One King's Way
Page 31

I smiled at the familiar sound of her voice. “You know me. Night owl.”
“I miss you,” Darcy said, sounding sad.
“I miss you too.”
We were silent for a moment.
Finally I said, “How are things over there?”
“You mean have I recovered yet from the sex tape scandal?”
I grinned at the dryness in her voice. She sounded a little more like her old self. “Yes.”
“I was doing okay. Good, actually. But the last couple of days have been difficult . . . I keep dreaming about him. About the party . . .” Her voice cracked and I winced.
Anger flooded me but I did my best to keep it out of my tone. “Why do you think that is?”
“I don’t know,” she said hurriedly, and I could hear the lie in her words.
Worry crashed through me. “Darcy—”
“I drew up some new designs,” She quickly changed the subject. “I’m emailing them to you.”
I gave her the subject change without pushing any further, knowing she needed it, but inwardly my blood was hot and my throat was parched—my thirst for revenge on my sister’s behalf was back.
Rain
As it turned out, Craig made it easy for me to put my Angus plan into motion.
That Friday, at Craig’s behest, I arrived at Club 39 for the first time since we’d started officially seeing each other to hang out with him while he worked. When I arrived his colleague Joss came around the bar to greet me. I’d spoken to Joss weeks ago, way back before Craig and I were a “thing.” She was quick-witted and down-to-earth and I’d immediately liked her.
“Rain, hey,” Joss said with a grin. “Craig told me he asked you to hang out tonight. You know we’re pretty busy Fridays so I thought you might want to sit with my boyfriend and friends. They’re good people, I promise.”
“Where’s Craig?” I said as I followed Joss up the steps surrounding the bar and onto the main floor.
“Getting stock.” She strode over to the low leather seats that surrounded a table. It was a prime spot in the club—close to the bar but not too close, and far enough away from the dance area that you could still hear what people were saying. Sitting at the table were three people. Two guys and a young woman. All absurdly good-looking. “Hey.” Joss smiled as she leaned into one of the men, sliding her arm around his shoulders. He immediately wrapped his arm around her waist. Joss looked over at me. “Rain, this is my boyfriend, Braden.” She nodded to the tall, lithe blond woman. “His sister and my roommate, Ellie, and”—she gestured to the man Ellie was cozied up to—“her boyfriend, Adam. Guys, this is Craig’s girlfriend, Rain.”
“Hi, nice to meet you all.”
“You too.” Braden reached out with his free hand and I stepped forward to shake it. He had the most piercing blue eyes I’d ever seen. “Sit with us.”
Since I didn’t really want to sit alone again and it would be rude to say no, I nodded and sat down on his other side.
“So you managed to wrangle Craig,” Ellie said.
I noted she had the exact same pale blue eyes as Braden except where his were assessing, hers were surprisingly warm and friendly. “Somehow,” I laughed lightly. “I think.”
“Can I get you a drink?” Joss said.
“Already got it,” a familiar voice said over my shoulder.
I glanced up to find Craig rounding the table with a glass of wine in hand. He put it on the table in front of me and then leaned in for a sweet kiss. His eyes danced with humor, letting me know he’d heard the last part of the conversation. “And you have. Just to clarify.”
Understanding, I laughed. “Good to know.”
He and Joss left soon after and the bar started to fill up. I found myself simultaneously chatting with my three new companions while I watched Craig at work. The former was easy. Although Braden was a little intimidating at first, I quickly warmed up to him as he engaged me in conversation, seeming impressed with my success and genuinely interested. As for Ellie and Adam, they were easy to like—down-to-earth, funny, and clearly madly in love. It was easy to see from the way Braden’s gaze swept back to the bar as often as mine did that he was pretty gone for Joss too. She kept looking back at him and they shared these intimate looks I felt guilty for noticing, as though they were meant to be secrets just between them.
Along with the guilt, I found myself growing hurt, and that hurt began translating into anger.
My own glances toward the bar were rarely returned by Craig, who was rushed off his feet and far too busy engaging in flirting with his female customers.
The first time I saw him lean across the bar and tuck a piece of hair behind a girl’s ear I thought I was imagining it. But no. I’d seen him do it for real. And from there I watched as he grinned and winked and complimented and just absolutely flirted his fine, tight arse off.
Had nothing I said to him penetrated?
How could he be the way he was with me but still flirt with other women? So it helped with his tips . . . I did not give a flying fuck if it helped with his tips! He was with me now and I was in the actual bloody room! Where the hell was his respect for me?
“You alright?” Braden suddenly asked, drawing my focus away from Craig to him.
I doubt I managed to hide my hurt or my anger. “I’m fine,” I muttered, throwing back the last of my wine.
“Another drink?” Adam said.