“You’d just know,” Dominic said.
I looked at him. “Yeah, but you’re a weirdo. You knew you wanted to marry Rosie when you were fifteen.”
“How’s that weird?” Rosie asked.
“Did you think you’d marry Dominic?” I raised an eyebrow.
“At fifteen?” Her brows rose. “Fuck no, but that’s because he was screwing all the cheerleaders.”
“I would’ve dropped every single one for you, and you know it.” He shot her a look. “You were too busy dating my brother.”
“Oh, God. Here we go.” I took a bigger gulp of tequila. Loren and Cat said the same thing and also took a big gulp of their drinks.
“So it’s never even crossed your mind to die for someone you were. . .hooking up with?” Lenora asked quickly, staying on topic. “Do you have a type?”
I was grateful for her questions because the last thing we needed was Dominic staking his claim on Rosalyn as if he hadn’t done so a million times already. Annoying as fuck, I tell you. I wasn’t entirely sure how I was supposed to answer her. How was I supposed to explain that I’d met enough women to know I would never meet the one I’d die for? Therefore, this conversation was inconsequential. I humored her anyway because I couldn’t say no to Dominic’s sister and could tell she was naive enough to believe in real love, despite having to marry a man she didn’t love.
“Nope, I don’t have a type.” I took another sip of tequila.
Dominic snorted. “You definitely have a type.”
“I don’t think he does,” Rosie said, brows pulled slightly as she thought about it.
“He likes older women,” Cat responded. My eyes flicked to Lenora just as she rolled her eyes. I felt my lips twitch but held the smile back.
“Sometimes I like them a few years younger than me,” I said.
Lenora’s eyes shot to mine. I swore I could see her breathing quicken. I needed to stop looking at her. I would tell her she was my type if my friends weren't here. It wasn’t a lie. Tonight, she was my exact type. Fuck. Maybe I had a death wish and didn’t even know it.
“Speaking of younger people,” Dominic started. My knee-jerk reaction was to tell him that his sister wasn’t that young, but I stayed quiet becausewhat the fuck. Dom looked over at her. She was blushing now. “Nora wants to work at the bar.”
I blinked.
“Dominic.” Lenora gasped.
“What? You haven’t asked him, so I’m doing it for you,” he said.
“I could have done it myself.” She pursed her lips.
I frowned. “You want to work at Scarab?”
“Only for one night,” Dom said.
“Why?” I asked, sounding exactly as confused as I felt.
“Because she took—” Dom’s words were cut off.
“Because I took classes from one of the best mixologists in the country, and I want to show off my skills even if it’s just for one night,” she said, glaring at her brother. “I can speak for myself. You don’t have to act like pàpa.”
“I do not act like him,” he snapped — it was a sore subject, which made sense when your father was a fucking monster.
Rosie set her hand on Dom’s arm; as if she worked magic, he instantly calmed down. She looked at me. “Maybe she can do the soft opening.”
Oh, ho ho. I think not. “We already have a bartender that night.”
I didn’t care if I was being an asshole. I couldn’t have Lenora in my space. I could barely stand to have her in front of me in a room filled with people. And this wasme; someone trained not to react to anyone in any situation. Grown-ass men had screamed in my face in every kind of weather imaginable. I’d questioned and tortured people for hours.And this was who was getting under my skin?I needed to pump the brakes on this now. Being alone with her would be catastrophic. I could feel it in my gut, and gut instincts were never wrong.
“Oh, my God. Look who’s here,” Rosie said, gasping. They all turned their attention to whoever she was talking about, but my eyes remained locked on Lenora’s.
