Rough and Ready, page 7
Gio settled down and remained in his chair. He plucked her hand from his arm, clasping it instead, and gave it a squeeze. “You okay?”
She nodded but didn’t reply. Her throat was too tight. She hated confrontation, and the fact that Rafe and Gio had been there to witness one of her spectacular failures was embarrassing. She probably should have just walked out of the restaurant, gone home, and licked her wounds alone.
“I knew that date wouldn’t last long,” Gio confessed. “I know that guy from work. He’s a grade-A douche and there was no way you weren’t going to figure that out quick. It’s why we stayed. We didn’t want you to go home hungry.”
She looked at him in surprise, then she saw an empty, extra plate on the table. He and Rafe both cut off the best pieces of their steaks and added them to the plate, along with two healthy dollops of—thank you, Jesus—garlic mashed potatoes.
Rafe grinned as he put the plate in front of her. “We bought the biggest steaks they had so we could all share.”
“And added the garlic mashed potatoes after we heard you order them,” Gio added.
Keeley laughed. Her anger and disappointment was gone in an instant. She was too touched by their sweet gesture to feel anything but gratitude. And God…attraction.
She glanced over her shoulder, relieved to see Joel had already paid and left. “He suggested I get a boob job.”
Gio scowled, and for a second, she wondered if she should have given Joel a bigger head start. Because Gio looked ready to chase the asshole down.
“You gotta be kidding me!” Rafe said. “What the hell is wrong with that guy? Keeley, you’re perfect exactly the way you are, you know that, right?”
She smiled. “Thanks. And believe me, I’m not upset because he said that. I’m more disappointed that, yet again, I managed to land a date with one of the biggest assholes in online dating. My record remains unbeaten. Keeley, zero. Tinder, four hundred and twelve. Why can’t I just once find a nice guy?”
Rafe put his hand on her shoulder. “There’s someone out there for you, Keeley. I really believe that.”
Keeley looked from Rafe to Gio, wishing one of them would throw their hat in the ring. Or better yet, both of them.
Although, if they did that, she’d eventually have to make a decision, and there was no way in hell she could choose between Gio and Rafe. So ultimately, it was better that they all just remained friends.
Dammit.
“Yeah. I’d like to believe that, but…”
“Don’t get too disheartened,” Gio said. “It’s a well-documented fact that dating sucks.”
“Is that why you guys don’t do it very often? I mean…when was the last time you went out with someone?” she asked, suddenly curious about why they were both still single. As an unattached woman in Philadelphia, she knew exactly how slim the pickings were, so it didn’t make sense that these two were still flying around footloose and fancy-free.
“It’s been a while for me,” Rafe replied.
“For me too,” Gio admitted.
Keeley considered that for a moment. “You guys are older than I am. And I don’t feel like you’re looking at all. Don’t you want to get married and settle down someday?”
“I definitely do,” Gio said without hesitation. “And I go on dates. Not as many as you. And not with strangers I’ve talked to online. I prefer to meet women the natural way—in person. Which is a slower process.”
“In person how? Because I’m so over Tinder.”
Gio grinned at her confusion. “Sometimes I meet a woman at a bar and ask her to dance, or I’ve met a few women through work…contractors, designers…even clients, though that drives Tony crazy. If I’m attracted to a client, I usually wait until the job is finished before I ask her out, so big brother doesn’t have a coronary.”
“Seems to me you’re missing out on a great opportunity. What are brothers for if not to drive them insane?” Keeley asked with a shameless wink.
“Poor Kayden.” Gio accompanied those words with a quick tug of her hair. Her cheeks flushed pink, and for a second, she let herself envision him wrapping his fist around her hair and pulling it in a much more sexual way.
The vibrator wasn’t cutting it anymore. She needed sex with a real person, preferably one of the men at the table with her.
“I’ve had quite a few long-term relationships,” Gio added.
“What do you consider long-term?” Keeley asked.
