“What the hell are you guys doing here?” Keeley asked before she could stop herself.
She’d met Joel in the lobby of Saloon, and the two had engaged in some polite conversation while they waited for their table. She’d been very relieved when he’d arrived and looked exactly like his picture on Tinder.
She’d gone on dates with a couple guys who’d made liberal use of filters, and one idiot who’d flat-out photoshopped his head on some super-buff body. And, of course, her favorite was the guy who’d used a picture that had to have been him fifteen years earlier, insisting he hadn’t lied about his age being twenty-seven.
Yeah, right. That asshole hadn’t been a day younger than forty.
Gio held out his hand, revealing her cell phone. “You left this at the mansion.”
“The mansion?” Joel asked, clearly surprised by the arrival of two men at their table.
“Joel,” Keeley hastened to explain, “this is Gio and Rafe. Rafe’s my boss. Apparently, I left my phone at work.” She took her phone from Gio. “I didn’t realize it wasn’t in my purse until I got here. You guys didn’t have to bring it to me. I could have swung by tomorrow and grabbed it.”
“It was no problem,” Rafe said. “We didn’t think you should be in the city without it.”
Though he was looking at her, Rafe’s tone could be considered nothing less than a warning to Joel to toe the line.
“Well, I have it now. So…thanks.” She hoped they would take the hint and get lost.
Gio was looking at Joel, who was starting to get visibly uncomfortable under the intense scrutiny. Keeley was no stranger to this tactic. God knew she’d watched her brother employ the same with every guy she’d dated during high school.
“Do I know you?” Joel asked Gio after a moment. “You look familiar.”
Gio shook his head but didn’t offer a verbal reply.
“I could swear…” Joel mused, not bothering to finish his statement.
“Okay.” She waved her phone in front of them. “I’m good now. Goodbye,” she said firmly, when neither man moved.
Gio’s attention returned to her—and the second she saw his wicked grin, she knew she wasn’t going to like what came next. “You two have a nice date.”
Then he stopped a waitress who was walking by and pointed to the empty table next to hers and Joel’s.
He wouldn’t.
Shit!
Apparently, he would.
The waitress nodded, and he and Rafe claimed it.
Joel frowned. “That’s your boss?” he asked quietly.
Keeley nodded, her blood boiling.
“And the other guy?”
“Just a friend,” Keeley replied, glancing in Gio and Rafe’s direction, trying to establish eye contact so they could see just how furious she was. Both men pointedly ignored her, looking at the menus, talking quietly.
She wondered if there would ever be a point in her life where her brother and his friends didn’t treat her like some helpless child. She’d actually—foolishly—believed perhaps she had turned that corner with at least Gio and Rafe. After their night together in the storm, and this past week at work, she’d felt less like Kayden’s kid sister and more like a friend in her own right.
Then there were those brief wonderful moments…
Gio’s good-night kiss.
Rafe’s near-miss kiss.
Both times, they had looked at her like she was a desirable woman. Those looks ensured her vibrator continued to get one hell of a workout every night. Her fantasies had been quite steamy of late, always starring either Rafe or Gio.
Even now, when she wanted to be totally pissed at them, she couldn’t quite work up enough anger because it was overshadowed by the stupid feeling that it was sweet of them to go to such lengths to make sure she was okay.
If it was Kayden sitting at that table, she’d have already blown a gasket, so she wasn’t sure why something that felt intrusive from her brother felt…possessively hot from Rafe and Gio.
Was possessively hot even a thing?
She forced her attention back to Joel, determined to ignore the sexy men at the next table.
“I’m sure I know that guy,” Joel said again.
Keeley refused to discuss Gio, so she started with her standard get-to-know-you questions. The queen of first dates, she was a professional and had a long list of conversation starters on hand to keep things moving. The list also allowed her to get a pretty clear picture of the guy in just one night.
“So tell me about your job,” she said.
Joel, mercifully, forgot about Gio and Rafe at the next table and began talking. He worked in the family business, running a flooring store downtown. It occurred to Keeley that was probably how he knew Gio, but she didn’t bother to point it out.
