Page 40 of Bad Influence
Aiden’s eyebrows shoot up and I flush with embarrassment, suddenly wishing I’d stayed next to Killian.
“What I mean is, I just got out of a relationship,” I explain.
It’s the first time I’ve ever said it out loud and it’s strangely freeing. Like I’ve lifted a huge burden off my shoulders. I’m not engaged anymore. I’m free! I can wear what I want, I can eat what I want and when I want. I can binge a whole cake in the middle of the night, and no one is going to stop me.
“Congratulations,” Aiden says.
“How do you know it’s a happy ending?”
“I’ve gotten a lot of people divorced. I can always tell when someone is happy to be free.”
“That’s quite the talent,” I commend him.
“It rarely comes in handy because I can also tell when someone is miserable and I have to learn to keep my mouth shut,” he says. “I once got a black eye in college because I told a classmate to break up with her toxic boyfriend.”
A giggle escapes me and I cover my mouth in embarrassment.Aiden’s mouth lifts up into a smirk. It’s strangely comfortable talking to him, even if I can feel a heated gaze boring a hole into my back. I look over my shoulder and easily locate Killian. He’s standing with a man who’s talking to him, his face in shadows, but eyes looking right at me. I doubt he’s even paying attention to what his conversation partner is saying.
“I hope that’s not going to happen tonight, I have a partner’s meeting on Monday,” Aiden says, following my gaze.
“Trust me, his problem is with me, not you.”
Lilith comes back with our drinks as Aiden and I are talking about my work and some of the clients I’d handled. But I’m far more fascinated with his work. Given the opportunity, I would have loved to be a family and divorce attorney.
If I’m planning on staying here, I’ll have to find a job, though I can’t expect a glowing reference. I’ll basically be starting from scratch.
Aiden has to leave early but before he goes, he gives me his card and tells me to call him. He doesn’t imply why I’ll need to call him. I thank him for the card and tuck it into my phone case so I don’t lose it. I look around for Killian, but he’s nowhere to be seen.
“Have you seen Killian?” I ask Eve. She’s mixing up a drink and I can tell she’s fully enjoying her role as bartender.
“He was around somewhere. Last I saw, he was talking to Wes.”
I don’t know who Wes is so it’s not like I can track him down. Maybe Killian went back to the apartment. I feel a prickle of discomfort at the thought that he left because of me. I also wonder if he’ll call Beckett? Killian is his older brother and if he thinks I’m cheating on his brother, he’ll tell him, right?
“Try this,” Eve says, handing me a martini glass. The drink in it is neon green so I assume it’s either radioactive or an apple martini.
I take a sip and yep, it’s an appletini.
“It’s good,” I say.
“What did you and Aiden talk about?”
“Are you trying to ply me with alcohol so I’ll reveal all my secrets?” I ask.
Eve smirks, shooting me a wink. “I can’t tell you all my plans.”
I giggle, picking up a cheese cube from the platter next to her.
“We mostly talked about work,” I say.
Eve frowns, twisting her mouth to the side. “But you think he’s cute, right?”
“He’s strikingly handsome,” I agree.
His vibe and personality was really calm, the kind that instantly puts you at ease. Pulls you in and makes you think he’s a safe place to keep your secrets.
Whereas…
My eyes lift and I see Killian across the apartment, talking to Lilith. It looks like they’re discussing something serious. Killian isnota calm place. He makes my nervous system go haywire with a single glance. Not to mention he’s literally my ex-fiancé’s older brother. But something about his protectiveness immediately puts me at ease and makes me reckless at the same time. I want to do stupid shit just so he’ll protect me.