Gio smirked, as if he’d just realized his previous comment was false. “Six to ten months.”
“Nobody made it a year?”
Gio shrugged. “Maybe a couple girls when I was in my early to mid-twenties. No one has lasted that long lately. So I guess I’m in the same boat as you,” Gio admitted. “I’ve watched Layla and Tony settle down with their partners, and it definitely looks nice. I wouldn’t mind finding what they’ve got.”
Keeley’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “What they’ve both got are committed threesomes. Are you planning on going that route?”
Gio shrugged. “I wouldn’t say it’s off the table.”
Keeley appeared to be the only person taken aback by that confession because Rafe didn’t blink twice. “Really?”
“If the situation presented itself, sure. Why not?” Gio’s gaze connected with Rafe’s. Keeley felt like there was some sort of silent communication passing between them with that look, but she didn’t have a clue what.
“I have to admit, what they have looks amazing,” Keeley admitted wistfully. “But sweet Jesus,” she added. “At this point, I’d be happy to find just one guy I’d like to go on a second date with.”
“True,” Gio agreed. “It’s hard finding the person you want to spend forever with, but we’re going to get there. I’m looking forward to finding a woman, settling down, having a pile of kids.”
Keeley laughed. “What’s a pile?”
“At least four, maybe five like my parents had.”
Rafe shuddered and mumbled, “Jesus.”
“So what about you?” Keeley asked him.
Rafe was slower to respond. “Marriage isn’t in the cards for me.”
“Seriously?” she asked, shocked by the utter assurance in Rafe’s voice.
“Seriously,” he replied.
“Why not?”
He rubbed his jaw as he considered his answer. Finally, he said, “I didn’t grow up in the greatest environment.”
Keeley held her breath, wondering if Rafe would go into more detail. Every time she thought he was getting close to opening up, he shut right back down again. His childhood was something Rafe rarely discussed. The night of the storm was the first glimpse he’d ever really given into his family life. He’d always played his cards close to his chest when it came to talking about himself.
“What do you mean?” Keeley pressed.
Rafe shrugged, and Keeley recognized the exact instant he regretted starting the subject at all.
“You know how it is. Sperm-donor dad wanted nothing to do with me, which led to a revolving door of men in my mom’s life. She’s married and divorced four so far. Husband number five is no prize, and I have a feeling that relationship is close to running its course as well. Watching my mom try to pick up the pieces after all those broken marriages has soured me on the institution.”
Keeley leaned forward. “Just on marriage? What about love?”
Rafe shook his head. “No. It’s turned me off the concept of love too.”
“You mean you’ve never been in love?” she asked.
Rafe snorted. “Nope. Not interested. Love comes with too much fucking baggage.”
“You don’t really believe that,” she argued.
“Of course I do. Look how many times my mom’s fallen in love and been hurt. Her heart has the scars to show for it. I’m not interested in opening myself up to that kind of pain after the feeling fades. And believe me—it always fades.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Keeley insisted.
“Yes. It does.”
Keeley had long suspected Rafe’s disinterest in relationships was driven by his mother’s failed marriages, but she’d had no idea just how deep-seated his beliefs were.
Of all her brother’s friends, Rafe was the one who dated the least. He was always too busy with work, or, as was the case this past year, spending time with his grandfather. Now he was trying to sort out his estate.
It made her sad to think that Rafe had closed himself down to the concept of love and marriage. “I hope you change your mind about that,” Keeley said quietly.
“Why?” Rafe asked.
“Because love with the right person is amazing. No baggage at all.”
Rafe was unconvinced. “How do you know that? You said yourself you’ve never been in a serious relationship.”
“Because I saw what my mom and dad had. It was true love, plain and simple. And it was perfect.”
Gio reached over and grasped Keeley’s hand. “It was perfect.”
She smiled. “Besides, I think you’d be an incredible husband and father, Rafe.”
Rafe stared at Keeley, and she could almost see him trying to process her comment.