Unlike a lot of her previous dates, Joel was very good at keeping the conversation two-sided. He asked about her work, stealing a glance or two at the next table when she talked about Rafe hiring her to be his marketing director and how much she was enjoying it. She snuck a peek over as well, watching as Rafe and Gio received their drinks and placed their orders. They were obviously hunkered down for the duration of her date.
“I was really glad we were able to make a connection on Tinder,” Joel admitted. “I took one look at your picture and knew I needed to meet you.”
She tried to take that as a compliment, but she always hated it when guys confessed to asking her out because of the picture rather than mentioning the profile she’d put together. She was proud of her pros and cons list. If a guy started the date by discussing the list and laughing at the funny stuff she’d included, he got a point. If not…the first red flag.
This time, Keeley let the comment go because it was still early. She’d learned at least twelve dates ago to hand out those red flags judiciously.
From there, they discussed their families. Joel came from a pretty typical family of four, two parents, him, an older sister. His grandparents were still alive, but they lived in other states. She shared a little bit about her parents dying in the plane crash, and her brother stepping in to raise her. Her retelling of that part of her life was always kept simple and told with the same words. She found that helped her keep her emotions under control. She never dove any deeper than just those few facts. And Joel was appropriately compassionate about it.
She noticed that he’d downed three bourbons in the time she’d finished one glass of wine, so he was getting a lot more relaxed and talking more freely, laughing a little louder. She attributed the drinking to nerves and let it go.
By the time their meals arrived, Keeley was almost ready to call the date a success, despite the fact Gio and Rafe were sitting nearby. But there was one last big hurdle to leap.
So she guided them to the past relationships topic. He managed to say all the right things, claiming he was tired of the dating game, and that he was looking for a woman long-term, with an eye toward marriage and kids.
And she believed him because Joel appeared to have better luck in the long-term relationship department, claiming three past girlfriends whom he’d dated for a year or longer. That was better than she’d done, and that information seemed to prove he wasn’t just looking for online hookups.
But then she felt less good about him when he confessed that, ultimately, every single one of the girlfriends dumped him. “For no good reason,” he claimed.
Which—fuck it, she was counting the first—was the second red flag.
She was old enough and wise enough that she knew not to tug on that thread…but she did anyway.
“No good reason?”
Joel shrugged. “They were dumb bitches, so no big loss.”
This was what she got for tugging. Joel was slowly crossing the line from pleasant company to rude and inebriated the longer they talked. It wasn’t a good look on him. At all.
“Yeah, well.” She struggled for some way to recoup her losses, but nothing clever came. Instead, she changed the subject because, well, dammit, her steak looked really good, and she was starving. “The online dating game is tough,” she threw out lamely, cutting a big bite of steak off and shoving it in her mouth.
“I guess.” Joel laughed. “But you know, there are ways to make it easier.”
She chewed and swallowed, and then against her better judgment said, “Oh yeah?”
Because karma hated her, Joel managed to screw it up once and for all with his next question.
“Have you ever considered having a boob job?”
“What?”
“My last couple of girlfriends got them and they looked great. Didn’t feel fake at all.”
“Riiiiight,” she drawled, trying to decide if the steak tasted good enough to endure ten more minutes of this so she could shovel it all in. Then she studied the garlic mashed potatoes on her plate. She freaking loved garlic mashed potatoes. “I’m not interested in plastic surgery.”
Joel shrugged, then sighed as his gaze drifted down to her tits, clearly unimpressed. “I’m just saying you should look into it. Maybe don’t be so quick to dismiss it.”
Aaaand now the date was over.
She was going to bed hungry tonight, but not before paying it forward for the next woman. Because Joel needed a little wake-up call.
“Here’s a little dating tip for you, Joel. No woman is going to stay with you as long as you keep trying to make her into your ideal. That’s a one-way ticket to becoming a skeezy, swaggering, lonely fifty-year-old man that no woman would touch with a ten-foot pole. If you seriously want to get married, get to know a woman and love her for who she is on the inside, not on the outside.”
