Craig

I have a date tonight. His name is Drew Michaels. He’s my age. Divorced. We’re meeting at D’Alessandro’s at 7:30 tonight. Love Mum xx

Craig stared at the text message he’d just woken up to and groaned.

It was happening already.

Fucking hell.

He flopped back down on his pillow at the exact moment his phone started buzzing in his hand. He brought it up to his bleary gaze.

Stevie Calling.

He answered. “Aye?”

“Sorry, man, did I wake you?”

“I was already up. Barely. You alright?”

“Aye, just wondering if you wanted to come out for dinner tonight? Audrey’s bringing her friend Natasha. I wasn’t supposed to tell you that but unlike my girlfriend I don’t want to ambush you.”

Craig grunted. He and Stevie had been friends since high school, and Stevie had been with Audrey just as long. Neither Audrey nor Stevie believed in marriage, but after ten years together they showed no signs of wanting anybody else either.

Her closeness with Stevie meant Audrey couldn’t understand why anybody would want to remain single. She’d been trying to set up Craig with her friends for almost as long as she’d been with Stevie.

“Thanks for the heads-up, and I’ll pass.” He rubbed his eyes as he sat up, trying to fully wake up.

“Oh? Seeing someone? And by someone I mean your usual casual fuck?”

You’d be surprised, mate. “Nah, I hooked up with a lassie a week or so ago, but I’ve not met anybody since.” Not entirely true. He had met someone but she didn’t do one-night stands. He scowled remembering Rain’s words: I don’t do one-night stands, Craig. I’m not that girl. He’d fucked up by making it about sex right off the bat.

But if it wasn’t about sex, then what was it about?

Did he actually want to date this girl?

She got under his skin, aye . . . but dating? He wasn’t so sure about that.

It was probably best she’d walked out of the bar last weekend and not come back.

So why did he still feel so bloody disappointed?

“You there, mate?”

Craig jolted out his reverie at his friend’s voice. “Sorry. Still waking up.”

“So I’ve to tell Audrey you’re not coming? Have you got an excuse I can use? Because if I tell her I told you about Natasha she’ll be pissed off at me.”

He thought of the text he just got. “Tell her my mum’s going on a date this evening and I promised I’d be on call if she needed me to come get her. Plus I’m working at eight. Not really enough time for a proper dinner date, is it?”

“So your mum’s really going to do this Internet-dating malarkey, then?”

“Unfortunately.”

“Well, hope it goes alright, bud. I’ll let you go.”

“Speak to you later.”

They hung up and Craig reluctantly got out of bed to face what was left of the day.

*   *   *

“You’re checking your phone more than Jo does.”

Craig glanced at his colleague Alistair. It was back to the usual Friday team of Craig, Alistair, and Joss. “My mum is on a date. I said I’d come get her if she needed me.”

Alistair grimaced. “A date? Your mum?”

He groaned. “A date.”

“That’s fucking awful, mate.”

“Ugh.” Joss strode by them. “You men need to grow up. Mothers have sex lives too. How do you think you were born?”

“Like Jesus,” Alistair said straight-faced. “And no other fucker is telling me different.”

“I’m telling you different.” Joss poured rum into the glass she was holding and grinned evilly at him. “Your mothers had hot sweaty sex with your fathers . . . and better yet . . . they loved it.”

Craig thought of the vomit he had to clean up in the men’s bathroom last week because the cleaner had called in sick that night. It did the job of pushing out the imagery Joss was trying to plant in their brains.

“You’re a sick lady, Joss.” Alistair tutted. “A mean, sick, sick lady.”

She laughed at them and wandered back down the bar to her customer.

The bar wasn’t bouncing yet since it was still early on in the night, giving Craig plenty of free time to glance at his phone every five seconds.

He was busy staring at his phone when he heard Alistair ask a customer what he could get them.

“A glass of Fuligni, please.”

Craig’s head jerked up at the voice and he felt this overwhelming lightness in his chest at the sight of Rain sitting at the bar. “I’ll get it, Alistair,” he said automatically, and Rain’s gaze flicked uneasily to him.

He didn’t blame her, he supposed. She’d made it clear she wasn’t up for a one-night stand. Surprisingly that hadn’t put him off. He wanted to know why she was coming to the club every weekend. He wanted to know who she was looking for and what she was up to.

He wanted to talk to her. She was singular in that he couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so eager to be around a specific someone.

Alistair raised an eyebrow at him.

Craig shrugged. “I know her.”

“Right.” Alistair grinned and drifted off down the bar, probably to gossip with Joss. He was worse than a woman sometimes.

