”
“Because I don’t want them, Rowan,” he said. “I want you.”
“Because I seem like the type of woman who enjoys being a notch?”
Lorcan crossed his arms over his chest. “And what makes you think that’s all you’d be?”
“Rowan Lewis?”
I turned at the sound of my name, and walking towards us was Cole Dion, one of the vice presidents for Diamond Minds, Inc., a financial credit strategy firm. Herman Corporate Auditing was hired by his company last year to do an annual audit.
My smile was quick and automatic. “Cole Dion,” I returned. “How are you?”
He stepped forward to shake my hand. “I’m well. And you?”
“I’m doing well,” I answered, pulling my hands from his.
And because Lorcan Cavanaugh was a pain in my ass, I heard. “Lorcan Cavanaugh, thanks for asking.”
Chapter 22
Lorcan~
> I absolutely did not care that I was pissing a circle around a woman who didn’t, technically, belong to me.
Not one bit.
I liked Rowan, and I wasn’t going to apologize for it. Over a year of trying to convince this woman to go out with me, and I was not about to let her get distracted by someone named fucking Cole. His blonde hair, blue eyes, and Armani suit could suck my dick. Not that I had anything against Armani, but I preferred Desmond Merrion, myself.
Cole looked over at me, his brows high on his forehead. “Lorcan Cavanaugh,” he acknowledged, his hand already reaching out for a handshake. “It’s good to meet you.”
I took the bastard’s hand, but I refrained from squeezing the life out of it.
Barely.
I didn’t have to thump my chest in the business world. My name was up there with all the greats, Gage’s name included.
“Same here,” I lied. “So, how do you know Rowan?”
“She audited the company I work for last year,” he replied easily, and I could practically taste Rowan’s irritation with me.
Cole’s attention back on Rowan, he asked, “Are you auditing Stymic Financial Holdings?”
Before she could answer, the lyrical sound of Mystic’s voice interrupted our little moment. “Sorry, sorry, sorry,” she rushed out, her waddling body stopping before us. “Gage is insane.”
“No need to explain to us,” Rowan replied.
“Seriously,” I agreed.
Then Mystic looked over at Cole Dion, and she smiled at the bastard. “Hi.”
He smiled kindly at her. “Cole Dion,” he said, introducing himself.
“I audited his company last year,” Rowan explained.
“Oh,” Mystic remarked, that smile still on her face. “Nice to meet you, Cole. I’m Mystic Evans.”
Rowan hooked her arm around Mystic’s. “You ready to go?”
Mystic looked over at her. “I am, lady. Lead the way.”
Looking back at Cole, Rowan said, “It was good seeing you again, Cole, but me and this woman need to get going. Spa day.”
The fucking asshole smiled at her, and it wasn’t a friendly smile. It was a please-notice-me smile, and I didn’t like it. “It was good to see you, too, Rowan,” he returned. “Maybe the next time we see each other we’ll have more time to catch up.”
“Maybe.”
He gave me a terse nod. “Good to meet you, Cavanaugh.”
“You, too,” I lied again, and it really should be noted that I wasn’t ripping the guy’s head off.
Really.
With a quick wave, he was off, and that’s when the little hellcat dropped all pretenses of civility. “What in the fuck was that?” she hissed.
“What?”
“I don’t appreciate the territorial pissing, Cavanaugh.”
“Then don’t flirt with men right in front of me,” I shot back.
Her eyes grew wide. “The man only got as far as a hello before you went off the rails.”
My back straightened. “And what about the whole have more time to catch up the next time we see each other?”
“Uhm, guys?”
Ignoring Mystic, Rowan said, “Again, normal. That’s normal conversation between people, Lorcan.”
“That’s normal conversation between a guy who wants to fuck a woman,” I informed her coolly.
“Uhm, guys?”
Again, poor Mystic was ignored. “That’s completely ridiculous,” she bit out. “And even if it wasn’t, it’s not your business, Lorcan.”
I crowded her. “I’m making it my business,” I fired back, and I really had no clue where the possessiveness was coming from, but it was there, and I wasn’t going to pretend it wasn’t.
“Are you crazy?” she spat. “Who do you think you are?”
Good question, but I wasn’t quite ready to admit I was wrong in this. “Don’t parade your boytoys in front of me, and we won’t have any problems, Rowan.”
Those blue eyes of her bugged. “You’re insane.”
“What’s going on?” I turned to see Gage coming up behind Mystic, placing his hands on her shoulders. “I thought you guys had an appointment to make?” He glanced at all of us. “Isn’t that why Lorcan was called to babysit me?”
Rowan turned to him. “Your friend is a lunatic,” she said. “You do realize that, don’t you?”
Gage shrugged. “Not sure I’ve got room to talk.”
Rowan ignored him and aimed her irritation back at me. “Stay out of my business, Cavanaugh,” she demanded. “You have no idea who you’re messing with.”