She reached for her purse and pulled out her wallet.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Date’s over, hotshot. Because you just showed me your inside, and it’s butt-fucking ugly.”
“Oh God, you’re one of those feminists, aren’t you? Get pissed off whenever a guy offers a little constructive criticism on your looks.”
“I have no idea what feminism has to do with criticism, constructive or otherwise, so let’s just leave this with—you can go fuck yourself.” Keeley tossed down enough cash to cover her meal. She’d wasted enough time on this dick.
She’d intended to storm out of the restaurant, but at the last second, she picked up her wine glass and carried it over to Rafe and Gio’s table, where she sat down, certain there had to be steam coming out of her ears.
“Fucking bitch,” she heard Joel mutter behind her, before yelling for the waitress to bring his check.
Gio and Rafe both started to stand, but she gripped their forearms tightly, pressing them flat against the table so they couldn’t rise.
“Leave it alone,” she murmured.
“If you think for one second—” Gio started angrily.
“Gio. Please,” she whispered. Her anger was quickly giving way to depression, and she had to blink rapidly to beat back the angry/sad tears blurring her vision. She was so goddamn tired of this.
Gio settled down and remained in his chair. He plucked her hand from his arm, clasping it instead, and gave it a squeeze. “You okay?”
She nodded but didn’t reply. Her throat was too tight. She hated confrontation, and the fact that Rafe and Gio had been there to witness one of her spectacular failures was embarrassing. She probably should have just walked out of the restaurant, gone home, and licked her wounds alone.
“I knew that date wouldn’t last long,” Gio confessed. “I know that guy from work. He’s a grade-A douche and there was no way you weren’t going to figure that out quick. It’s why we stayed. We didn’t want you to go home hungry.”
She looked at him in surprise, then she saw an empty, extra plate on the table. He and Rafe both cut off the best pieces of their steaks and added them to the plate, along with two healthy dollops of—thank you, Jesus—garlic mashed potatoes.
Rafe grinned as he put the plate in front of her. “We bought the biggest steaks they had so we could all share.”
“And added the garlic mashed potatoes after we heard you order them,” Gio added.
Keeley laughed. Her anger and disappointment was gone in an instant. She was too touched by their sweet gesture to feel anything but gratitude. And God…attraction.
She glanced over her shoulder, relieved to see Joel had already paid and left. “He suggested I get a boob job.”
Gio scowled, and for a second, she wondered if she should have given Joel a bigger head start. Because Gio looked ready to chase the asshole down.
“You gotta be kidding me!” Rafe said. “What the hell is wrong with that guy? Keeley, you’re perfect exactly the way you are, you know that, right?”
She smiled. “Thanks. And believe me, I’m not upset because he said that. I’m more disappointed that, yet again, I managed to land a date with one of the biggest assholes in online dating. My record remains unbeaten. Keeley, zero. Tinder, four hundred and twelve. Why can’t I just once find a nice guy?”
Rafe put his hand on her shoulder. “There’s someone out there for you, Keeley. I really believe that.”
Keeley looked from Rafe to Gio, wishing one of them would throw their hat in the ring. Or better yet, both of them.
Although, if they did that, she’d eventually have to make a decision, and there was no way in hell she could choose between Gio and Rafe. So ultimately, it was better that they all just remained friends.
Dammit.
“Yeah. I’d like to believe that, but…”
“Don’t get too disheartened,” Gio said. “It’s a well-documented fact that dating sucks.”
“Is that why you guys don’t do it very often? I mean…when was the last time you went out with someone?” she asked, suddenly curious about why they were both still single. As an unattached woman in Philadelphia, she knew exactly how slim the pickings were, so it didn’t make sense that these two were still flying around footloose and fancy-free.
“It’s been a while for me,” Rafe replied.
“For me too,” Gio admitted.
Keeley considered that for a moment. “You guys are older than I am. And I don’t feel like you’re looking at all. Don’t you want to get married and settle down someday?”
