Page 60 of Sweet Revenge
The blonde on Aidan’s right uncurled herself from his side and crossed to Declan with a sultry smile, taking his hand and tugging him toward their booth.
“Ladies, you know my brother, Declan.” Aidan circled his finger in the air for the waitress to signal he wanted another round.
“It’s barely ten and you’re already hammered.”
“Half hammered,” Aidan insisted, waving his brother’s scowl away. “You’re too uptight, man. Why not have a drink and a woman”—he chuckled as the redhead still curled around him leaned in to nibble his earlobe—“and relax.”
“He’s cut off,” Declan said, motioning to Aidan when the waitress returned with a tray of drinks. “And them too.” He pointed to the two women while Aidan protested.
Aidan shoved to his feet, swaying a little at the sudden movement and weaving behind Declan to the top of the stairs. “What the fuck is your problem? You never have any fun, so now no one gets to have any?”
“My problem is that it’s ten o’clock on a Wednesday and you’re hammered and dry humping two bimbos in my club! Try making yourself useful for a change.”
“Christ, Evie’s got you so pussy whipped it’s embarrassing.”
Declan spun around and grabbed Aidan by the shirt, shoving him back against the wall and up onto his tiptoes to the sound of gasps from nearby patrons.
“At some point, little brother, you’re going to have to grow the fuck up. You will not speak about Evie that way again, or we’ll have bigger problems than you pouting about being cut off. And if you value your life, don’t step foot in my fucking house tonight.”
Releasing his brother to readjust his shirt and his pride, Declan jogged down the stairs and out into the cool night air. Slamming into his Range Rover, he took the winding, tree-lined roads toward home.
He heard Evie before he saw her. Music blaring from the back of the house led him through the living room, down the hall, and into the solarium. When he stepped into the doorway, she was singing at the top of her lungs as she danced around the room.
She caught his reflection in the windows and whirled to face him, all smiles as she pointed her finger at him and sang the chorus to a song he didn’t know. When it ended, she pressed a button on the speaker, and a slow song came on. All his tension melted away when she crooked a finger at him and he joined her in the middle of the room.
They didn’t speak as he wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her close, and she laid her head on his shoulder. He buried his face in her hair, breathing in the soft, sweet scent of her. He remembered her smelling of peaches when they were younger, but now it was more a heady mix of vanilla and some spice he couldn’t name.
The song faded into another one, and she slid her hand up to cup the back of his neck, pulling back to look up at him.
“What’s wrong?”
“What makes you think something’s wrong?”
“Because,” she began, brushing her thumb across the curve of his jaw, “when you’re upset, this muscle ticks in your jaw, and it was ticking when I first saw you standing there.”
He leaned down and pressed his forehead against hers. “Is it ticking now?”
She smiled. “No.”
“Then nothing’s wrong. How was your day?”
“It was good. Maura invited me to her final dress fitting. It’s absolutely gorgeous, and she looks gorgeous in it. And then I…oh! I almost completely forgot. Wait here.”
She darted out of his arms, and he was left alone with the woman singing about an ordinary world from the speaker. When Evie returned, she was holding a slip of folded-up paper. She handed it to him, reaching down to silence the music.
He unfolded it, eyes narrowing on the message.He can’t protect you forever.
“What is this?”
“It’s the note I found on my car.”
His head jerked up and he studied her face. “When did you find this?”
“This afternoon. When I left the boutique after the fitting.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
He could tell his tone was sharp by the way she lifted a brow then frowned. “I am telling you. This is me telling you.”
