“Apparently the blonde wasn’t feeling him,” Weston says, leaning in. “Tossed a drink in his face.”
“So who broke the glass?”
“Who do you think?” Weston huffs. “Our boy’s got to control his temper.”
“He doesn’t handle rejection well.”
“I’m going to find the blonde and apologize,” Weston says. “Do a little damage control before any of this gets out.”
I scoff. “Good luck. I’m going to get him back to the VIP lounge before he pulls any more shit.”
* * *
Thirty minutes pass with no sign of Weston. It’s just me and Kai in the VIP lounge, me nursing a frosty bottled water and him nursing a bruised ego.
“Hey, guys.” Weston appears from the other side of the rope, stepping through with a dopey grin on his face. “You’re not going to believe this, but the blonde? That’s Delilah Rosewood’s sister. They’re here.”
My heart sinks to my stomach. Never in a million years did I expect to run into them here – five hours from Gainesville – at some random bar in South Beach.
“Mind if they hang out with us for a bit?” Weston asks.
“No fucking way,” Kai grumbles and faces away.
“You were saying some pretty vulgar shit, Kai,” Weston says. “You can’t blame her for throwing a drink in your face.”
“She’s not coming in here.” Kai folds his arms, peering down his nose. “Fuck her.”
“Hey.” I smack him on the arm. “Grow the fuck up, man. Be the bigger person and let them in here. Show her you don’t care.”
Kai sits up straight, and for a moment, I think he’s coming around. Only the second Weston waves the girls in, Kai storms away, leaving the four of us alone.
“Hi.” The blonde takes a seat between Weston and me. “You must be Zane.”
“And you’re Daphne,” I say.
I glance over at Delilah who’s standing there, her arms folded at her waist and her face pinched as she studies me. I flash her a smile and hope to God I’m not showing all of my cards, but I’m actually stupid-happy to see her.
Daphne motions for her to sit down, pointing to my opposite side, but Delilah hesitates.
“We’re supposed to be having a sisters’ night out,” she says. “This wasn’t part of the plan. I don’t think she’s too thrilled about it.”
I pat the spot besides me. “You just going to stand there and stare?”
Delilah finally makes a move, plunking herself beside me as if it’s the last place she wants to be.
“What’s your problem?” I smirk.
“Seriously?” she leans in. “I can’t believe you followed us here.”
My jaw comes unhinged. “That’s the funniest fucking thing I’ve heard all night. Was about to accuse you of doing the same thing.”
“You honestly expect me to believe you just randomly picked this bar in this town five hours from home?”
“I don’t care what you believe. We didn’t follow you. Kai’s cousin owns this place. We just wanted to get out of town for a night.”
Delilah’s arms lock across her chest and she shakes her head. “Guess that’s your story, and you’re sticking to it.”
I uncap my water, wishing to God I had something stronger, and lean back in my seat. The cool draft besides me warrants my attention, and only then do I see we’re alone now.
Weston and Daphne are MIA.
“Where’d they go?” Delilah’s face is washed in panic.
I chuckle. Good for Weston.
Delilah rises, moving toward the rope and pushing the curtains aside to peer out at the bar. She scans the place for her sister, rising on her toes.
“Relax.” I come up from behind, placing my hand on the small of her back. “Weston’s a gentleman. He won’t try anything.”
Delilah looks away. “I’m not worried about that. Daphne can hold her own. I’m just pissed she left me here alone.”
“With me.”
“Exactly.” She turns to face me, her eyes uncertain and one hand parked on her hip.
“Relax, gorgeous.” I say, capturing a loose ringlet of her hair between my fingers. I slide my fingers down the length of the tendril and let it fall to her bare shoulders “Hair looks good like this.”
She exhales, shoulders falling. Resolve weakening. I don’t know why she resists me so much. After all, less than a week ago she was lying in my bed, pussy clenched around my cock and legs twisted up in my sheets.
“Do you need another drink?” I point toward the call button on the wall as she glances into her empty martini glass. She doesn’t answer. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m probably going to head back to the hotel soon.”
“Seriously?” I check my watch. “It’s barely ten o’clock.”
“What else am I supposed to do? I’ve been ditched.”
“You can hang out with me.” I shrug. “Unless you’re back to hating everything about me again. I kind of thought we’d made some progress, but then again, you are female. Your minds change at the drop of a goddamned hat for no damn reason.”
“Here we go again.” Delilah groans, lifting her empty glass and siphoning a final sip of liquor.
“I’m not going to censor myself around you anymore, Delilah. I’m going to speak my truth, and fuck, speak yours too. If there’s something you don’t like about me, then say it. Stop rolling your eyes. Stop huffing and stomping and sulking like a toddler. All it makes me want to do is bend you over my knee and smack that ass of yours, and I mean that in the most sexual, adult, non-creepy fucking way possible.”