“I definitely do,” Gio said without hesitation. “And I go on dates. Not as many as you. And not with strangers I’ve talked to online. I prefer to meet women the natural way—in person. Which is a slower process.”
“In person how? Because I’m so over Tinder.”
Gio grinned at her confusion. “Sometimes I meet a woman at a bar and ask her to dance, or I’ve met a few women through work…contractors, designers…even clients, though that drives Tony crazy. If I’m attracted to a client, I usually wait until the job is finished before I ask her out, so big brother doesn’t have a coronary.”
“Seems to me you’re missing out on a great opportunity. What are brothers for if not to drive them insane?” Keeley asked with a shameless wink.
“Poor Kayden.” Gio accompanied those words with a quick tug of her hair. Her cheeks flushed pink, and for a second, she let herself envision him wrapping his fist around her hair and pulling it in a much more sexual way.
The vibrator wasn’t cutting it anymore. She needed sex with a real person, preferably one of the men at the table with her.
“I’ve had quite a few long-term relationships,” Gio added.
“What do you consider long-term?” Keeley asked.
Gio smirked, as if he’d just realized his previous comment was false. “Six to ten months.”
“Nobody made it a year?”
Gio shrugged. “Maybe a couple girls when I was in my early to mid-twenties. No one has lasted that long lately. So I guess I’m in the same boat as you,” Gio admitted. “I’ve watched Layla and Tony settle down with their partners, and it definitely looks nice. I wouldn’t mind finding what they’ve got.”
Keeley’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “What they’ve both got are committed threesomes. Are you planning on going that route?”
Gio shrugged. “I wouldn’t say it’s off the table.”
Keeley appeared to be the only person taken aback by that confession because Rafe didn’t blink twice. “Really?”
“If the situation presented itself, sure. Why not?” Gio’s gaze connected with Rafe’s. Keeley felt like there was some sort of silent communication passing between them with that look, but she didn’t have a clue what.
“I have to admit, what they have looks amazing,” Keeley admitted wistfully. “But sweet Jesus,” she added. “At this point, I’d be happy to find just one guy I’d like to go on a second date with.”
“True,” Gio agreed. “It’s hard finding the person you want to spend forever with, but we’re going to get there. I’m looking forward to finding a woman, settling down, having a pile of kids.”
Keeley laughed. “What’s a pile?”
“At least four, maybe five like my parents had.”
Rafe shuddered and mumbled, “Jesus.”
“So what about you?” Keeley asked him.
Rafe was slower to respond. “Marriage isn’t in the cards for me.”
“Seriously?” she asked, shocked by the utter assurance in Rafe’s voice.
“Seriously,” he replied.
“Why not?”
He rubbed his jaw as he considered his answer. Finally, he said, “I didn’t grow up in the greatest environment.”
Keeley held her breath, wondering if Rafe would go into more detail. Every time she thought he was getting close to opening up, he shut right back down again. His childhood was something Rafe rarely discussed. The night of the storm was the first glimpse he’d ever really given into his family life. He’d always played his cards close to his chest when it came to talking about himself.
“What do you mean?” Keeley pressed.
Rafe shrugged, and Keeley recognized the exact instant he regretted starting the subject at all.
“You know how it is. Sperm-donor dad wanted nothing to do with me, which led to a revolving door of men in my mom’s life. She’s married and divorced four so far. Husband number five is no prize, and I have a feeling that relationship is close to running its course as well. Watching my mom try to pick up the pieces after all those broken marriages has soured me on the institution.”
Keeley leaned forward. “Just on marriage? What about love?”
Rafe shook his head. “No. It’s turned me off the concept of love too.”
“You mean you’ve never been in love?” she asked.
Rafe snorted. “Nope. Not interested. Love comes with too much fucking baggage.”
“You don’t really believe that,” she argued.
“Of course I do. Look how many times my mom’s fallen in love and been hurt. Her heart has the scars to show for it. I’m not interested in opening myself up to that kind of pain after the feeling fades. And believe me—it always fades.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Keeley insisted.
