Exposed by Fate (Serve #2)(24)

Where was he tonight? Was he with someone else?

Stop it right there, Eliza. Wondering about such things was stupid and pointless. It was safe to assume Oliver had entertained himself this week with a dazzling array of gorgeous women, same as always. No reason for that to have changed just because they’d been together one single time. For all she knew, he’d been with another girl Tuesday night after she left. Which was totally his right. At the onset of this arrangement, they’d been clear about keeping things uncomplicated. She wanted uncomplicated. At least with Oliver. Oliver would take one look at complicated and disappear in a cloud of smoke. Relationship Houdini. Never to be seen or heard from again.

Still, she’d…loved the time they’d spent together. When she’d broken down in the bathroom, he’d been so solid and reassuring. Everything she’d needed and then some. She hadn’t seen that coming and it had obviously affected her somehow. Just like every matrimony-minded girl who left drool puddles in his wake, she’d actually let herself get spelled by Oliver Preston. Maybe he only says those things to me. Maybe I’m special. No doubt he’d put the same thoughts into the pretty heads of a legion of women. Women who’d woken up the next morning wondering if they’d dreamed up that man who’d been so caring and protective.

If anyone ever crosses that line, I’ll gladly kill them for you. Eliza shivered as the words drifted through her mind. She’d seen a new side to Oliver Tuesday night. Until now, she’d known him as the suave older brother, always good for a laugh and a confidence boost when he inevitably checked out her ass. Now, she wondered what she’d missed. He cooked, he soothed, he did a bang-on Mick Jagger impression. How the hell was she supposed to keep a level head around him? He played the field so often they’d named it after him. Get the stars out of your eyes.

She should be thinking about what lay on the other side of these lessons. Porter. She would go into her next encounter with the sexy Brit brimming with confidence. Knowledge. Even after only one encounter with Oliver, her self-assuredness had grown. This is what she’d been looking for and missing. There was no denying her need to be dominated now. Not after the height of pleasure she’d been driven to by submitting. She could already feel the need tangling up inside of her, needing to be unraveled. One question continued to plague her though. Would it feel the same when it wasn’t Oliver doing the unraveling?

Caroline elbowed her in the ribs. “Whatcha thinking ’bout?”

Boning your brother. God, she was a shitty friend. If she thought for a second Oliver would allow things to get weird, she never would have done this. But sex came as naturally to him as breathing. She was just another necessary pull of oxygen that would be replaced in his next breath. Caroline would never know about them because they would never matter. Furthermore, Eliza didn’t want her to know. Her chief concern would be Eliza getting hurt by Oliver, which wouldn’t be happening. Ever. As long as she kept her head on straight and remembered the score. Attempting to douse the fire in her throat, Eliza downed her drink in one go. “I’m thinking we need to update the décor in this place,” she lied. “You’re the first lady of Serve now. You need to put your mark on it.”

Caroline pursed her lips thoughtfully as she surveyed the lounge. The interior was sleek, monochromatic. Grays, blacks and purples suited the sexual energy of the place perfectly, every surface soft and inviting. A place to meet and proposition your next partner. Possibly even get started what would finish with a trip upstairs on one of Serve’s three levels. Waitresses moved with sensual grace through couples and groups of patrons, offering drinks with a practiced purr. Behind them, the bar was packed full of Manhattanites, looking for a Friday night assignation.

“What did you have in mind?” Caroline asked, breaking into her thoughts again. “Maybe some nice house plants? Ooh, do you think Jonah would let me have a hammock?”

“I think Jonah would give you whatever you want.”

Caroline hummed into her drink. “It goes both ways.” She signaled the waitress for two more drinks. “Just a head’s up, he’s going to ask you to redecorate the brownstone. Gabby is going to be staying with us more, and we want the place kid-friendly.”

Eliza smiled at the mention of Jonah’s daughter of whom he’d only recently been granted joint custody. She was nine years old and a total pistol. “No more implements of torture lying around?”

“We save that for upstairs.” Caroline grinned. “Speaking of which, you were here the other night, weren’t you? On a date with Gavin Rossdale’s doppelganger?”

She wanted to smack herself in the forehead, but somehow resisted. Of course, Jonah would have mentioned to Caroline that she’d been at the club. But wait. He hadn’t told her about Oliver and the kiss they’d shared? In plain view of one of several cameras? Interesting. She struggled to remember what Caroline had asked her. Porter…right. “It went well. We’re planning on seeing each other soon.” As soon as Oliver made that phone call.

Caroline did a double take. “What? That’s all I get? It went well.”

“I-uh…” Your brother interrupted us. Shower sex. Mick Jagger. Ouzo. An almost-kiss that blew my mind almost as much as the sex. “It’s complicated?”

“Sweetheart.” Jonah’s distinct voice behind her was like the bell going off for recess, saving her from a pop quiz. An interruption had never been more appreciated. She sunk back against the armrest of the lounger as Jonah picked up Caroline and settled her back on his lap. Her friend was still glaring at her though, over the rim of her martini. You’re not off the hook, she mouthed at Eliza. Then her friend’s mouth became otherwise occupied as Jonah guided it down to meet his. He plucked the martini from Caroline’s hand and handed it to Eliza, without breaking contact, sliding his tongue into his girlfriend’s mouth with a groan.