Attest (Centrifuge Duet Book 2)(46)
“Wendy said you wanted me, Dad?”
I smile at him trying to gauge his mood, and then at Brendan. He looks as gorgeous as ever; his chocolate brown hair, deep brown eyes, and tanned skin creating masculine perfection. Running my eyes over his lanky frame, I catalogue what he’s wearing—blue jeans that fit him just right, and a white shirt that stretches nicely across his muscled chest and shoulders. On his feet he has a pair of dusty work boots.
Country boy perfection; my friends described him as last night.
Personally, I was ambivalent toward him last night and confused by his strange way of approaching me before we kissed. My opinion that it was slightly creepy was played down by my romantic friends so I’d shut up. In the early hours of this morning, my very envious girlfriends—and a large amount of vodka—had helped me decide that I’d go on a date with Brendan on the off chance that he actually asked me after our kiss.
Apparently, he's so hot that my friends will kill me if I don’t accept any offer he makes.
Dad clears his throat, drawing my attention back to him. My father’s a huge man. Brendan is only slightly shorter, albeit a lot leaner. Dad's pretty intimidating, but Brendan seems to be holding his own at the moment. He looks relaxed enough.
From the corner of my eye, I can see his eyes moving over my form, his slow perusal causing my pulse to quicken. A blush rises to my cheeks when I notice that my father’s watching Brendan, the hardening of his eyes telling me that he doesn’t really appreciate what he’s witnessing.
When Dad sits straighter in his chair and pats the seat next to him, I sit and wait for someone to speak. “Baby girl, Brendan’s dropped in to ask me if he can take you out on a date. I told him that it’s up to you what you do. Although, I’ve warned him that if you say yes and he goes and hurts you in any way, I’ll fuck him up. Permanently.”
For the first time in my life, I wince at my father calling me baby girl. He’s addressed me like that since the day I was born. I’ve never really thought about how young it made me sound until I had a man I wanted to impress.
“That goes double for me,” I hear Benji mutter.
Wow. That’s strange. I thought Benji would be keen for me to do something other than study. He’s always mocking me about being “Nigel No-Friends” since I only have a handful of friends.
Ignoring Benji, I grin at my straightforward dad. As much as he annoys me sometimes, I’m my dad’s girl, and I love him to pieces. The threat he issued is such a typical thing for my domineering father to say, and I’d be lying if I said I didn't appreciate his concern. Brendan’s the first man to ever have the balls to ask Dad if he can take me out. My poor father’s entering unchartered waters right along with me.
I regard Brendan inquiringly. His wide eyes and fake-looking grin tell me that he’s a little intimidated by Dad’s speech. “What did you have in mind?”
Sympathy wells within me for Brendan and the situation he’s put himself in for me. It's probably not the usual route he takes to ask a girl out. Actually, it definitely isn't, since I've never heard of him asking a girl to date him. It's unfortunate, and a little embarrassing, since I'm seventeen not thirteen, but Brendan will need to get used to Dad’s forthright ways if he wants to take this past one date.
“I thought I could pick you up and we could head into Roma for dinner on Friday night. If you don’t already have plans?”
“That sounds good to me. What time would you like to pick me up?” I respond without hesitation. Benji groans at my acceptance. I shoot him daggers with my eyes before returning my gaze to Dad and Brendan. I have no idea what Benji’s problem is right now. I thought they were friends. Brendan’s handsome face splits into a cheeky, satisfied grin at my response, causing Dad to put his beer down a bit harder than necessary. At his smug response, regret filters through me.
I know Brendan’s used to girls jumping to be with him. I wished I’d played a little harder to get, just so he realises I'm not easy like the other girls he messes with. I'm not one for game playing, so this thought occurs too late to be of benefit.
“Would five o'clock be all right with you?”
I nod in agreement, my cool exterior belying the excitement churning inside. I can't believe Brendan Taylor just asked me out.
Brendan turns his attention to my dad. “What time do I need to have Maddi home, Mr O’Brien?
“It’s Beast, Brendan. No man in my family answers to Mr O’Brien.” He chuckles in his deep voice, his demeanour a tiny fraction friendlier. Brendan did the right thing by asking Dad about my curfew. If he keeps this up, he'll win him over in no time. Hopefully.
“I think midnight is a fair time,” Dad answers.
My smile broadens at Dad’s answer. I’d expected him to say something ridiculous like nine-thirty. Dad wiggles his thick, black eyebrows at me, knowing he’s pleased me with his answer.
He makes idle chitchat with Brendan for a few minutes as they finish their beers. I sit back in my chair smiling—not adding much to the conversation—my day made, and my hangover forgotten. Brendan soon says his goodbyes to both of us, reiterating to me that he’ll be here at five o'clock in three night’s time to pick me up for our dinner date.
After Brendan leaves, Benji throws himself down at the table with us. Anger clouding his features, he lets us know in no uncertain terms what he thinks about my decision to go on a date with Brendan.