“Yes. It does.”
Keeley had long suspected Rafe’s disinterest in relationships was driven by his mother’s failed marriages, but she’d had no idea just how deep-seated his beliefs were.
Of all her brother’s friends, Rafe was the one who dated the least. He was always too busy with work, or, as was the case this past year, spending time with his grandfather. Now he was trying to sort out his estate.
It made her sad to think that Rafe had closed himself down to the concept of love and marriage. “I hope you change your mind about that,” Keeley said quietly.
“Why?” Rafe asked.
“Because love with the right person is amazing. No baggage at all.”
Rafe was unconvinced. “How do you know that? You said yourself you’ve never been in a serious relationship.”
“Because I saw what my mom and dad had. It was true love, plain and simple. And it was perfect.”
Gio reached over and grasped Keeley’s hand. “It was perfect.”
She smiled. “Besides, I think you’d be an incredible husband and father, Rafe.”
Rafe stared at Keeley, and she could almost see him trying to process her comment.
“I’m with Keeley on this,” Gio added. “You would be.”
“I appreciate the sentiment,” Rafe said, after a few moments. “But that’s a big hell no for me. Besides, I’ve got a lot on my plate right now. Miles to go with Grandpa’s estate. I wouldn’t have time for a relationship, even if I wanted one. Which…I don’t,” he reiterated.
There it was. The classic Rafe Baros side step. Her new boss was a master of excuses, always able to dodge a discussion about himself and his future by blaming his past and present.
And while Keeley was disconcerted to learn all of this about him, it ultimately didn’t matter. Didn’t help her beat down her growing feelings for him…feelings that were destined to remain unrequited because she was Kayden’s little sister. And because Rafe didn’t believe in love.
She let the subject drop, and the rest of the night passed with easy conversation as they discussed Gio and Rafe’s plans to make her suggestion a reality by opening an inn. By the time they’d paid the bill and walked outside, Keeley had decided it was the best “date” she’d been on in ages.
If only it had been a date.
Now, like last week, Rafe and Gio walked her to her car. Rafe drew her into his warm embrace, giving her one of his signature amazing hugs. She pressed her cheeks to his chest and sucked in a deep breath, drawing in the smells she’d come to associate with him—sandalwood, bourbon, his Armani cologne.
When he released her, Gio was there.
She expected him to hug her as well, but instead, he gripped her shoulders and leaned in, his breath hot on her face. “I know you like good-night kisses. But you gotta remember, this doesn’t mean anything,” he whispered.
She was ready for him this time. He pressed his lips to hers, gently at first, then he added more force. Last week’s kiss had been exploration and fondness. This one felt…different. Gio didn’t seek as much as he claimed. It was like he’d gotten the lay of the land, and now he knew exactly where to go. She fought desperately to keep her hands by her side, aware that if she reached out to touch him, she’d never let go.
The crazy part was, as blown away as she felt by Gio’s sexy kiss, she was constantly aware of Rafe’s close presence, of the intense way he watched them, not even feigning to turn his attention elsewhere. In some ways, it felt like he was as much a part of the kiss as Gio.
Gio was the first to pull away, and she let herself pretend he looked reluctant to do so.
She dug deep for an easy, breezy smile, not wanting him to know the impact his kisses were having on her. Because she wanted more, and if all she had to do to get them was pretend they meant nothing, then that was a game she was willing to play, a price she was ready to pay.
“Good night,” she said, cursing the breathlessness of her tone.
“Good night.” Gio’s voice was husky and deep.
Rafe reached out and ran the back of his knuckles along her cheek. “Drive home safely.”
She nodded and got in her car, resisting the urge to turn back to look at them before driving away.
Now that Gio had planted the seed about wanting what his siblings Layla and Tony had, she wasn’t looking at Rafe and Gio as separate crushes anymore.
There was no either-or in her mind.
From now on, her fantasies would include both of them.
At the same time.