by Karen Deen
We stand back for a minute but then I can’t resist a comment. “Perhaps a room for you two would be a good idea?” Zara giggles and drops her head into Grant’s chest as he gives me the look that says be careful who you’re messing with, little sister.
He finally lets Zara go long enough for us to say our hellos, then we all head to a restaurant down the road to grab a late dinner. Just as well, because I’m starving. Probably a good idea too if we plan on going out drinking later.
Lots of bubbles on an empty stomach makes for a very silly Lilly.
We catch up with Zara and how life in New York is for her. Alesha and I are both wanting to know about the shopping and what places we should visit tomorrow. Can’t imagine that Grant would be much help, even though he has been visiting here on a regular basis. Not sure he’s ever here for the sightseeing.
“So, where are we off to now we’ve finished eating? I’m so ready to party and let loose on the dance floor. Are you girls with me?” I look across the table at both Alesha and Zara who are both tucked under the arms of their men. Neither look like they’re ready to party with me.
“We’re heading home. Zara’s tired and has a two-show day tomorrow. You guys have fun and maybe tomorrow night we can join you.” The way he looks down into Zara’s eyes tells me no matter how tired she is, Grant has plans for her.
“Yeah, right. Tired, is that the new word for going home to get down and dirty?” I ask with a smirk on my face.
“Lilly,” Grant growls at me at the same time Alesha says my name in shock.
“What? It’s not like we don’t all know what happens when you don’t see your loved one for a few weeks. I might be the youngest in this family, but people, I’m not five years old. Now you two get moving and head home for a good night’s sleep. We are heading out to explore New York at night. You ready, Lesh and Xav, got your dancing shoes on?” Alesha looks at me and then up at Xavier with the sort of face you would expect if she were about to walk into the dentist.
“Don’t you dare tell me you aren’t coming out with me, Alesha. You can’t come to the city that never sleeps and head home early. Suck it up, we are going out and you will smile and love it!” What the hell is wrong with my family. More precisely, where did I come from? I need Luke here. He would have been up for a night on the town.
“Calm down, Lil. We’re coming with you. I’ve got a friend here who’s going to meet us wherever we end up. So, you two girls go hold hands and visit the ladies’ room, so we can get moving.” Alesha giggles at Xavier.
“Yes, Dad.” I stand, giving Xavier the salute as we head off to find the bathroom. Great, another man in the family who thinks they can be like my father. How rude of him saying we need to hold hands to go the bathroom. Women do tend to head to the bathroom with a friend, but holding hands is ridiculous. We just like safety in numbers or use it for a place to gossip, whichever works.
After touching up my lipstick and checking out myself in the mirrors, I am ready to hit the town.
“Who’s Xavier’s friend that we’re meeting, and is he hot? Is he single? How does he know him, have you met him? Come on, don’t leave a girl hanging.” I link my arm in Alesha’s as we walk back out towards our table. She’s quietly giggling at me.
“I have no idea. I didn’t know anything about it until just now when he mentioned it. So, I’m in the dark like you. We’ll just have to wait to find out,” she whispers as we arrive back at the table.
Like hell I’m waiting, Xavier is about to get the Spanish Inquisition on the way in the cab to whatever bar we decide to go to. Saying our goodbyes to Grant and Zara along with a few little jokes about where they’re going, we head out to flag down a ride across town. Zara suggested a bar called Silver Dome which is classy and has a great atmosphere. As she’s hugging me goodbye, she whispers in my ear that it will be full of sinfully hot guys who are looking for a good time. Half the single dancers in her show party there. I squeeze her that little bit tighter to thank her for the heads up on the potential eye candy.
“Time to spill the beans, Xavier. Who’s your friend we’re meeting? I need to know all the details before I meet him. Come on, tell me everything. Is he good looking? Is he single? What’s he like and how come you only just mentioned this now?”
