Beyond Doubt (5 page)

“Okay. My turn. So let’s say you’re right. Does that mean he’s going to run anytime something gets tough? That’s not anything I’d want long term anyway, so why waste my time? You know, I even dragged poor Gabby out to a club just to get her brother out of my head! How pathetic is that?”

I watched Lily as she took a sip of her beer and placed it back down. She didn’t say anything for a couple of seconds but just sat quietly. This wasn’t Lily.

“You know what just dawned on me?” she asked.

“What?”

“Here I am trying to persuade you to do something you obviously don’t want to do. And who am I to do that? I have the worst track record when it comes to men.” Lily’s lips pulled into a smile.

“None of us have really excelled in that area,” I laughed. “Otherwise I wouldn’t be daydreaming about a completely unattainable man.”

Our food was delivered, and I heard the voices raise another click as the drinks continued to circulate among the crowd.

“This will be the last thing I say on the matter.” Lily raised her hand in oath. “But I have never seen you light up the way you did when you mentioned his name. You get this look in your eyes, almost a dreamy stare…”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head as I thought about Lily’s words. Going forward I’d need to try my hardest to look detached and uninterested whenever Gabby brought up her brother.

“The truth of it is, I’m all dopey over a guy I can’t have, and all he probably wants is a way to get to his sister.” I shrugged. “So I swear I’m officially over it.”

“Uh-huh.” She watched the crowd near the bar grow, and my eyes went back to the stranger at the bar right when he turned around. The butterflies in my stomach were quickly squashed when I realized it wasn’t Aaron. I let out a sigh loud enough for Lily to catch as she munched on her fries.

“Sounds like leaving him in the dust is working out for you. Enough of that, though. Now let’s get on to me. I think I might have found someone.”

“And is he available? Like actually available?”

She pulled her brows together and scowled at me. “He works at the PR firm and is definitely available. He’s actually asked me out twice, but I declined both times.”

This did not sound like the Lily I knew. She usually jumped at the chance to go out.

“Really? I didn’t know that no was even in your repertoire,” I teased.

“Hey now. I may have made my share of bad choices, but I’m trying not to do that any longer. I’m taking my time. Plus both nights that he asked, I had events I needed to attend. One for a lip gloss launch and another for a brewery.”

“A day in the life…”

We continued eating and chatting, catching up on everything since she moved to Portland. The pub was one step past lively, and it was getting hard to hear Lily so we both decided to call it a night here and find a place where we could chat. When the server brought our check, I quickly paid and we began wandering through the crowd.

“Wanna hit the bar down the street? The dancing’s only in the front, and there are usually places in the back to sit.”

“Totally,” I said, weaving my way through the final horde of people before landing at the exit.

Lily heaved the large wooden door open, right when I heard my name called from behind. And this time there was no mistaking who it was.

“Lily,” I hissed, but she couldn’t hear me. Instead, she pranced out to the street leaving me stranded in the doorway. “Lily,” I tried again.

She turned around, only to reveal a huge grin as she looked behind me, obviously spying the source of the voice.

Drats! It really was him.

“Excuse me, miss. Do you mind closing the door? You’re letting the AC out,” the bartender called over the crowd.

Gladly!

I gave him a quick nod and ran through the door. My fingertips released the wood, letting the hinges close it silently.

“Let’s get out of here.”

But it was too late. The door pushed open, and Lily’s huge grin turned to one of complete adoration as the male calling my name came into her view.

“Hey, Brandy,” Aaron said, his voice calm.

My body completely betrayed me as I turned to face him, but not before I realized he had someone with him. The excitement in my belly was quickly replaced with disappointment and jealousy. The tall blonde next to him was definitely the exact opposite of what I had to offer. Every hair was in place, and her tan couldn’t get any more golden if she rubbed it in hourly. My skin was olive, not orange. Her features were harsh. No. That was mean. They were dramatic and certainly hinted of not wanting to get on her bad side.

He tilted his head slightly, and his eyes grew curious as he waited for my reaction. He slid his right hand into his jean pocket and just waited. Was this a test? Did he want to see what I thought about him being with someone? Or did he only want to size up how to approach me about his sister?

“What’s up, Aaron?”

Aaron hooked his thumbs through his belt loops and watched me closely while my agitation level grew. I was sure a hint of a smile was threatening to take over his lips as he toyed with me.

Lily stood next to me, and I could tell she was giving the once-over to the blond. I wasn’t sure if that made the situation better or worse.

“Didn’t I make myself clear the other day?” I pressed. My brows pulled together as my arms folded in front of me.

“The other day?” blondie asked, looking up at Aaron.

Ignoring her, he took a step forward. “I was hoping you’d reconsidered.”

“Nope. Still feel the same way. Listen, my friend and I haven’t seen each other in a while so we’re gonna take off.”

Aaron followed my gaze to the slobbering and very possessive female by his side as I took a step back. The blonde nodded in victory and grabbed his hand, staking her claim. He paid as much attention to her as he would a scarf wrapped around his neck and shook her hand from his. Normally, I would have been delighted, but in this instance, I actually felt sorry for her. Rather than the blonde say something to him, she turned around and walked back into the pub.

