“Yeah, well, you’ll be the death of me.”
I roll my eyes and switch out shirts, opting for a solid black but
ton-up. I glance at my watch. My heartbeat starts to race as I calculate how much time it will take to get to the bar called Crave.
“So,” Holt begins, “when is this date? Is it a date? Or just a quick fuck?”
“It’s a date, asshole. I’m meeting her at seven. Apparently, they have good burgers.”
Holt stills. “It’s not called Crave, is it?”
“How’d you know that?”
“That is Blaire’s brother’s bar. One of her brothers, anyway.” He runs a hand down his face. “I’ve avoided meeting her family and, yet, here you go meeting them first. Don’t think this doesn’t stress me out.”
I grab his beer and down the rest of it, avoiding the glare he fires my way.
“First,” I begin, “why should it stress you out? You two aren’t serious.”
He stills. If there’s one thing I can do in life, it’s read my brothers and Holt is pissed. He hasn’t banged any strange pussy since he met Blaire. He’s been to Chicago twice. He’s had her come back to Savannah once. Yet, he won’t admit he wants anything serious with her.
I wouldn’t be a good little brother if I didn’t push some buttons—for his own good, of course.
“Second,” I say, “you don’t trust me to uphold the family name?”
“Boone. Really?”
“Yes, really.” I hold my hands in front of me. “I’ll remind you that I’m a businessman same as you. As a matter of fact, I landed the biggest deal in our company’s history last quarter.”
“Your point?” he deadpans.
“That I can be serious when the situation calls for it.”
He sighs. “Boone, the deal of the century you landed was because you fucked the shit out of the—”
“Don’t be jealous.” I set the bottle down and work the buttons quickly up my torso. “I can’t help it you’re all lovey-dovey with Airport Girl.”
“Her name is Blaire, cocksucker.”
I drop my hands. “Got it. Now, what time are we rolling out of here in the morning so I can make sure I don’t miss our flight?”
“Nine.”
Grabbing my wallet off the end table, I shove it in my back pocket. “I’ll be back by then. Don’t start blowing up my phone if you don’t see me before seven.” I head to the door. “But if it’s seven and I’m radio silent, you should probably start calling. I might be a little fuck-foundered if all goes right.”
“Remember, good behavior tonight,” he calls after me.
I pop open the door. “I’ll be so good she’ll wonder if I was even real.”
“I meant with Blaire’s brother.”
“Eh, I’ll try.”
I shut the door behind me.
4
Delaney