Theo’s eyes bore into mine in a tight-jawed silence. With an exasperated huff, he grabs his phone, dialing a number. “You got time?” He pauses, listening to whoever’s on the other side of the line. “I need a ride. Get your ass to my place ASAP.”
“It’s sweet of you to—”
“You’re notwalking,” he clips, slamming the phone on the side table and startling the dog again. “Sorry, boy.” He pats the dog’s head, eyes on me. “On a scale of one to ten, how much do you trust me now that you know me a little?”
The condo is silent, and my heart picks up pace because I’m suddenly very aware we’re alone—a scene I imagined too many times already. We wore no clothes in those thoughts, and we were much,muchcloser.
Despite the contradicting gossip about the Hayes brothers that I’ve heard from too many people, not much of it has any reflection in real life. In fact, I’m disappointed Theo isn’t as described—a player who fucks every pretty girl he can get his hands on. I’ve never considered myself particularly pretty, but the consensus among my friends and family has always been just that.
Not to Theo, unfortunately. Either I’m not his type, or he’s not that big of a man-whore.
Too bad. He makes me tick in a very special way. I’m drawn to both; his interior and exterior. Starting with his sharp, handsome face and confident stance, down to his charming character, cognac-colored irises, and low, husky voice. Even how he mindlessly toys with his lower lip whenever he’s deep in thought renders me hot and breathless.
Do I trust him, though?
He’s given me no reason not to. He’s the first person I’ve felt truly comfortable around in a long time.
“Eight, I think,” I say after a long beat.
“Eight is good. You need to know two things: I never do anything unless I want to, and I never lie.”
The conversation took a turn from casual to spiked with hidden meaning. Meaning I can’t decipher. Theo’s not eager to explain, pivoting the chat back to my culinary school.
A loud knock sounds on the door ten minutes later. The door swings open after Theo yellscome in.A young boy bursts inside the condo, keys in hand, longish hair tucked behind his ears, save for a few wayward locks bordering his handsome, youthful face. There’s no need for introductions. A name would be beneficial, but one glance is enough to pinpoint a surname.
Here stands before me, one of the three youngest Hayes brothers. The resemblance to the older four is unmistakable. Same dark hair, brown eyes, strong jaw, and broad shoulders. I can’t wait to meet their parents. They must be the most stunning people alive to produce seven ruthlessly handsome sons.
“That’s Cody,” Theo says, moving his attention to his brother. “This is Thalia. We need a ride.”
Cody nods, lips curling into a wide grin. “Chauffer Cody at your disposal.”
Theo smirks under his nose. “Nico bought them each a Mustang for their seventeenth birthday, so they’re pretty keen to chauffeur us around wherever we need.”
He bought themcars?
The cart girls swoon over Nico, although only from afar, as most are afraid to get within shouting distance of him. They never fail to casually slip into the conversation the widely known fact that he’s filthy rich, but I’m still blown away. Nico doesn’t come across as thoughtful, and buying cars for his youngest brothers sure is pretty high up there.
Theo scoops Ares into his arms. Looks like the pup is going for a ride too. I retrieve my bag from the kitchen, then follow both brothers out of the building. Theo opens the back door of the shiny, cherry-red Mustang, letting me in first, then urges me to scoot over and hops in with Ares.
“You’re the new girl at the Country Club, right?” Cody asks, revving the engine, eyes locked on mine in the rear-view mirror instead of the road as the car shoots forward.
I grab the seatbelt, yanking it over my chest before I dent the back of the driver’s leather seat with my face when Cody decides to brake. “Yes. I see the news travels fast around here.”
“It does if you’re a Hayes,” Cody admits, glancing in the rear-view mirror. “Where are we going?”
“The motel by Costa Mesa,” Theo supplies.
Cody will never be my go-to driver. He’s too careless. My stomach ties in knots when he speeds down the freeway at double the limit and parks outside the dreaded destination inside of ten minutes.
“Thank you.” I peck Theo’s cheek, my legs wobbly, heart slowly climbing back down my throat. “If you need help with the game, you know where to find me.”
He hands Cody the dog, urging me to exit the car. “Grab your stuff, Thalia. All of it.”
My eyebrows knot in the middle. “Sorry, what?”
“I saidpack your shit.You need a place to stay, and I’ve got a spare bedroom sitting empty. My condo is only a mile from the Country Club.”
“N-no...” I shake my head, watching him with mute perplexity as I back away, both hands clasped around the straps of my bag. “I think you had one beer too many, Theo.”