Dex looked her in the eye. Was that a smolder?
Kalilah looked down and noticed a tattoo on his shoulder. “How many tattoos do you have?”
Dex grinned. “One big one. Want to see it? It would require me to take off my shirt. It’s on most of the left side of my body.”
Kalilah’s eyes grew big. “Really? That must be some statement piece.”
Dex smirked and took off his shirt. Oh my. His body was like Ryan Reynolds on Blade. His tattoo was a big scene that began at the top of his left shoulder and ended in some unknown location under the waist of his sweats. It was a mixture of gargoyles and angels battlin
g against something not pictured on his body. Kalilah gasped. It was a beautiful scene. The intricate details made it obvious that the tattoo was done by one of the best.
“Do you like tattoos? You want Nick to get one?”
Kalilah shook her head. “I can’t tell Nick what to do with his body. That’s up to him. I don’t have a thing for tattoos or guys with tattoos. I like art, and this is art. Good job on your selection.”
Dex gave her a look that she couldn’t decipher before he slid his shirt back on. “Well, since you’re not his girlfriend, how about we meet up later for drinks?”
Kalilah raised an eyebrow. He couldn’t be serious. She felt a slight stab of disappointment. Dex was too attractive to be this guy. He was a very tempting package, but at the end of the day he wasn’t Nick.
Kalilah sighed.
“Dex, while I’m sure you are a lot of fun and such. I will have to say no. I’m not his girlfriend, but I do feel that what you’re asking will be a betrayal on a lot of levels.”
She braced herself for his reaction. Attractive guys aren’t good sports when turned down. Instead, Dex look relieved. It momentarily confused Kalilah, then it all became clear. She smirked and started to slow clap. Dex looked at her puzzled.
“What?”
She smiled. “Bravo. Well done. You missed your calling. You need to be an investigator or actor. You have been interrogating me the whole time, and I didn’t know.” Dex smiled and bowed. Kalilah giggled. “Amazing. You worked your net worth, cooking abilities, muscles, and tattoo into one conversation. You should teach a class.”
Dex pulled her into a platonic hug. “I like you. What clued you in?”
Kalilah pointed at him. “The tattoo. Gargoyles are protectors from evil spirits, and guardian angels look over people, as well.”
“Beautiful and smart. Where have you been all my life? I’ve been waiting for you since I hit puberty.”
Kalilah understood exactly what he meant. Puberty is most likely when the girls started picking him over Nick. Dex, the protector, probably used that to weed out the girls that didn’t care about his brother. Kalilah smiled. The little brother protecting the big brother.
Dex placed his hands on both sides of her face and studied her closely. Kalilah could see a seriousness in him that most people probably missed. He was sharp, and she felt like he was looking into her soul. His eyes softened when he found her secret.
“Does he know?”
Kalilah stared up at him in stunned silence. She had barely admitted to herself that she had strong feelings for Nick, and his brother came and pulled it out of her without her saying a word. Dex nodded understandingly.
“What exactly should I know?” Nick asked angrily. “Besides you two being all over each other.”
“It’s not how it looks, Nick,” Dex began, but Nick cut him off.
“Save it. I thought you outgrew this.”
Dex shook his head. “No, Nick, I will never outgrow what I was doing.”
Kalilah tried to ease the tension in both brothers. They were both hot when they were angry. She momentarily understood men’s obsession with girls fighting. She took a step towards Nick.
“Nick, remember…”
Nick held up a hand to stop her. “Shut up, Kalilah. I’m talking to my brother right now.”
Kalilah flinched as if she was slapped, and Dex turned his attention to her. “Kalilah. Let us have a moment.” He grabbed her purse and handed it to her. “I’ll talk to him, and he will call you later.”