Trying to act casual when he felt anything but, Craig set about getting Rain her glass of wine. He caught her eyes as he turned back to her, and held her stare as he placed the glass down on the bar in front of her.

She lowered her long lashes, hiding her gorgeous big dark eyes from him.

Fuck, but she was beautiful.

His eyes drifted over her. Her hair was styled in much the same way as before but tonight she was wearing a forties-style dress that was a pinky-purple color. This dress showed more cleavage and she wore a silver necklace with an elaborate key as a pendant that nestled invitingly between said cleavage.

His eyes drifted up as a hot blood rushed to his dick.

Her full mouth was painted the same color as her dress.

He’d never wanted to kiss someone so badly.

Rain’s gaze was still on her glass so she hadn’t read the thoughts he was sure were clear in his eyes. And he wanted her to. He wanted her to know just how goddamn stunning he thought she was, even if she did think his opinion meant nothing.

“How have you been?” He leaned against the bar and her fruity-floral perfume drifted over him, making him want to nuzzle her neck to find the point of origin.

“Fine.” Rain finally looked up, her expression carefully blank. “And you?”

He smirked at her monosyllabic answer. “My mother is on a date right now, so I’ve been better.”

Humor lightened her eyes. “Oh dear. How uncomfortable for you.”

He grinned. “Understatement, darlin’.”

“She’ll be fine.”

He pulled out his phone and set it on the bar between them. “She knows to call me if she’s not.”

Rain tipped her head to the side, scrutinizing him. “And would you drop everything to go and help her?”

“Absolutely.”

“Even a gorgeous redhead who makes it clear she’ll sleep with you if you stay?”

He was more than a little irritated that she had to ask such a question, but he hid it. Instead he leaned closer, his voice lowering with his desire for her. “Even a mysterious and beautiful jitterbug with bright pink lips.”

She swallowed hard. The gesture was subtle and he would have missed it if he hadn’t been studying her so carefully. Craig was convinced she wasn’t as unaffected by him as she pretended to be. It was the reason he was chatting to her again, wanting to uncover all her secrets. “Fuchsia,” she whispered. “My lip color is fuchsia.”

Craig stared at her lips, picturing her pressed up against the nearest wall as he kissed the living daylights out of her. “Does it rub off easy?”

“Not this again, Craig,” she said softly.

Their gazes met again, hers defiant, his heated. “I can’t seem to help myself.”

“Well, try.”

“I don’t think you really want me to . . . or you wouldn’t keep coming back.”

She gave a huff of laughter. “You think I keep coming back here for you? Well, aren’t you nice and full of yourself.”

He grinned at her. “If not me then who?”

“No one you know.”

Before he could question her any further, customers seemed to pour into the bar in one big drove and he was diverted by the attentions of his job. Ten minutes later he was in the middle of pouring a customer a lager when Joss stopped beside him.

She smirked up at him. “Your gorgeous brunette says your phone is ringing.”

He glanced down the bar and saw Rain waving his phone at him. He’d clearly left it with her. “Shit. It might be my mum. Can you take over for this customer? It’s this lager and I’ve still to get him a JD and Coke.”

“Got it.” Joss took the lager from him, and Craig hurried down the bar to Rain.

“A text from ‘Mum’ popped up on the screen,” Rain said, handing him the phone. “Thought you might want to know.”

“Thanks.” He gave her a tight smile and quickly pulled up the text.

I had a wonderful night. Drew was a gentleman. I’m home safe and sound so you can stop worrying and get on with work. Talk to you later. Love, Mum xx

Craig sighed in relief.

Glad to hear it. I’ll call around tomorrow. Night.

“Everything alright?” Rain said.

He looked at her and was surprised to find she appeared to genuinely care. Christ, he wanted to kiss her so fucking badly. Why was she here? What the hell was going on with her? Craig suddenly found himself irrationally angry and he knew it was because Rain Alexander was a mystery that was beginning to frustrate him in more ways than one.

“She’s fine,” he said.

Rain’s concerned expression turned blank at his sharp answer, and he instantly regretted his tone.

“Craig, if you’re done?” Joss shouted back down the bar.

He sighed and looked back at Rain, but she was avoiding his gaze as she glanced around the bar in that searching way of hers. He strode away to take a customer’s order. Alistair passed him as he mixed a cocktail.

“Who’s the gorgeous brunette?” he asked as he cleaned out a glass.

Craig shot Rain a look. She had her back to the bar now, her eyes searching the club. “Fuck knows,” he sighed.

“I thought you knew her.”

“Knowing her name doesn’t mean I know her.”

Hearing the dismay in his voice, Alistair grinned. “Could it be you want to know her though?”

“Only in a biblical sense.”