“Because I knew you would carry on exactly like this. Give the poor guy a break. Can you not go all types of Lilly crazy on him when you first see him? But to answer your questions, he’s just a guy I know, he thinks he’s good-looking—I can’t however pass judgement on that—he’s very single and a good guy. I’m pretty sure you’ll like him, so calm down.” For some reason, Xavier wasn’t looking straight at me when he was talking. I can’t tell if he’s laughing because what he’s told me is crap or he’s just laughing at me asking for details. Seriously, it’s just like having another brother the same as Luke. They’re never too serious and love to make me the center of their jokes.
“I swear to god, Xavier, you better not be making fun of me. I haven’t had enough drinks yet for you to be this funny. I guess I’ll have to judge for myself this friend of yours but I’m thinking if he is anything like you then he’ll be damn annoying. Not sure we need another annoying guy in this little party.”
“Hey, I’ve been on my best behavior tonight. I know your brother doesn’t get my sense of humor so I promised Ally I would be a good boy, well, until now.” He squeezes her hand as she’s rolling her eyes at him.
“Wow, she must have really scared you for you to agree to that.”
“It’s the punishment of what she threatened to withhold which is enough for me to behave.” Xavier starts laughing out loud while Alesha is punching him in the arm telling him to be quiet. I can’t help but start to laugh at them both. They’re super cute together.
“Well, you better listen to me, if you have set me up tonight and then run off and leave me while you two head back to the room, there’s going to be more trouble for you than if my sister was to withhold sex. Got it, funny boy?” I was trying to pretend to be angry and threaten him, but it never works for me. I love Xavier, he does make me laugh although he is annoying at times, but I know how much he loves Alesha and that means the world to me.
“You may be a scary woman, Lilly, but nothing is scarier than Ally and her threats to cut me off. That’s like saying to you that you’re banned from buying any more shoes.”
“Uhh,” I gasped. “Don’t ever swear like that again. You know that’ll kill me. Don’t even pretend that’s a possibility. You will destroy my soul.”
Xavier’s phone signals a message as we pull up to the curb. “Is that your friend?” I smirk at him. Turning to open the door I hear him answer, “Yep, he’s here,” in the background as my breathing stops and my heart slams into my chest as my eyes lock onto him.
The eyes, the smile and a body that sings a tune I can’t ignore.
Holy shit, tonight just got a whole lot more interesting.
Okay, little red dress, time to work your magic.
He reaches for my hand to help me from the cab, pulling me up to be standing straight in front of him.
Shocks race up my arm.
Snap out of it. Time to play, Lilly.
His smile makes me want to melt but I manage to get one word out.
“Kane.”
4
Kane
THERE ARE A LOT of people walking past me, heading inside the bar that I’m waiting for Xavier and Ally to arrive at. I was happy when he mentioned last week that he was heading to New York at the same time I was here training. Nothing better than spending time with friends that you can trust and can completely relax with. Ally is such a sweetheart and we’ve become so close over the last few months. After what we went through when we thought we lost Xavier, we’re closer than most friends. Xavier is our bond. She might be a little quiet, but once you get to know her, she is such a beautiful soul. Total opposite to Xavier but she grounds him. They’re meant to be together which is cool for him.
Kane: Where’s your ugly mug, man, how much longer will you be?
Xavier: Pulling up in front of you in the taxi. Looking at your fat head right now.
About time. I walk forward to help Ally out of the only cab at the curb. The leg that slides out of the open door is certainly not Alesha.
Holy shit.
Instinct has me holding out my hand to help the woman from the cab. As she stands, I should have moved back to give her room, but for some reason my feet are stuck in the one spot. Her body is now within inches of mine and I am looking into the face of the sexy sister. The one who’s caught me off guard once before.
Lilly!
Fuck me, what a sight she is to a man who’s looking for a good time.
I step back a little to give the others room to get out of the taxi.
“Kane, what are you doing here?” Alesha squeals as she hugs me tight. “Xavier didn’t tell me you were going to be in New York. He just said we were meeting a friend.”
