“Can you teach me how people hook up in a place like that?”
“What?”
“I’ve never kissed anyone. That’s why I wanted to go out tonight. To meet someone and have lots of kisses.”
“No.”
“No what, Amos? Only guys get to date?”
“I didn’t say that. But guys who go out at night . . .they’re not looking for just kisses, Lilly.”
“Like you, for example?” She looks genuinely upset—and somehow, that calms me. Is she . . .jealous?
“Exactly. Like I told you—I don’t go to nightclubs to dance.”
“So what do you do? Pick a girl like candy at a store? I can do that too.”
“Oh yeah? And what are you gonna do with your pick? Hold hands? Share innocent kisses?”
“I’m leaving, Amos. I may be inexperienced, but I don’t need to hear this. Just because I’m not ready to strip for a new guy every night like you apparently do with your women, doesn’t mean I don’t deserve to have fun.”
“We still haven’t talked.”
“I told you we can talk tomorrow. I’m under your supervision, which is why I invited you—to show respect for my brother. I’m an adult. You can’t stop me from going out.”
I take a step closer to see if she’s bluffing, but Lilly looks dead set on going through with it.
Fuck, are her lashes real? She looks like a damn doll.
I force myself to stay on topic.
I’m going to the club—I decide that now—but only for her safety.
I know that club well. There’s no way I’m letting her go alone.
For Ethan,I say to myself, even though I know damn well he’s not the real reason.
“Come with me,” she says, not realizing I’ve already decided. “Forget I’m Ethan’s sister just for tonight. I’ve never had fun before, and I want to do it with you.”
I swallow hard, fighting a brutal war with my arousal. “I don’t know how to have fun, Lilly.”
“Have you tried?”
“You know that’s not why you’re asking me. You don’t want fun. You want me.” I take her hand. “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.”
“No, I don’t. But I want to find out.”
I was walking her to the door, but I stop. “That just shows how reckless you are.”
“I’ve been a good girl my whole life, Amos. Now I want to peek at the other side.”
Chapter 21
I don’t want to think about what I just agreed to.
“Forget I’m Ethan’s sister just for tonight. I’ve never had fun before, and I want to do it with you,”she said.
I can do this without going too far, without breaking her. I’m just protecting her from some predator. That’s it.