Alistair studied him and then grunted. “If you say so.”

As soon as he walked away, he was replaced by Joss. She was grinning at him. He frowned. “What?”

“You have a crush.”

His whole being revolted at the idea. “I’m a grown man, I don’t have a fucking crush.”

Joss shot Rain a look. “Yeah, you do. You can’t stop looking over at her and I have a feeling she’s the same woman Jo was telling me about. Apparently you could barely pry yourself away from her last Saturday.”

“Your point?” he snapped.

She laughed outright at his tone. “Oh man, I’ve been there. I get it.” She patted his shoulder in comfort. “Just go with it. And I must say she’s a fuck of a lot cooler than most of the women you hook up with. And she’s stunning. If I were a guy . . . yeah, I’d go there.”

An image of Joss and Rain together fogged up his brain. “Why would you say that?” he groaned in frustration.

Joss laughed harder. “You need to grow up.”

“I’ll have you know that you saying you’d do Rain would have any man of any age picturing it for months to come.”

“I said if I were a man, I’d go there.” She shook her head. “Head out of the gutter, Craigy boy. We have work to do.”

A lull eventually arrived, so he could get back to Rain, and when he did he discovered she’d ordered a number of shots from one of his colleagues. It was daft, but he was annoyed she couldn’t wait for him to return to her before ordering.

“Moving on to something stronger?” He gestured to her empty shot glasses.

Her mouth twisted into a surprisingly adorable moue.

He leaned over the bar, locking onto her eyes with his. “Am I really that annoying?”

She sighed heavily. “No. It’s not you.” She groaned and leaned her head in her hands. “I shouldn’t have had those shots. I’m a lightweight.”

“Your break time, mate.” Alistair slapped him on his shoulder as he passed.

Craig nodded. “Right.” He walked to the end of the bar, lifted the latch and stepped out onto the club floor. He moved through the crowded bar area and pushed his way to where Rain sat. There were a number of guys who’d eyed her up over the course of the night, but for whatever reason none had approached. The guy standing next to her looked like he was getting ready to try his luck. Craig gave him a look that persuaded him otherwise, and then he gently rested his hands on Rain’s slender hips.

She jumped in surprise and tilted her head back. “How did you get back there?”

He grinned at her confusion. “Magic. Come on.” He tugged on her gently and to his surprise she willingly slipped off her stool. “Let’s get some water in you.” He took her small hand in his and tightened his grip as he led her back behind the bar. Ignoring Joss and Alistair’s inquisitive looks, he guided Rain through the back hallway and into their staff break room. He pulled a bottle of water out of the fridge and then led her to the battered table and chairs in the corner.

Once he had her seated with the water, he got his sandwich out of the fridge and offered her half.

“I’m not hungry.” She waved it away, staring at him in suspicion.

“Eat,” he insisted. “It’ll soak up all those shots.”

“Four shots,” she corrected him as she took the sandwich. “You’re making it sound like I’ve had loads.”

“Four is a lot on top of wine. Especially for a lightweight.”

“I know.” She looked sad. “But I got sick of waiting.”

Aha! “Sick of waiting for what? Or who?”

Rain’s eyes searched his. “Why are you so keen to know?”

“Because I’m intrigued.”

“But why?”

He laughed. “Why is the sky fucking blue? You intrigue me and that’s all I know.”

“There is a scientific reason for the sky being blue. Something about the elastic scattering of sunlight in the atmosphere or something . . .” She shrugged.

Still amused, Craig shook his head. “If you want a scientific reason for my intrigue then let’s call it chemistry. We have it, whether you want to admit to it or not.”

She seemed to consider this. “Just because we have chemistry doesn’t mean we have to have sex. Best friends have chemistry. It’s just a different kind.”

“Then we’ll pretend we’ve got that kind if it makes you more comfortable.” He winked cheekily at her.

Rain rolled her eyes but she couldn’t hide the smile quirking up the corners of her lips.

Needing to touch her, Craig reached across the table and took her hand in his. “Tell me what’s going on. Why Club 39?”

“Are bartenders like priests and doctors? We can tell you anything without fear of reprisal because of the confidentiality thing?”

Chuckling, he nodded. “We’ll go with doctor since I’ve played ‘doctor’ before but never ‘priest.’ Never met anyone kinky enough yet.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, making her laugh.

She had a throaty laugh and it made his cock twitch. It also, however, caused a pang in his chest area. He felt triumphant whenever he made her smile or laugh.

Fuck, he murmured inwardly at the revelation.

“Fine.” The laughter in her eyes dimmed. “I’ll tell you why I’m here. I’m here to get revenge for my sister.”