Looking over at Xavier, the bastard wears a wide grin. The girls aren’t the only ones shocked.
Leaving my arm draped over her shoulder, I look down to Alesha. “You should have guessed it was me then. Xavier doesn’t have any other friends. No one else puts up with him like we do.”
Xavier pulls her out of my arms, slapping me in the chest. “Says the man who has to put his hands on my woman because he can’t find his own,” Xavier comments, half joking and half serious. There is only one thing that Xavier can’t take a joke about and that’s when it comes to his Ally.
My eyes are instantly drawn to Lilly as he talks about me finding my own woman. Life is not that simple but there’s one hot-as-fuck woman standing in front of me right now that I wouldn’t mind making mine for a while. Slowly scanning her body, I feel my own heat up. She’s poured into a red dress that leaves nothing to my imagination on how she’s shaped underneath it. My hands are twitching to run over the dress to confirm what those curves feel like underneath the red tormenting outer skin she has on.
A whack to my shoulder snaps me back to the here and now. I think Xavier said something I’ve missed. The girls are heading towards the doorway, and Xavier shoves me in the back to follow.
“Pick your jaw off the ground and wipe the dribble off your chin. It’s not very becoming for a guy to look so desperate.” Xavier thinks he’s hilarious as he stalks after the girls. Fuck, that ass of hers is only going to cause trouble for me.
Big. Fucking. Trouble.
The music is pounding in my chest the way it always does. It drowns out the feelings that often are whirring around in my body, distracting me. We find a table near the bar and the girls take a seat while we head to grab some drinks.
Now it’s my turn to punch Xavier in the arm.
“Jesus, man, you could have warned me about Lilly. That she was coming with you and she’s wearing a sexy-as-sin dress that’s going to keep me hard all night. You better tell me straight right now if I need to back off. I’m going to need to have a very strong drink to get through tonight if that’s the case.” I can’t believe how serious the words are coming out of my mouth. I’m not saying them as a joke.
“Buddy, she’s not my sister, but I know if you do anything to hurt her, not only will you answer to me, but she has three brothers I wouldn’t cross. Along with a father that won’t hold back or care that you carry a gun. So, besides that, you’re good to go. All I will say is, good luck, though. She won’t be as easy as you think. Lilly is a strong, feisty woman who has no intention of settling down anytime soon.”
Music to my ears. “That’s good to know because neither am I. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun along the way, now does it.” He just rolls his eyes at me and smirks as he relays our drink order to the bartender. “What, you don’t think the old Kane charm will work on her? I think you underestimate the power of my manly body and amazing witty personality.”
“Maybe I should order a bucket too for the bullshit that’s coming out of your mouth. Self-confidence is not your weak point, is it?” Sticking fingers in his mouth, he pretends to gag on the bullshit.
“Well, unless my mother is here, no one else is going to tell people how awesome I am, so I need to take on the role myself. It’s not as if you’re going to be my wingman, are you? That would involve you taking your eyes and thoughts off Alesha, and we both know that’s not going to happen, is it?”
“Fuck no!” We both chuckle and head back to the girls, drinks in hand. They are both deep in conversation, leaning into each other so they can hear what they’re saying, or maybe it’s so we can’t hear what they’re saying. Pulling up the stool next to Lilly and placing her drink down in front of her, she looks over at me with a smile that I’m not quite sure how to take.
“How come you’re in New York?” Alesha leans over to me to get my attention. As usual in bars, the music is loud which makes conversation a little difficult at times.
“Work conference that was totally boring but unfortunately a necessary evil. We need to keep ahead of the changes. I’m glad it’s over now. Xavier mentioned you were heading out here for the weekend, so I decided to stay an extra few days. I’m surprised he didn’t tell you. Mind you, he didn’t tell me Lilly was coming either.” We both stare at each other as it dawns on us. What is he trying to achieve here? That’s the question. Alesha’s mouth curves up in a small cheeky smile. Great, she’s going to join onto the Xavier matchmaking bandwagon. He is such a girl, seriously. He knows I don’t do relationships and I can’t believe he’s trying to encourage a one-night stand with his girlfriend’s sister. Not his style at all.