“Uh…”
“I’ll tell you all about it later,” she promised Mystic in a whisper that wasn’t really a whisper. Done with me, Rowan reached out and grabbed Mystic by the hand. “Let’s go before I kill in the middle of the lobby for all the world to see.”
“This isn’t over, Rowan.”
Blue eyes narrowed and the woman sure knew where to aim when she was pissed. “This never began, Cavanaugh,” she replied haughtily. “Get your facts straight.” Before I could reach out and snatch her up by her blonde locks, she had Mystic in her hold and was pulling the poor pregnant woman behind her.
Staring at their dramatic exit, it wasn’t until the doors closed behind them that Gage asked, “Trouble in paradise?”
“Some guy was hitting on her in front of me,” I explained. “Can’t say I reacted well.”
“It’s been a year, Lorcan,” Gage pointed out. “Maybe it’s time to move on. Rowan-”
I looked over at him. “This from a man who hadn’t moved on in over ten years?”
“That’s different,” he defended. “Mystic’s always been the love of my life. She’s never been just some sweet piece.”
“Rowan Lewis isn’t just some sweet piece to me, Gage, and you know it.” And he did know it. A few months into knowing her, I had started really liking her. There was just something about her that made her stand out.
“Maybe it’s time to quit bullshitting her, and tell her the truth,” he suggested.
Yeah, maybe.
Chapter 23
Rowan~
“You are going to be so useless tomorrow.”
I laughed. “That’s the whole point, Grayson.”
“Good thing we ate first,” he muttered.
The Highlands was a restaurant/bar/club of sorts. It was three stories high and the perfect date place. The bottom floor was the restaurant, and it was fine dining. While they had burgers on the menu, those burgers came with garnishes on the plate and all that jazz. It was expensive, but worth it.
The second floor was the bar. It was literally just a bar, but one that had every beer and liquor you could think of. While the restaurant was designed as most other restaurants with tables spaced enough for privacy, the bar tables were spread far enough for the same kind of privacy, but the booths offered super privacy. I imagine affairs were happening all over the place on the second floor.
The third floor was an actual dance club and the floors between each section were so thick and insulated, the dance club noise never trickled to the other two floors. If you were eating, it truly felt like you were just having dinner. If you were at the bar, it truly felt like you were just enjoying a drink. And if you were at the club, it truly felt like a good time.
The Highlands was the only place where you could have dinner, grab a drink, and then go dancing. And while there were elevators and stairs that led to each floor, there were separate entrances from the outside, as to not disturb each floor’s vibe.
Grayson and I had already eaten dinner downstairs, and now we were at the bar. We opted-okay, I opted for an open table because I wasn’t opposed to someone catching my eye. And after that nonsense with Lorcan Cavanaugh yesterday, I needed something to get my mind off the guy. Disappointed with myself, his possessiveness yesterday had turned me on, making me stupid.
Three cocktails in, I eyed my brother. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anythi
ng,” came his easy reply.
“Are you single because of me?”
Grayson’s head jerked back, his eyes blinking in surprise. “What?”
“Are you single because of me?” I repeated. “Are you single because you still feel like you need to take care of me?”
Grayson reached for his whiskey, tossed it back, and then signaled our server for another. That was another thing about the bar, it employed servers to prevent long lines at the wall bar.
Leaning forward, placing his arms on the table, he asked, “Why would you ask that?”
I shrugged. “I sometimes wonder if you’re single because if you ever fall in love, she’ll be the one who will have to be first in your life. Not me.”
“Rowan, you’re my sister,” he said, those familiar blue eyes looking straight through me. “Love or not, I will always be there for you.”
“Then why are you still single?” Just then, the server placed a fresh whiskey on the table.
When she walked away, Grayson answered, “Because it’s not that easy to find someone who ticks off all the boxes, Row. And I refuse to settle.”
“So, it’s…it’s not guilt?” I winced as soon as the words were out.
Grayson’s smile was the sweetest thing in the world. “You’re my little sister, Rowan. I’ll always feel guilting for what happened to you,” he said honestly. “But it doesn’t define me anymore. I work hard to make sure it doesn’t.”
I almost let the alcohol get me stupid emotional, but I pushed it back. Tonight was not about deep issues. It was about me kicking off my vacation.
“I just think you’re awesome, and I wonder why some lucky girl hasn’t snatched you up yet,” I said instead of blubbering all over him. I’ve done that plenty over the years.
Grayson chuckled. “They’ve tried, Row,” he replied. “I’m just not that easy to snatch up.”
I laughed and signaled our server for another drink. “Good for you. Never settle.”
“What about you?” he asked. “Dating anyone new?”
My mind automatically went to Lorcan Cavanaugh, and the signs that I might be getting in over my head with the man. I was too tempted to try with him, and that was scary as fuck.
Our Cracked Pieces (The Pieces Series Book 2) Page 8
