"And I'm the kind of girl who would sleep with my ex's brother?" She raises a brow.
He chuckles. "If only things were different…"
"Our cross to bear." She taps her can of seltzer against his. Laughs as she turns to me. "This is truly awful." She takes another sip of mango seltzer. "Despicable."
"Is it?" I ask.
Eve nods. Turns to me. Crosses the space between us.
"Would it be wrong? To threaten to tear this off?" Her fingers brush my shirt. "I thought you'd be less sexy out of a suit… but. Nope." She looks up at me with a smile. "It is strange. To see you in casual clothes."
"Still?" I ask.
She nods still. "Mostly it's the suit. Or nothing."
"Please, spare me these horrible details," Ty says.
"He sleeps naked." She smiles, enjoying Ty's pain.
"Boxers, sometimes." I wrap my arm around her waist. Her dress is backless. I can feel her skin against my palm. The warmth of it. The softness. "Otherwise I can't control myself."
She rises to her tiptoes. Presses her lips to mine.
She tastes like heaven. Even with the mango seltzer on her lips.
Eve pulls back with a sigh. "Mmm, gin is so much better than this."
"Take it somewhere else." Ty shakes his head in mock disgust, but he's smiling. He is happy for me. Even with his broken heart.
Eve mouths sorry. "You must know what it's like, Ty, being so irresistible."
He nods. "It is a burden."
"But you carry it so well," she says.
"She's dangerous," he says. "Be careful with her."
"I know." I offer her my gin. "We can trade."
"I can't ask you to do that." She stares at her can of seltzer. "This is…"
"Rubbish," Ty offers.
"It really is." She nods.
"Even so." My smile is easy. This is easy. I nearly forget why my brother is here.
"If you insist." She trades drinks. Takes a long sip of gin and tonic. Lets out a low sigh of pleasure.
"Jesus, what have I done?" Ty shakes his head. "I've seen Ian… interested in women before. But never like this."
"Oh?" She just barely blushes. "How is this different?"
He looks to me. Raises a brow do you really want me to tell it?
I nod. I'm not sure what he's going to say, but I don't need him sugar coating anything.
"Well, he doesn't usually bring his dates to events. And when he does… he doesn't seem as interested in conversation," he says.
"Straight to sex?" she asks.
He laughs. "More or less."
"When it's more? Or wait, would it be less?" She takes another sip. "Does he ever seem to have a mental connection?"
"Every so often. But never an emotional one. He's always… removed," Ty says.
"But not now?" she asks.
He nods. "Since his divorce."
"Oh. Right." She takes another sip. Sucks on an ice cube. Bites it in half. Chews. Swallows. "I guess we shouldn't bring it up. Is cocktail party etiquette the same in the UK? No religion, no politics, no exes?"
"I've never heard the no-exes bit," he says. "Intuitive."
She nods.
"You actually follow this?" His gaze drifts to her tattoo. "It's too bad you weren't in London last summer. One of our chain bookstores went all out for the release of Testaments."
Her eyes go wide.
He laughs. "You would have liked it."
"What did they do?" She reaches over. Squeezes my arm. That mindless gesture. One to steady her? Or let her excitement flow into me?
Ty's laugh gets louder. He shoots me a look that can only mean you're so obviously in love with her, then he turns all his attention to Eve, and he details the displays.
She hangs on every word.
Then he asks her about the book and she launches into a discussion of the plot, characters, themes, motifs.
I watch her light up. Watch her beam. Watch her soar.
It's so fucking beautiful.
I want it so fucking badly. Whatever it means for me.
I let Ty introduce her to everyone. Tease her. Flirt shamelessly.
Every few minutes, she looks in my direction. Shoots me a knowing glance. One that screams I need to fuck you.
And others. Ones that whisper I need to hold you.
For once, I listen to both. Let both fill my soul. Figure out the best way to give her exactly what she needs.
I make her wait. Let her anticipation build.
I give her time to grab lunch, refill her drink, dip her feet in the pool.
Then I find her inside. In the downstairs hallway. Just outside the bathroom.
I surprise her. Pull her into my office.
Pin her to the wall. Pull her wrists behind her back.