Chapter Three
KIT
‘I’ll have the Macallan, the fifty-year-old malt. And you’re paying.’ Rory smiles, devilment playing in his gaze.
‘Oh, I see.’ Fin’s tone is dry in the extreme. ‘Here I thought the reason you’d invited Kit to dinner was so we could hang out.’
‘Nah,’ Rory responds. ‘You’re only here to make me look better.’ With a smile the size of half a dinner plate, he hooks his arms over the back of Fin’s chair, preparing for the punch line. ‘The only thing attractive about him is his expense account.’
I refrain from rolling my eyes along with Fin as I place my silverware down. Rory and I both have generous expense accounts. After all, the business belongs to us both, and seeing as how we’re in thehospitality businessand own a chain of boutique hotels, entertainingisour business. As is the interest the press seems to have in us.
I’m pleased about Fin’s promotion, and dinner has been good, but I can’t say I’m ecstatic about being here. Neither were Simone and Greg. It took more than a few texts to smooth over cancelling tonight’s plans, otherwise known asFucktastic Friday. Complaints were made about the pair having to rearrange babysitters and Saturday brunch with the in-laws, but in the end, they both agreed we could move the evening, thus renaming our get-together toShagtastic Saturday.And isn’t that just a little piece of ridiculousness? Sometimes it’s hard to believe Simone’s a barrister. But I can tolerate feigned foolishness, if for no other reason than convenience... and the pair’s stellar cock sucking skills.
‘Absolutely unattractive,’ Fin agrees. ‘Both of you. How I ever got paired with one half of the ugliest set of identical twins, I’ll never know.’
‘We’re not identical, titch.’ A deep chuckle accompanies Rory’s denial.
‘Yeah, sure, you totally aren’t the mirror image of each other.’ Fin’s eyes dart back and forth between us; her mouth curls in one corner in a look that’s half adoration and half exasperation.
It’s good to see—great, actually. He dishes out shit, and she shoots it right back. And true, we are a pair of good-looking twins; that fact isn’t news because people have been telling us that for our whole lives. From tow-headed tots to teenagers full of testosterone, we’ve always drawn comments and admiring glances.And later wandering hands. Take tonight, for instance. It was hard not to notice the looks thrown our way as we followed Fin inside the restaurant. The looks of desire and envy. The looks we’re still drawing now. I can almost imagine the smutty thoughts running through their heads, wondering if the hot blonde with the red lipstick pout plans on being double teamed by the twins she’s dining with. Because, yes, she’s here alone. After all the trouble I’d gone to, her friend didn’t even show. So thanks, ugly friend; I’m missing out on the fun I had planned for tonight even though I got my kicks elsewhere. It’s been fun winding up Rory, not to mention Fin is such charming company. But none of this is any competition for dirty sex.
Rory and I may be the mirror image of each other, only not quite in the way Fin believes. True, on the surface we look very much the same, but take a closer look, and you’ll realise we’re more like opposites. Rory’s the light, fun side of the mirror. Everything’s immediate with him; he’s quick to smile and just as quick to anger, where I’m the more reserved one. My smiles are as hard won as my trust is. Rory would say I’m far too serious. Fucking brooding, I believe he’d say.
‘Fun times.’ Fin’s playful complaint breaks through my thoughts. ‘This is like, what, the third time we’ve dined together? And the same tune’s still playing on the jukebox.’
‘The place could do with a jukebox,’ Rory replies, his gaze scanning our minimalist surroundings. ‘Anyway, what do you meanthe same tune?’
‘It’s like an old-timey country song,’ she says, thickening her accent to pure hick. ‘My brother done got all the good looks and cash.’ She twines her fingers around the delicate stem of her wine glass as her eyes slide to mine, modulating her accent once again. ‘And it’s a solo, not a duet. It’s good to see sibling rivalry lives on in other families. I thought it was just Ivy and Mac.’
‘Don’t compare me to that juicehead,’ Rory scoffs, following it up with a very Scottish noise of dissent. ‘Mac’s just jealous ‘cos I’ve got his girl.’
My brother. The cock of the walk. Or just a cock.
Depends on your perspective, I suppose.
Ivy is Fin’s best friend from childhood, and Rory is certain Ivy’s brother has the hots for his girl. Meanwhile, Fin—
‘Macis notinterested in me. He’s just protective is all—like a brother. And he’s not on steroids, but you know that.’
Anyone with balls would find the first part of that statement suspicious. I think I’d like to meet this fella to find out for myself. But I don’t say that, deciding to instead just dig the knife in a wee bit.
‘Sounds like Rory’s a little jealous of Mac,’ I goad, though I keep my expression disinterested.
‘Oh, you and your teasing,’ Fin replies.
‘He isn’t any competition,’ Rory responds with a glare in my direction. ‘And neither areyou.’
‘Thank you for making my earlier point perfectly, Rory.’ Her gaze is adoring. And amused. ‘That doesn’t sound like sibling rivalry to you?’ With the question, his flinty gaze slides away.I think my future sister-in-law is going to be fun to be around especially after a little more wine, I think as I top her glass with the remainder of the bottle. She’s almost as good as pushing Rory’s buttons as I am—and I’ve had years of practise.
‘Because this brotherly squabbling I’m hearing?Who has the bigger expense account? Blah, blah, blah. Who is better looking? Yada, yada, yada. Who has the bigger dic—’
She slaps a hand over her mouth, eyes wide above delicate fingers as my brother begins to roar with laughter.
‘Ah, so youhaveheard he’s my big brother?’
Fin’s brow furrows as her hand falls away. ‘I thought you were older? Fifteen minutes, you said.’
‘Aye, true, I’m older, but he’s thebiggerbrother, if you know what I mean.’ His words leak innuendo. ‘I’m no’ exactly small as you know well enough—’
