Bea: I’ll like him for about ten minutes while he bangs me on boxes of nacho cheese.

Me: Gross.

Bea: Oh, sorry. We all don’t expect caviar and sweet touches.

I shake my head.

Me: Gotta go. See you in a bit.

Bea: Hurry. Shit, he’s teaching her how to play pool. What a slut move.

I refrain from asking any more questions because she’d probably lie to me, so I’ll rush to get there. That’s not to say my feet aren’t walking a little faster back to the table to hurry this work dinner up. I hide my phone in my hand when I reach the table. and Curtis stands up when he sees me coming and moves behind me to pull out my chair.

“Thank you,” I say once I’m seated.

He goes back to his own chair. Perusing the table, I observe the coffee, the cappuccino, and the hot tea in front of everyone. Feeling the steam rising up to my face, I look down to find a cup of cappuccino. Since I hate coffee, I’m curious as to why it’s placed right in front of me.

Seeing my puzzled face, Curtis smiles. “I got a French vanilla one. Figured the sweetness would compensate for the coffee taste.”

Showing appreciation, I smile back. Taking a sip of my drink, I’m cautious to the hotness. The minute the sweet hits my taste buds, I want to chase it down with water. Instead, I swallow it and try not to cringe. I sit in my seat with my hands tucked on top of my lap while Curtis explains about Tanner to his parents.

Seriously? Tanner? Why on earth would Curtis bring him up?

“We’ve been trying to land him. Now’s your time, Curtis.” His dad sits a little straighter in his chair, more attentive. Ding, ding. Curtis’s dad’s firm is entertainment law. How stupid of me not to realize this before. With the upcoming Olympics and Tanner pegged to be the guy to beat, of course they’d want to snatch him up now.

“Piper’s known him all her life. Their families are next-door neighbors, and they went to college together.” Curtis piles on my accolades in the who-knows-whom category.

“Really?” Hugh’s places his elbows on the table, and his finger clasp together.

This is what it takes to get this guy’s attention.

“Yes. He’s my brother’s best friend,” I add, only making his conniving and untrusting smile grow wider.

“And how about you?”

My heart stops beating.

“Are you friends with Tanner McCain?”

It’s such a simple question with an array of answers to choose from.

“Yes, I suppose,” I speak only the truth.

“Could you get us a meeting? Just a casual meet-and-greet while he’s in town?”

It’s not shocking to see how Hugh got to where he is. He treats me like scum one minute. When he figures out that I can help him, he turns on the charm.

“He’s busy with my brother’s wedding, but I can ask.” Not that I want my ex-boyfriend to be in business with my new boyfriend’s family. That would be a nightmare situation made for the movies.

“Fantastic. What a great girl you’ve got here, Curtis.” Hugh relaxes in his chair, bringing his own cappuccino to his lips, happy.

Curtis looks my way. “Yes, I do.”

We share a smile, and the hardness in Curtis’s jaw, confirms that he assumes something went on with Tanner and me in the past.

fourteen

CURTIS’S SMILE IS WIDE AND almost cocky on the drive over to Breakers. His hand rests on the gear shift between us as he quietly sings along with the song on the radio. For someone who complains about his father all the time, he is now gleaming after his dad’s praise about me knowing Tanner McCain.

My fingers curl and loosen in my lap, pushing back the tension my body won’t dissolve. If Tanner’s presence tonight isn’t enough, mix in Bayli’s friend and Curtis’s dad’s expectation, I think I need a long day at the spa and a gifted masseuse at this point.

I’ve been sitting here quietly for the past twenty minutes, glancing over at a relaxed Curtis. For every minute, anger brews a little hotter under my skin.

“I’m not sure I want to ask Tanner,” I quickly throw out breaking the silence

“What?” Curtis’s head whips in my direction, and his finger turns the radio volume down.

If I’d known my declaration would warrant this response, I would have spoken up earlier.

I shrug my shoulders. “It feels wrong. If your company already reached out to him and he declined, there isn’t much more to do.” I watch his face manifest from shock to anger to, lastly, understanding.

“Baby”—his hand moves off the shifter, grabbing a hold of mine—“you heard my dad. This could do so much for me, making me a spot in the firm.”

He’s guilt-tripping me into this, and to be truthful, it’s working.

“I get it, Curtis, but Tanner and I aren’t exactly close.” At least, not anymore.

“I don’t believe you. It seems like you’re closer than you let on.” His voice changes tones to an accusatory one now.

“Why would you think that? You see how I try to stay clear of him.”

He rolls to a stop, the silence filling the car. I sit there, pretending to be cool and calm when I’m positive he’s figured it out. He turns to me, and my stomach sinks from inquisitive glare.

“Come on, Piper, tell me.”

I pull back my hand from his grip. “Tell you what?”

He concentrates on the center console, and mine veer out the window as I pray the traffic light changes soon.

“I told you already. There’s nothing between us,” I lie again.

If only I could believe it . . .

The light turns, and I yell, “It’s green!”

My back straightens against the leather seat, and I focus on the road ahead. The sprinkle of rain has made the pavement slick and glossy from the streetlights.

“Piper, I get it.” Curtis doesn’t let the conversation go as I’d hoped he would. “It’s like a taboo thing. It’s the classic storyline of wanting what you can’t have.”

“Taboo? He’s not my cousin, Curtis!” I face him, exasperated by our conversation.

“No, but I’m positive Brad wouldn’t like it.”

“Brad doesn’t run my life.”

“No, but I know you, Piper.” He flicks a look my way before pulling into the parking lot of Breakers. “You’d never cross your brother.”

“Cross my brother? I make my own decisions, and if I wanted to fuck Tanner McCain, I would!” I yell.

Curtis stops the car, still calm. In the time it takes him to turn the key out of the ignition, I realize what I just said.

I fear he’s silently fuming, so I position my hand on the metal door handle.

“Piper, slow down.” He laughs, gripping my other hand.

My head flies back, and I find soothing eyes, not angry ones. “I guess I got defensive there.” I’m not about to apologize for what I said though.

“No, I shouldn’t push you to talk to him. You know what? I’ll approach the subject with him tonight,” Where is this Curtis coming from?

I open the door and put one foot out. “That’s a better idea. Thank you.”

“Of course.” A small smile crosses his lips, and he nods.

The click of my heels on the wet sidewalk echo in the night air. Curtis’s hand rests on the small of my back as we follow a group of giggling girls toward the door.

“You look beautiful tonight,” he whispers in my ear.

I wish his voice quickened my pulse as much as the guy who I’m terrified is on the other side of this door.

When we walk in, I swear, the music stops, and everyone turn our way. It’s as though my entrance has shifted what the universe planned tonight. Thankfully, only two people’s sights are pinned to us—Bea and Tanner. I reposition my purse on my shoulder as Tanner slides away from the girl I only suppose is the friend of Bayli’s. Even from this distance, his eyes on my body heats a low hum in me that only he can calm.