“I’m with Keeley on this,” Gio added. “You would be.”
“I appreciate the sentiment,” Rafe said, after a few moments. “But that’s a big hell no for me. Besides, I’ve got a lot on my plate right now. Miles to go with Grandpa’s estate. I wouldn’t have time for a relationship, even if I wanted one. Which…I don’t,” he reiterated.
There it was. The classic Rafe Baros side step. Her new boss was a master of excuses, always able to dodge a discussion about himself and his future by blaming his past and present.
And while Keeley was disconcerted to learn all of this about him, it ultimately didn’t matter. Didn’t help her beat down her growing feelings for him…feelings that were destined to remain unrequited because she was Kayden’s little sister. And because Rafe didn’t believe in love.
She let the subject drop, and the rest of the night passed with easy conversation as they discussed Gio and Rafe’s plans to make her suggestion a reality by opening an inn. By the time they’d paid the bill and walked outside, Keeley had decided it was the best “date” she’d been on in ages.
If only it had been a date.
Now, like last week, Rafe and Gio walked her to her car. Rafe drew her into his warm embrace, giving her one of his signature amazing hugs. She pressed her cheeks to his chest and sucked in a deep breath, drawing in the smells she’d come to associate with him—sandalwood, bourbon, his Armani cologne.
When he released her, Gio was there.
She expected him to hug her as well, but instead, he gripped her shoulders and leaned in, his breath hot on her face. “I know you like good-night kisses. But you gotta remember, this doesn’t mean anything,” he whispered.
She was ready for him this time. He pressed his lips to hers, gently at first, then he added more force. Last week’s kiss had been exploration and fondness. This one felt…different. Gio didn’t seek as much as he claimed. It was like he’d gotten the lay of the land, and now he knew exactly where to go. She fought desperately to keep her hands by her side, aware that if she reached out to touch him, she’d never let go.
The crazy part was, as blown away as she felt by Gio’s sexy kiss, she was constantly aware of Rafe’s close presence, of the intense way he watched them, not even feigning to turn his attention elsewhere. In some ways, it felt like he was as much a part of the kiss as Gio.
Gio was the first to pull away, and she let herself pretend he looked reluctant to do so.
She dug deep for an easy, breezy smile, not wanting him to know the impact his kisses were having on her. Because she wanted more, and if all she had to do to get them was pretend they meant nothing, then that was a game she was willing to play, a price she was ready to pay.
“Good night,” she said, cursing the breathlessness of her tone.
“Good night.” Gio’s voice was husky and deep.
Rafe reached out and ran the back of his knuckles along her cheek. “Drive home safely.”
She nodded and got in her car, resisting the urge to turn back to look at them before driving away.
Now that Gio had planted the seed about wanting what his siblings Layla and Tony had, she wasn’t looking at Rafe and Gio as separate crushes anymore.
There was no either-or in her mind.
From now on, her fantasies would include both of them.
At the same time.
Chapter Five
Gio took a swig of his beer, aware that the smile hadn’t slid off his face pretty much since he and Rafe had decided to become roommates and business partners. They’d hashed out the particulars with a lawyer this morning and once the contract was written, they would sign. He’d been chomping at the bit to begin work, something Rafe had noticed. Since the deal was as good as made, they’d decided to just go ahead and get started. Gio had given his landlord notice.
He’d already spent the past two weeks sorting through his stuff—even though Rafe gave him shit for putting the horse before the cart. Since they were moving forward, now all he had to do was decide what to take to the mansion, what to pitch, what to sell, and what to move into storage.
“Everything ready for the move next weekend?” Rafe asked, absentmindedly petting Cricket, who was dozing on his lap.
“Yep. I’ve recruited the guys, who’ve all agreed to the standard arrangement. Beer, pizza, and strained muscles.”
