“Oh?”
“And it’s not a bar. I’ve been told, it’s a ‘nightclub.’” Cadmus rolled his eyes. “Whatever. Still serves booze. Anyway, Outpour?—”
“Hey, I’ve heard about that place. It is a nightclub. And it is pretty popular.” I’d been meaning to go. Well, as soon as I got a life.
“Anyway, I assumed my brother’s spot.”
“Which one?”
“Which spot?”
I sighed. “Which brother? You kind of have three.”
He smirked. “Well, not Marcus. He’s too straight-laced to hang at a place like that. I’m talking about my hot-headed brother—literally, since his element if fire—Darius. I took his spot as bartender. And no one noticed.”
“How could they? You’re identical.” I paused. “I’ve heard it’s always so crowded.”
“Yeah.” He scowled. “And now that Ellie, Gerry’s saint of a bartender, is gone, I’m trying to take up the slack. You would think the club couldn’t exist without me the way Gerry’s been carrying on. Granted, I’m a hell of a hard worker anyway. But I’ve really put in the hours to keep things going.”
He frowned. “I actually don’t like pretending to be who I’m not, but with the wraith threat what it is, it’s better they think I’m Darius so that he and Samantha can settle in at home. Soon enough, word will leak out that the Prince of Fire has returned. But until he’s ready, I’m him.”
“Prince of Fire. Sounds intimidating.” I wasn’t lying. I had enough trouble handling “the River Prince.”
Cadmus glared at me. “Dammit, Cadmus, you’re not funny. Stop making jokes. Life’s a serious matter.” When I looked at him in puzzlement, he nodded. “It’s a much better impression if you know Darius. If I could throw a fireball, you’d laugh your ass—I mean, head off.”
“I think it’s just as much fun to see how often you can curse and correct yourself. Geez, Cadmus, give it a rest already. A few ‘asses’ won’t do irreparable harm.”
He sighed with relief. “Good, because trying to follow the rules Marcus set out before he left is killing me. I can take swearing off the list.”
“List?” That was so Marcus.
We shared a laugh.
Cadmus ticked the list off his fingers. “I’m not to touch you, sit more than a foot near you, flirt with you, curse around you, do anything perverse—though I’m not really sure what that entails—or annoy you.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Marcus is anal retentive, not that you didn’t already know that.” Cadmus rolled his eyes. “I love him, but he’s such a pain in the ass it hurts.”
“Maybe to you he is because you provoke him.” At his disbelief, I relented with a smile. “Okay, he can be hard to handle sometimes. But since getting to know him, I see a very likable person. I can now understand why everyone at Temita loves him.”
“So what’s he like at work? And speaking of work, he told me to tell you nothing happened at all. No one is looking for you. It’s like the threat against your career doesn’t exist. He’ll give you the details when he gets home.”
“Did he say when he’d be back?”
“The usual time.”
Damn. That meant another four hours before I could pester him with questions, not to mention I actually missed the conceited sex maniac.
“Why don’t you tell me about Marcus,” Cadmus said.
“At first I thought he was a cold fish.” I smiled at the face Cadmus made. “But even so, I couldn’t deny he was an incredibly talented cold fish. He’s amazing at his job. He has a knack for knowing what sells. Add to that his charm and polish, and our clients practically beg to work with him.”
I thought about how everyone kowtowed to the blue-eyed manipulator and couldn’t help a small sigh. “Everyone loves him. They either want to date him or hang out with him. He’s unfailingly polite and courteous, if a little distant.” I thought about Marcus and all his redeeming qualities I’d before tried to ignore. “And with a face and body to kill for, that, uh—” I faltered, realizing what I’d just said and to whom.
Cadmus gave an evil laugh. “Thanks, Tessa. You just made my day. But please. Keep your hands to yourself. My brother called dibs.”
I blushed. “Shut up, Cadmus.” Talking with Cadmus was like talking with Tom. Odd that I didn’t feel attracted to him, considering his likeness to Marcus.
