Torn (Billionaire Bachelors Club #2)(24)

“Tonight? Maybe?” I wince, waiting for his answer.

“You gotta be kidding me. Tonight? You expect us to rearrange our schedules for you or what?” Archer sounds a little angry, mostly amused. His favorite thing to do is give me shit.

“I need to get in her good graces so she’ll introduce me to her father,” I explain. Well, that’s part of it. I also just want to see her again. Want to talk to her, argue with her a little, until she gets that angry little shine in her eyes, and I become so tempted I lean over and kiss her.

“Really.” Archer sounds doubtful.

“Yeah. Really. The guy has been giving me the complete shut-out for months. I’m dying to talk to him.” Negotiate with him. Make Scott Knight a deal he can’t refuse.

“Ah, so there’s the heart of the matter.” Archer makes a tsking noise. “You’re not trying to get in her pants. You’re hoping to get in her dad’s back pocket.”

He’s making me feel like shit and I refuse to. Besides, I’ve already gotten into her pants.

Yeah, you are such an ass**le.

“You’re not going to guilt me over this.” I do that well enough on my own.

“Whatever. I understand. It’s just business.” Archer sighs heavily. “Let me talk to Ivy, but I think we can do this. I’ve got no major plans going on, and I don’t think she does either.”

“Thanks bro,” I say. “I appreciate you doing this so last minute.” I mean it.

“No problem. I’ve called you begging to help me out so many times, I’ve lost count,” Archer jokes, though really, he’s serious.

He’s the one who usually needs to be bailed out, rescued, whatever. Our friendship has always had that balance. Archer’s the f**kup; I’m the one who cleans up the aftermath. Or saves his ass.

Whichever is needed first.

Now look at me, running to him for favors. But that’s what friends are for.

Ever since Archer started dating my sister, he’s straightened out. It started sooner even, when he received the old Bancroft Hotel his father gave him. He immersed himself in his work, took it seriously and turned that crappy old hotel into the thriving, successful Hush—a premier hotel and spa.

Then he and Ivy started seeing each other seriously, and he really got his shit together. I hadn’t approved. Hell, they kept their budding relationship from me for fear I wouldn’t like it. I love Archer, he’s my closest friend besides Matt. And of course, I love my little sister, and would protect her no matter what.

Archer and Ivy together though? The idea still blows my mind, and they’ve been a couple for a while now. Hell, he’s so in love with her, he’s going to marry her.

It’s pretty amazing, seeing what the love of a good woman will do to a guy.

Not that I’m looking for anything like that—hell no. Not yet. I’m too damn busy to pay a needy woman any mind.

Fuck around with one, specifically one as hot as Marina? Yeah, I’m on board with that.

Here come my ass**le tendencies again. Showing themselves front and center.

“Tell Ivy to not ask Marina a lot of questions, okay?” I request.

“What do you mean by that?”

“It’s just . . . she’ll be curious and want to know more about this woman I’m dating. And it’s nothing. It’s not really serious, on my part or Marina’s part. I’m trying to talk to her dad. She’s trying to talk to you. We’re using each other,” I explain, hoping like hell that’s the truth. If Ivy and Marina start talking and become friends, that would be awful. I don’t want to hurt Marina’s feelings, but this has to be nothing serious for me.

Despite how amazing the sex had been between us, it can’t matter. We’re just having fun. Gaining something from each other. She has to know or at least assume I’m talking to her because of the connection with her dad. This makes me feel like an ass**le because damn it, I like her. Despite her not liking me, I’m drawn to her like I can’t help myself.

Because yeah, I’m pretty sure it’s not serious for her. One night of sex. Tonight, just a dinner. A chance to speak to Archer and get to know him better. Hell, she can barely tolerate me. Most of the time, she provokes me enough that I end up making an ass of myself and saying something stupid to piss her off. Being with her doesn’t bring out my finer qualities . . .

Except when I’m buried inside her and making her come. Then all is good in the world. All is right.

Yeah. We’ll go to dinner, we’ll both get what we want and then we’re done. Nice and simple.

Just the way I like it.

Marina

“DARLING, WHAT IN the world are you doing?”

I poke my head out of my walk-in closet at the sound of my mom’s horrified voice. She’s standing in the middle of my bedroom, her eyes wide with shock as she takes in the disaster. My clothes are strewn everywhere. All over the floor, the bed, thrown over the chair that sits in the corner closest to the closet.

It’s a pre-date war zone, and so far I’m losing the battle.

“Looking for something to wear.” I get up off the floor and stand, wiping my hands on my thighs. “I have nothing.”

She’s still glancing about the room, checking out all the items of clothing lying everywhere, I’m sure. “I beg to differ. I had no idea you were hoarding that many clothes in your tiny closet.”