“Maybe we should make a full weekend of it, and they can help me clear some shit out my townhouse as well,” Rafe said. “I’m trying to decide if I want to put it on the market or rent it out. No point in it sitting empty, since we’ll be living in the haunted mansion for God only knows how long.”
“You might sell it?”
Rafe shrugged. “I’ve gotten kind of used to living away from the hubbub of the city, and I’m not looking forward to dealing with my loud neighbors again. I swear to God I could hear every single one of their fights through the wall connecting our townhouses. I’ve gotten spoiled by the quiet of this place. There’s a caretaker’s cottage behind the mansion. I’ve been thinking that maybe I’ll move in there once the inn is ready to open. Or fuck it, I might just buy a proper house with a bit of land. I’ve got some money to play with these days,” he said with a wink.
“You’ve got a lot of money to play with, you rich bastard. And a new, practical-sized house sounds nice. Of course, we might have to spring for a few buckets of chicken too, if we try to talk the guys into moving two houses’ worth of shit,” Gio said.
Gio and Rafe had helped pretty much every other guy in their group of friends move into their current homes—always paid in beer and pizza—but they’d never done a two-fer. This house of Rafe’s grandpa had been cold and dark for too long, and he was looking forward to bringing a little life to the place.
While he knew it was just a temporary living situation for both of them, Gio couldn’t help but shake the idea that this change was just the start of many. He was pushing thirty-three, and lately, he’d been starting to feel like he had fuck-all to show for his life. He was committed to the family business and proud of all they’d accomplished, but there was a large part of him that still longed for something more, something that was his own. Taking on the mansion renovation project and investing in a new business fueled his creative juices and got his blood pumping.
But he was hoping to change more than just the professional front. His personal life needed a kick in the ass as well.
Keeley’s comment about never having a long-term boyfriend had resonated with him. Probably because he hadn’t broken her four-month streak by much. As he’d confessed, most of his relationships petered out somewhere between the six- to ten-month range, his last ending a few months ago.
He glanced to the other side of the couch and forced himself to acknowledge why the last few relationships had failed. It was because of Rafe.
Because of Gio’s desire to find not only the perfect woman for himself but also the perfect one for them.
It was a fool’s errand because the older they got, the more Gio had come to realize that Rafe was serious about never marrying. He’d watched Rafe walk away from too many women who’d wanted commitments over the years, his emotions never once engaged. Rafe had previously confessed that he didn’t believe himself capable of feeling love, something Gio had dismissed at the time, but now he feared it might be true.
Maybe it was time for Gio to give up the dream and strike out on his own.
Rafe clicked the remote, scrolling for something to watch but finding nothing. They’d settled on the couch a half hour earlier with their beers and planned to order Chinese delivery later.
“What the hell is the deal in this room?” Gio asked. “It’s colder than a witch’s tit in here.”
Rafe shrugged. “I have no idea. Sometimes it’s hot, sometimes it’s freezing. I’ve checked the windows and they’re airtight. Nothing to explain the change in temperature.”
“I’m surprised we can’t see our breath.”
“Blame Albert and Marta.” Rafe tried to brush it off as a joke, but Gio suspected his friend now truly believed the house was inhabited by the spirits of his grandparents. Even Gio had to admit it was hard not to. He didn’t even live here yet, but in the last couple weeks, he’d witnessed enough to convince him. Doors slamming, footsteps in empty rooms, the cold drafts in windowless areas.
The funny part was, the ghosts seemed most attracted to Keeley, though none of them could decide if it was a good or bad fascination. Regardless, it was her things constantly getting moved around. Pens and folders from her table kept finding their way to Rafe’s desk. One day, the jacket she swore she’d hung up on the coatrack was discovered on the couch. And Keeley still insisted that her phone had been in her purse when she’d left for her date with Joel a couple weeks earlier.
They also seemed to get a kick out of pushing her—or so Keeley said. He and Rafe were still convinced she was just clumsy and tripping over the rugs, and Rafe had started teasing her that she needed to learn how to pick her feet up when she walked.