For a moment Craig had a sudden fear her sister was someone he’d slept with and then never called again. Had he dated a Darcy? He couldn’t think. Shit. “Your sister?”

“Darcy. Let’s just say when she was younger I didn’t protect her from a situation that I should have. It took her a long time to forgive me and for us to rebuild our relationship.”

Craig squeezed her hand, unhappy with the guilt he saw in her eyes.

“Nine months ago Darcy started dating this postgrad student. Angus York. I disliked him from the moment I met him, especially when he made it clear that he was attracted to me. But Darcy was in love so I buried my head in the sand. And once again I let her get hurt. I didn’t protect her.”

Uneasiness swept over Craig. “What did he do?”

Pure, undiluted anger blazed out of her dark eyes. “He convinced her to make a sex tape and then he showed it to his friends at a party.”

“Son of a bitch,” he hissed, thinking about his own sisters and how he’d murder any man who humiliated them like that.

“Darcy . . . she couldn’t handle it. She was betrayed and heartbroken. She broke up with him and fled to Australia. She’s out there just now, staying with a friend, trying to get over it so she can come back home.”

“That’s awful,” he murmured, taking her hand in both of his now. “I’m sorry that happened to her.”

Rain scrutinized him and the tension in her shoulders suddenly relaxed as she said, “I believe you mean that.”

He squeezed her hand. “I do. I have sisters. If that happened to them I’d want to kill the bastard.”

“Oh, I want to kill him but I’ll settle for a little justice instead.”

“And what’s the plan for that?”

“Angus comes here a lot.” She gave a bitter, rueful smile. “Well, he’s supposed to appear here a lot but so far I’ve seen no sign of him. My plan was to ingratiate myself with him . . . find a way deep enough into his life to get something on him . . . something I can use to ruin him like he ruined Darcy.”

Craig gave her a sad smile. “You don’t seem like the revenge sort, Rain. Perhaps this isn’t the best idea.”

She pulled her hands out of his hold, her defenses flying back up around her again, and he cursed himself for not treading more carefully. “I failed my sister once before. I won’t again.”

“But how is this the best plan? Surely this guy will be suspicious of you trying to be pals with him?”

She raised an eyebrow. “You underestimate this man’s arrogance.”

Craig gave her a nod and sat back to finish his sandwich. As he did Rain nibbled on the sandwich he’d given her and he studied her. The truth was he admired the determination he saw in her tired eyes. This wasn’t something she wanted to do, but it was something she certainly felt she needed to do.

All because of her loyalty to her sister.

And that, Craig could admire.

“You’re staring,” Rain murmured.

Because you’re absolutely fucking beautiful . . . and I have a feeling that beauty runs deep. “There’s a lot to stare at,” he murmured back, taking a casual swig of his water.

He didn’t want to scare her off. He wanted to put her at ease. For whatever reason this woman brought out his protective instincts. Craig didn’t want her going through the drama of dealing with Angus. If it were him he’d punch the arsehole and move on. He thought that was a much healthier way to deal with it. The lengthy process of revenge that Rain was discussing would take its toll on her.

He didn’t want that for her.

I want her spending all her free time on far more pleasurable pursuits.

Like getting to know him in the biblical and non-biblical sense.

“Stay until closing. Let me walk you home. No funny stuff,” he reassured. Let me change your mind about everything. Life was never too short for justice, but revenge, yes. Life was too short for revenge. And life was too short to ignore the kind of connection between them.

For the first time ever Craig felt more than the impulse for sex. He wanted to know everything there was to know about this woman, and if that meant giving the whole dating thing a go then so be it. He’d slowly convince Rain to give him a chance, and while he was doing it he’d distract her from this tiresome need for revenge.

“You’re very determined and stubborn, aren’t you?” she said, eyeing him thoughtfully.

“Probably about as determined and stubborn as you,” he said.

She gave a huff of laughter. “I don’t know about that.”

“Will you stay, then?”

“No funny stuff?” she said softly.

“I promise.”

Slowly she nodded.

Pleased, Craig relaxed a little and guided her back to the bar after his break. He shooed a customer off Rain’s vacated stool (to the annoyance of Joss and Alistair) so he could keep her in his sights.

It turned out, however, he’d let himself become too relaxed, because when he went to retrieve something from the stock room and returned, she’d disappeared. His hope was that she’d gone to the restroom, but when she didn’t appear after ten minutes he asked Joss to take a look for him. She returned shaking her head and gave him a sympathetic pat on the back.

For the rest of the night his colleagues kept their distance and Craig did nothing to improve his tips—flirtation and quick quips dried up on his tongue along with any sign of his earlier good mood.