He took a step closer, and his voice dropped, sending electricity through me. “Would you at least give me your contact information?”

Lily patted my shoulder and walked down the sidewalk, which was exactly what I didn’t want her to do. Privacy wasn’t something I needed to have around this guy.

“You know where I work, which is the same place your sister works. That should be enough. Besides, wouldn’t your parents just give you the information for your sister?”

He cocked his head and grinned. His brown eyes piercing as he caught my wrist in his hand, allowing me to feel his restrained strength as my feeble attempt to flee failed. A flurry of excitement ran through me, but I shook my head in protest.

“I wasn’t asking for her information. I was asking for yours.”

He released my wrist, his eyes raking over my body as I crossed my arms.

“And get in between you and the blonde? I don’t think so.”

Aaron smiled and smirked. “I get it.”

“Get what?”

This wasn’t what I was in the mood for. This guy had some nerve. Gabby and he couldn’t be more different. Watching how he treated his date was bad enough, but asking for my information while she scurried off? No thanks.

“You’re worried.”

“Worried? Please. I just have more respect for myself than apparently the poor souls you choose to lead on.”

I watched as a couple went into the pub, and Aaron’s fingers touched my chin softly bringing my attention back to him. Unfortunately, his touch produced a flutter in my stomach, and my cheeks warmed instantly.

“I only met her tonight,” he mumbled.

“Is that supposed to make me feel better? Because it doesn’t. Besides it’s of no concern to me. I could honestly care less.”

His eyes narrowed on mine, and I watched as he twisted his lips, contemplating what to say next.

“Listen, I wish nothing but the best between you and Gabby, but that’s all I’ve got for you.” As I stood staring at him, I realized the duck fart and half a pitcher had completely caught up with me. I wanted to find a tree to lean up against or maybe…

“So you
are
worried about that,” his voice low. There was a tenderness behind it that caught me off guard.

“Yeah. And you should be too, especially if you’re trying to repair anything with her.” I snapped out of the fog.

There was silence between us. The warm summer air began to feel unbearable, or maybe it was his gaze that produced the heat through my body. I had nothing else to say to this guy, and I just hoped he wouldn’t make it any more difficult than it already was to shove him out of my mind.

And then he did.

“That night at Chateau Marx I spotted you across the room and my world stopped. I’m not that kind of man, but you took my breath away, and I damned near spilled my wine all over when you glanced in my direction.” He took a deep breath in and continued. “And then you stepped to the side as you grabbed something off a tray and my sister came into view…I was in shock. I knew she was going to be there that night, but I still wasn’t ready for it. And seeing that you two were together... That just seems to be my luck.” He stopped himself.

Realizing my balance was completely off-kilter, I shifted my weight slowly from one foot to the other as I debated what to say. The woozy me was willing to soften the seriousness of the situation, but thankfully a wave of clarity appeared.

“Well, I guess it’s just an unfortunate set of circumstances for us all,” I whispered, my pulse roaring in my ears. “Besides, something tells me you were able to keep yourself amused that night without my help.”

His eyes became incredibly intense, and I felt my body succumbing to his potent gaze. Even as my body betrayed me, I prayed that my mind would not. If there was one thing I possessed ample amounts of, it was self-discipline. But that was generally not when I’d had a few drinks.

I saw Lily leaning against the brick building, texting and chuckling to herself, and I wondered if there was more to her work-romance than she let on. Nothing would surprise me with her. I brought my attention back to Aaron, which was a mistake.

“I guess it is a very unfortunate set of circumstances,” he agreed. “But you’re not someone I’m willing to give up on. I think you’ll come around.”

I frowned as his words settled over me. The one thing I was sure of was that the longer I stood in front of him, the stronger the attraction became. He scratched his chin as his eyes danced with playfulness once again, and I imagined his fingers gliding along my flesh.

Damn my imagination!

Attempting to gather my thoughts and my balance, I took a step away from him.

“Would you at least take my number on the off chance my sister wants to get ahold of me?”

“I thought you said this wasn’t about your sister.”

“Man. You’re good,” he said, bemused.

I didn’t have any clue about how to respond. I didn’t want to betray Gabby and that wasn’t my intention, but being in his presence sent something thrumming through me that dislodged all common sense. It was as if my subconscious was begging for him to take control, and he somehow picked up on it and used it to his advantage.

His phone buzzed and he grabbed it out of his pocket.

“What’s up, Jason. Make it fast,” Aaron replied into the receiver.

A few moments of silence was followed by Aaron quickly running his hands through his hair.

“What do you mean she took off? Where’d she go?” Aaron asked.

And then it dawned on me that it must be Jason, the bike builder Jason, and they’re talking about Gabby.

“What’s going on?” I interrupted, staring at Aaron.

“Why was she angry?” he continued, and a few more moments of quiet. “You’re sure she went back?”

Aaron hung up and looked at me, his expression filled with exasperation. “Does Gabby have a habit of taking off?”

“It has happened once or twice. Seems to run in the family. Now tell me what’s going on. Was that
the
Jason?” I asked.