Alesha leans back against Xavier, taking a sip of her drink. Looking like the cat that ate the canary. Lilly hasn’t said anything since we came back with the drinks. She’s surveying the dance floor, her foot tapping to the music, not paying me one bit of attention. Well, two can play at this game. I continue to chat to Alesha and Xavier, waiting for her to turn back to join in.
“You should have come to the show, Kane. Zara was so beautiful up there. How those girls get their legs so high in the air while they dance, I will never know.” Alesha smiles.
“Whoa, hang on! Why wasn’t I invited, Xavier? To a show with girls in skimpy outfits that lift their legs in the air for the crowd? Umm, please explain what part of friendship you don’t understand to help a brother out.” Xavier is laughing, holding his stomach at my outburst, but the person whose attention I was looking for I’ve grabbed hook, line and sinker. I can tell by the look in her eyes. She is ready to pounce.
“You are joking, aren’t you?” Lilly screams over the music. “What a disgusting thing to say. Those women are artists who spend years of training perfecting their talent only for you to make it all sleazy about their looks and what you get off on.” I can see the steam coming from her ears. She would slap me if she weren’t in public and a respectable lady. I was hoping just to get her to join the conversation, but I got way more than I bargained for. “Totally not the kind of guy I was expecting,” I hear her murmur.
I can’t decide if I should string her along a bit more and really get her going, or tell her the truth. I can now see what Xavier meant about how she was going to be a handful, but I’m sure it’ll be a lot of fun to get to know her better.
Nah, let’s have some fun first.
“What do you mean? Surely they would love to know men were there to look at them dance and admire their beauty.” Xavier by this stage is trying to keep a straight face and not look at me. He knows I’m provoking Lilly and he’s enjoying the show. Alesha, on the other hand, looks a little shocked at the words coming out of my mouth. She’s known me for a short while, but s
he’s now wondering if she’s seeing the man she thinks she knows.
“Are you kidding? Do you think they’re up there just to dance for men’s pleasure? If they want to do that, they can just go and dance at a strip joint down the back streets somewhere in New York. I’m sure you know the type I’m talking about. You probably frequent them all the time. You probably get to see more skin than costume at those shows. I’ll have you know you’re lucky Grant isn’t here. You would be flat on your back if he heard you talk about Zara with such disrespect. I can’t believe I thought you were a hot guy who seemed nice. Totally misjudged that. I’m actually surprised Xavier is even friends with you, such an arrogant pig!” She stands and shoves her stool backwards, ready to storm off. Part of me is laughing on the inside, the other part is thinking, Shit, I’ve pushed her a little far.
Jumping off my stool, I grab her arm to stop her from taking off.
“Wait right there, firstly it’s not nice to call police officers ‘pigs’ no matter what. We are good people not a big fat farmyard animal that smell like shit. Well, of course unless we eat too many donuts and forget to shower, I’ve had a partner like that before. However, I’m not one of those, so you need to be nice to me.” I can see her glaring up at me about to rip her arm from me and let loose with another full rant on how I’m a jerk. Before she gets to wind up, I start again so I get a chance to finish. “Secondly,” I lean in closer to her ear, “Yes, I’m joking and you’re such an easy target.” I step back to give her room to digest what I just said. The look in her eyes where she wants to kill me is slowly disappearing but the look of not thinking I’m as funny as I do, is still there.
“Come on, you fell for it so quickly, Lilly. I didn’t even need to bait the hook, you just jumped on without it and took the line and were off. It was pretty funny, don’t you think?” She quickly crosses her arms which gives me the hint of not being impressed. What she isn’t thinking about is the extra boost she has just given her tits as she pushes her arms against herself. I’m trying to be a nice guy but she’s not helping me by doing things like this.
