Page 21 of Counterfeit Connection

“You just spent six grand like it was chump change,” Katarina says because her filter is absolutely nonexistent. “Kait.” She nudges me with her shoulder. “Flirt harder with him.”

“Kat!” My jaw is on the floor, but Griffin and Tobias toss their heads back and laugh.

“This one is fiery,” Tobias says. “I like her.”

I can feel a flush run into my cheeks and I know it’s not from anything other than sheer embarrassment. While Tobias and Kat fall into flirtatious, if not borderline complete innuendo, filled conversation, I feel Griffin’s fingers slide quickly over the top of mine. “Breathe, Kaitlyn.”

Finally, I exhale. “I’m sorry. When I said let’s hang out, I’m sort of used to hair pulled up on top of my head in a sweatshirt and flannel shorts, sitting on the floor eating pizza, and listening to music. This is all very…”

“Unexpected? Adventurous?”

“To be honest, try overwhelming.”

“I like nice things. I can afford to show those I want to spend time with those same nice things. Take tonight as it’s intended. I thought we could all use time to unwind and spend more timegetting to know one another in your city. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming at all.”

I stare at him for a moment and really take him in. It’s easy to see he takes very good care of himself. His skin is beautifully clear and he’s clean-cut and well put together, but there is something so rugged about the lines of his face, and the scruff of his facial hair that is just starting to come in. He must not have shaved in a day or two. I like it that way.

“Thank you for saying that. I think I needed to hear it.”

“We aren’t scary blokes. Just relax, enjoy this life-changing whiskey, and have a good time with some new friends.”

Before I can even blink, two hours have passed in a blur of whiskey, snacks, laughter, and very pleasant conversation. It’s like we’ve all known each other for much longer than a few hours.

Kat moves to slide from the booth, announcing she needs to run to the restroom. Before I can offer to go with her, Tobias takes her hand, stating he will escort her to make sure she makes it safely. It’s clearly just an excuse to be alone with her. I give her a knowing look to make sure she’s okay with it, and she nods with a smile.

Just like that, I’m alone with Griffin Shaw… again.

“I have a feeling we may have created a monster with those two,” I declare.

Griffin chuckles. “I knew that the minute they were introduced, likely even before.”

I look over toward the bar and watch as the bartender fills glass after glass with different liquors, and I can’t help but notice every few seconds, someone in the room tries to sneak a peek of our table.

“Does that happen often?”

“What?” he asks.

“People staring. I have to admit, I don’t think they are trying to look at me.”

He cocks his head slightly and tilts the glass in his hand, letting the amber liquid swirl a bit. “Kaitlyn, have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately? Anyone with a pulse stares at you.”

I let the back of my hand absorb the warmth I feel rushing through my face. “Why would they do that?”

“Because you’re beautiful,” he states those words like he is quoting facts from a contract. They were certain and matter of fact. I’m floored honestly. “Was that too forward of me to say?”

“Oh. No. I’m sorry. Didn’t I say thank you?”

Griffin chuckles quietly. “You’re not used to compliments, are you?”

“Unless they’re coming from my father or my sister, not really. It’s not a normal occurrence for me.”

“That’s quite unfortunate. I’ll have to give you twice as many to make up for others’ clear lack of vision.”

Griffin

Drinks easily morphed into comfortable conversation which bled into talks of dinner, and that led to Kaitlyn sitting next to me in the front seat of my rented Aston Martin. Tobias and Katarina insisted they’d like to sit in the back seat together because they were enjoying each other’s company quite a lot.

Traffic moves slowly throughout the city, so I’m not even sure why I opted to rent a car I wouldn’t even be able to drive at its full potential.

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