He shoots me some serious side eye. "Have I?"
I nod. Okay, maybe he didn't use those exact words, but I got the gist.
"It's three weeks. Ends just before school starts. I've booked you a separate hotel room for all our stops."
A separate hotel room.
For three weeks in Europe.
I have to hug Mal again. I have no choice.
"Am I your favorite brother yet?" he teases.
"You're neck and neck with Ethan."
He chuckles. "Tough competition."
"You could buy me a new car, race into first."
He shakes his head. "How about I make dinner reservations for eight on Friday?"
"You're not winning yet."
"I'll learn to live with that."
Friday night, I step into the restaurant with my shoulders back and my head high. I look cute. Not slutty cute but appropriate for dinner with my brother cute. My navy dress—the one I wore for high school graduation—flatters my less than ample curves and shows off just enough leg. The strappy black heels help.
My smoky eye is blended and sharp. My lips are just the right shade of pink.
This is the cutest I've ever looked.
But I still feel outclassed.
The lobby of this Beverly Hills celebrity hangout is full of models and actresses who are taller, thinner, bustier, or prettier than I am.
Nerves rise up in my throat as my eyes pass over Kit. He's sitting in the back corner of the lobby, his eyes on his cell, his dark curly hair hanging over his face. Every molecule in my body wants to dig my hands into that hair.
Every inch of me wants to climb into his lap and beg him to make me forget we have an audience.
Mal nods to the host stand. "Give me a minute."
Gladly. I make my way to Kit's spot in the back of the lobby and sit next to him.
My knee rubs against the fabric of his slacks. He's wearing slacks. Not jeans. Not even motorcycle boots.
He's dressed up.
For me.
He wants to be with me.
Damn, I'm hot. "Hey."
"Hey." He slides his cell into his pocket and turns towards me. His knee brushes against mine.
Heat races through my body as his fingers brush my outer thigh. "You're not wearing motorcycle boots."
Kit's dark eyes light up as he chuckles. "Thanks for noticing."