Rogue Devil (The Rourkes #11) - Kylie Gilmore Page 0,36

as I feel my brothers’ eyes on me. Love you too, I type quickly and put the phone facedown.

“So can I put you down for a plus one?” Jack asks with a smirk.

I press my lips into a flat line. “Yeah. I’m bringing a friend. Not this nice Catholic girl you tried to foist on me. What’s the matter with you, pulling Mom into this?” I reach across the table and smack him upside the head.

He laughs.

There’s only one woman I can bring to this wedding who won’t think it means I’m serious about her. My only woman friend. If Chloe turns me down, I’ll never hear the end of the teasing from my brothers. My mother will probably show up with Faith for me. Save me from the matchmaking efforts of moms!

10

Brendan

Be cool. Do not act like you care one way or the other. It’s Saturday night and I invited Chloe over for pizza and a movie. I planned everything very carefully to look casual. No cooking together. We’re watching a comedy, Monty Python’s Holy Grail. I don’t know any woman who would see anything romantic in that movie. Then, at some point, I’ll invite her to Jack’s wedding as friends. I’ll say it’s so we can keep an even head count, which is important to Jack’s fiancée. Yeah, that should work.

I wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans and pace the living room. She’s home. I know she’s home, but I’m not going to check on what’s taking her so long to get here. She’s not late but, hell, I’m right next door. It’s fine if she wants to stop by a little early. Maybe I should just get it out of the way right up front. Chloe, will you go to my brother’s wedding as my plus one? Just as friends, of course.

No, I’d better start with the friends thing. We’re friends and friends can go to weddings together. I pinch the bridge of my nose. Nope.

Hey, what’re you doing two weeks from now? If you answered going to a wedding in New Jersey, you’d be right. Lame.

I pick up one of the throw pillows that came with my sofa, punch it a few times to fluff it up, and put it back. Then I do the same with the other pillow, placing them on opposite ends of the sofa. That’s where we’ll sit with a safe friend-zone distance between us.

I flop down on the sofa, lying across the entire thing, and cross my ankles. Maybe I’ll just lie here and tell her to come in, so she’ll see how chill I am. Of course, I need to unlock the door for that to work.

I roll off the sofa and stride to the door, turning the lock. I’m halfway back to the sofa when there’s a soft knock at the door. My heart actually pounds. What is wrong with me? It’s just Chloe. Most likely wearing a plain tank top and jeans. Every weekend it’s the same outfit, different color, outlining her petite curves. No, her regular curves just like every other woman on the planet.

I amble to the door, taking a slow deep breath, ordering my heart to resume normal beating. There is nothing exciting about tonight. No high stakes. I can always go with the girl my mother picked out for me. Kill me now.

I open the door and rest both hands casually against the doorframe overhead. “Hey.”

Her blond hair is down, resting on her bare shoulders. A white ribbed tank top clings to her perky breasts, the outline of her bra barely visible, faded jeans with frayed edges, white Keds. Exactly as expected. I ignore the tightening in my gut, the lust coursing through my veins. I’m Mr. Casual.

She looks up at me, her brows knitting together over green eyes. “Hi. Uh, are you gonna let me in?”

I draw back, realizing I was blocking the entire space. “What kind of pizza do you like?”

“The only good kind.”

“Pepperoni?”

She smiles. “Yup.”

How did I know that? It’s my favorite. “I’ll order it now.” I pull my phone from my pocket and tap over to a local place that delivers.

Chloe wanders over to the hideous painting on the living room wall that I can’t seem to get rid of. My brother Connor left it behind when he moved out. It’s just scribbles in purple and red with a garish yellow dot in the middle. Supposedly it’s from a famous artist. I wanted to get rid of it but,