Chapter 6
“DAD TOLD ME YOU stayed out all night…with a friend.”
Kitty’s brother, Kevin, perched himself at the end of the bar sporting a shit-eating grin. They were nearly five years apart in age, and she used to worry that Kevin was going to end up in jail or worse. The one good thing that came from her marriage was that her little brother had finally cleaned up his act.
“And by the way your cheeks just flushed bright red, I’m guessing you went home with the cowboy from last night.”
“What makes you think it was that guy?”
“So, you did spend the night with a man.” Keith clapped his hands together. “Finally, you’re moving on with your life.”
She cocked her head while she towel-dried a few mugs. “I’ve been moving on for a long time, but I still don’t have time or room for a relationship, so don’t go moving me out of the house just yet. Speaking of which, how is the new place?”
“You’ve always been good at changing the subject.” He tapped his finger on the Shepherd’s Pie meal, holding two fingers up.
Her brother didn’t have a big palate and that was one of his favorites. “To Go?”
He nodded. “I like it, but we have barely any furniture. Jessica and I are both so tired after work, and I’m shocked at how expensive things are. We’re putting off buying a few things until we have a bit more money saved.”
“Better to take it slow and get what you want.” She poured a beer for one of the regulars who sat at the other end of the bar. The restaurant was always slow on Tuesday nights, but tonight it was slower than usual and now that the dinner rush was essentially over, she didn’t expect the bar would pick up too much until maybe after she was off, though they had no live music tonight, so maybe not.
“What I want is to help you.” He pushed an envelope across the table. “It’s not much, but it will help with books.”
“I’m not taking your money. You and Jessica want to get married, have kids, you need to save for your future.”
“I took your money, so I’m not taking no for an answer.”
Tentatively, she rested her fingers over the cool paper. “Have you talked to Jessica?”
“She’s fine with it. We put it into our budget.”
“Thank you.” Tears welled in Kitty’s eyes. She quickly stuffed the envelope in her pocket. “I’ll put your order in.” She pushed back the doors into the kitchen, gripped the metal counter, and sucked in a deep breath. Her brother had always been a kind soul, but she hadn’t expected this kind of generosity, and it took a lot to swallow her pride of being the older, protective sister and take his money. For him this was more than payback. It was about being a man, and she wouldn’t strip him of that dignity.
And her books cost an arm and leg.
Goosebumps spread across her skin like a tidal wave. She smoothed down her jeans, collected herself, and stepped back out into the bar just as JW sauntered through the front door. Every female head turned in his direction, but he smiled only at her, tipping that sexy hat. Last night, she’d asked him if he’d consider leaving her the hat as souvenir. He replied with a wet kiss and a flat-out no.
He actually said the word no five times, shaking his head like a small boy being asked to go to bed early.
“Hey there,” he said, setting his hat on the table. “Fancy meeting you here.”
“That’s rich.” She pulled a Stella glass from the rack, filling it to the top. “This is my brother, Keith.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m JW.” He held his hand out. “I guess your father wrote the full name out for you before pulling it from a hat.”
Kitty laughed.
Keith frowned.
“Keith is his middle name. His given name is Zebulon.”
“A what-a-lon?” JW asked with arched brows.
“Zebulon,” Keith said, giving her the evil eye. “It’s an ancient biblical city or something.”
“And how did your parents come up with that one?” JW seemed genuinely interested, only making it harder for her to be around him. He was the kind of man that could break her heart.
Keith rolled his eyes. “They didn’t. She did.” He waggled a finger under her face. “She loved to read as a kid and when our mom went into labor with me, I guess the only thing there for her to read was the bible. My parents let her toss a name into the mix and for some reason, they thought I should have a weirder name than my sister.”
“Here’s to odd names.” JW held his glass up.
“JW isn’t so odd.” Keith held his glass high.
“Maybe not. But going through life as Johnnie Walker Whiskey has had its share of strange moments.”
Keith burst out laughing.
Kitty leaned her hip against the counter. Her heart fluttered with excitement thinking about the backpack she’d brought to work, which contained a sexy nighty and a change of clothes, though she doubted she’d spend much time in either one of them if last night was any indication.
The front door whooshed open, and her mood soured.
“Two nights in a row, and he says he’s not here to bother me,” she muttered, staring at her ex-husband who strolled into the bar with his buddy, Eric, who had been his best man at the wedding. Eric called himself a manager of up and coming singing sensations, but his client had never even recorded an album. Being the son of a billionaire meant he could do whatever he wanted and not worry about if he made a dime or dollar.
“I wasn’t going to tell you, but he offered me a job,” Keith said.
“He told me,” she muttered. Her stomach churned as Eric stuck his nose in the air. He’d made it quite clear at the wedding that he thought she was trash and certainly didn’t approve of the union.
“What were his parents smoking when they named him Preston? Really. Just a dumbass name.” JW winked, giving her a wicked smile. He had a way of easing her nerves.
