Inevitable Detour (Inevitability Book 1)(25)

Before Farren introduces us, I take the opportunity to look Rick over. I peg him to be about thirty. His hair is jet black and slightly longish in the back, the strands brushing at the collar of his expensive-looking suit jacket. Rick is exotic looking, with high cheekbones, olive skin, and almond-colored eyes. The dude is smooth, too. He takes my hand and brushes his lips over my knuckles when Farren finally introduces us.

Farren immediately shoots his friend a back-off look that even I pick up on. Rick straightens and drops my hand. An awkward moment ensues, until a young hostess with fiery red hair and very red high heels arrives to seat us.

As she leads us to a booth in a back corner, I hear Rick murmur to Farren, “I’m sorry, friend. I didn’t realize she was yours.”

Yours? I roll my eyes. But, truthfully, a tiny part of me wants to belong to Farren Shaw. Oh, who am I kidding? Pretty much all of me is on board with that idea.

As the food is served and the meal progresses, Rick remains cordial, but there’s no more flirting from him. Clearly, Farren is in charge. And Farren has laid down the rules. But, I have to wonder, what exactly is Farren in charge of? What kind of operation are he and Rick involved in nowadays? And how would men like Eric and Vincent fit into the equation, since surely they do. I mean, Farren knew who they were when I first mentioned their names. Even though he has yet to confirm or deny it, I feel sure I’m right. So does that mean Rick is acquainted with Eric and Vincent, too? Did they all work together on something in the past? Maybe they were in the military together? Were Eric and Vincent special ops, too? Did something go wrong somewhere? Was Haven taken in some sort of retaliatory move?

My mind is whirling as I come up with question after question. Farren and Rick, meanwhile, fall into a discussion of the “old days.” I take note that though we’re supposedly meeting with Rick to discuss Haven, there’s not been one mention of her.

At least, not in front of me, I think. There was a point when I excused myself to the ladies’ room. Perhaps they discussed her then.

The two men continue to reminisce, and I decide to take an active part in the discussion. They’re discussing a special-ops mission they were once a part of. Rick mentions something about rebel forces, and Farren says, “Fuck, man, that was some crazy shit.”

“Sure was,” Rick agrees. “We lit that camp up, Shaw. Remember that?”

Farren nods and takes a drink from his glass of red wine.

Rick continues, “Central Command never expected us to have the balls to destroy every cache of weapons.” He laughs, takes a sip of his own red wine, and then adds, “Of course, you take the credit for that. Damn, those were good times.”

“The best,” Farren agrees, raising his glass.

The two friends toast, and I cut in. “Where did all this happen?”

Not surprisingly, I’m met with stony silence. I stare down at my plate, wishing I had a daring tale of my own to contribute. But what story am I going to tell these two seen-it-all, done-it-all men? Should I share with them how I rebelled and chose five wrong answers on a final last week?

I don’t think so.

As I stare down at my barely touched filet mignon, Farren takes notice that I haven’t eaten much.

“Are you not hungry, Essa?” he inquires.

Rick glances over at my plate but quickly resumes eating his own meal. In fact, he becomes lost in his meal, allowing Farren to address me semi-privately. The dynamic feels so different here, much more so than when Farren and I are alone. Again, it is crystal clear from the way Rick continues to concede to his friend that Farren is the alpha male.

I’m not immune to Farren’s power, either. I’m not all that hungry, yet I find myself responding demurely, “No, I am hungry” as I take a small bite.

I’ve been attracted to Farren from the start, but now every feminine part of me wants him. He is gorgeous, in command, powerful, and possibly a little dangerous to be around. What’s not to like? This is the kind of attraction I’ve always read about, what I dreamed of and hoped to someday find. And here it is, right in front of me. No wonder college boys always left me cold. All this time I just didn’t realize that what I needed was a man like Farren in my life.

Or maybe I knew it all along. After all, I have been crushing on the guy for a long-ass time. So, yeah, Farren Shaw can woo me any day of the week.

But is Farren wooing me?

Maybe, I think as his gaze slides to and catches mine. He smiles charmingly, and I smile back. Yeah, maybe Farren wants me as much as I want him. Of course, I’m not dangerous, though he may very well turn out to be.

Does that bother me?

Farren shoots me a searing look that makes me feel like prey caught in a lion’s sight. Not like Eric’s cold look to Haven. This is more about heat and raw lust, something mutual. I go with it, concluding danger associated with Farren doesn’t bother me one bit.

In fact, if Farren longs to catch me, I can’t wait to be caught.





When the meal ends, Rick announces that he has to leave. Farren and I are left alone at the table. I have the impression from the pleased look on his handsome face that Farren planned for the evening to go this way.

“Your friend seems very nice,” I say, suppressing a smile.

“I’m glad you and Rick hit it off,” he replies, a smile of his own barely contained.

I blow out a breath as I lean back in my chair. “So, Farren, what do we do now?”