She wanted to lean across the bar and plant a wet kiss on his adorable face. In less than twenty-four hours, she’d fallen in heavy like with the man.
The hostess sat Preston and Eric at a table near the front of the restaurant, but Preston didn’t sit down. Nope. He had to come over and annoy the hell out of her, her brother, and her… JW wasn’t anything to her other than a good time.
“Well, isn’t this cozy,” Preston said, standing with his back to JW, facing Keith.
“Have you given my offer any more consideration?” Preston asked.
“I’m happy where I am,” Keith said.
JW leaned across the bar, waggling his index finger. “Come here,” he whispered.
“Not if you’re going to get me in trouble.” Her lips turned up into a wide smile as she glanced around the pub. All the workers were busy taking care of customers, and her bosses were nowhere to be found.
JW reached across the counter, tugging at her braid. “You left me hanging this afternoon when you left the hotel.”
“Shhhh….” She held her finger to her lips, but honestly, she didn’t care if half the restaurant heard his declaration as long as it made Preston uncomfortable.
His warm fingers curled around the back of her neck as he drew her closer, kissing her cheek. “How long do I have to wait for you to get off work?”
“Two hours.”
“Then you better bring me some food.” His lips brushed hers softly, like a sweet butterfly kiss.
Preston cleared his throat. “Kitty. Can I speak to you, alone?”
“Anything you have to say to her, you can say in front of me.” JW held her stare as he tipped his beer, taking a slow sip. How he managed to smile while drinking, she had no idea.
She never did take too well to the chest pounding between men, but when JW did it, he seemed less like a Neanderthal and more like a gentleman protecting those he cared about. Not that he cared about her, because that would be really nuts. They barely knew each other, and all they wanted from one another was a physical release they both desperately needed.
“It’s personal,” Preston said, hands planted on his hips, with his lower lip curled like a spoiled schoolboy. She hated that look and generally caved into it just to get him to stop.
“Fine,” she muttered.
JW arched a brow.
“I’ll be right back.” She stepped around the bar, following Preston to the corner, out of earshot of her brother and JW, but not out of their eyesight as both men stared in her direction.
“What do you want?”
Preston jutted his chin in the direction of the bar. “Who is that guy?”
“None of your business,” she said, anger prickling her skin. “And if that is why you called me over, then you’re wasting both of our time.”
“He looks familiar.”
“He’s not from around here and certainly not someone you or your friends would socialize with,” she said, glancing over her shoulder. “I’ve got to get back to work.”
“Wait a second, that’s not the only thing I wanted to talk to you about. Eric’s new girlfriend is coming into town, and he’s trying to set up gigs for her to sing.”
“I’m not the person to ask.”
“I know. He called and got the runaround. We were hoping you could put in a good word.”
“Seriously?” She let out a sarcastic laugh, glancing in Eric’s direction. “As if I’d do him any favors.”
“I’m asking you, not Eric.” Preston pulled a card out of his back pocket. “Whoever makes the decisions can hear her stuff online.”
“I’m sure we’re booked.”
“Will you just ask?”
“No. I’m not going to call in a favor with my boss for you or Eric.” She turned on her heels. She owed him nothing, and she wouldn’t feel bad for saying no.
“Want me to go tell him to fuck off?” Keith asked.
“Thanks, little brother, but it won’t be necessary.” One of the servers brought out her brother’s to go order.
“That smells fantastic,” JW pointed to the take-out bag. “What is it?”
“Why don’t I just put an order in for you, and you can find out,” she teased, running her fingers over his thick biceps.
He cocked his head. “Should I be scared?”
“You’re dating my sister, you should always be scared,” Keith said.
She focused on JW’s Adam’s apple, which bobbed as he took a large gulp of his beer.
“I wouldn’t say we’re dating.” The sound of her voice was barely audible. She didn’t want to insult JW, but they had agreed that this was a one-week fling. Just two people attracted to one another, enjoying each other’s company until they parted ways. No strings attached.
“Well, whatever it is you’re doing, looks like you’re going to have to explain it to Mom and Dad.” Keith pointed to the front door.
“Oh fuck,” she muttered.
JW’s arm jerked, knocking over his beer. “God damn it.”
“Keith, cut them off at the pass. Talk them into a table.”
“I’ll try.” Keith snagged his food and raced to the center of restaurant, stopping to give their mom a hug and a kiss, as she waved frantically over his shoulder.
“If they sit at the bar, you can either move to a table, or I’ll pretend I don’t know you.”
“It could be fun to sit here and listen to them grill you about where you spent last night and where you plan on sleeping tonight.” He helped her wipe the beer off the counter.
“You do that, and I won’t come over tonight.”
He glanced over his shoulder. Her parents were only five feet away. “I’d love to meet your parents,” he said loud enough that half the bar heard.