A Guide to Being Just Friends(61)

When Noah pulled up to a valet, Wes didn’t even register where they were until they got out of the vehicle. Noah threw his keys to a kid in a black T-shirt. The emblem on the shirt was barely visible but Wes read it just as the kid said, “Welcome to Finnegan’s.”

Noah had come around the hood of his SUV to walk beside Wes but Wes wasn’t moving. “Let’s go, man.”

“I thought this place was hard to get into,” Wes said, looking around.

Noah laughed as a couple moved around them, went through the massive, open, double glass doors. “Maybe for dinner. But not for a couple drinks. The little bungalow Grace and I bought in Laguna was sold by the owner. He said I could drop in anytime. What the hell is with you? You look like you swallowed something gross.”

Wes swallowed, walked through the doors with Noah. It was a big place. It would be fine. “Nothing.”

Noah gave him a brotherly shove on the arm. “When was the last time we had a hard time getting in anywhere?”

Wes glared at him. “We aren’t in New York. No one knows us here.”

“Why the hell are you whispering?” Noah’s gaze was dancing with brotherly I’m-going-to-make-whatever’s-bugging-you-worse humor.

“Hailey’s here.”

Noah looked around, his head whipping side to side almost comically. A tall brunette in skyscraper heels, a black turtleneck, and a black knee-length skirt approached them.

“Gentlemen. Do you have a reservation?”

Noah pulled his wallet out, flashed a card that Wes figured was from the owner. “Just here for drinks if there’s room at the bar.”

The woman leaned closer to the card. “Mr. Finnegan’s guests are welcome in the VIP area of the lounge. Let me show you the way.”

“Where do you see Hailey?” Noah whispered.

“I don’t. She’s on a date.”

Noah’s eyes widened. “Oh. Shit. Is that awkward for you? We can go.”

He nearly tripped over his own feet. He’d told his brothers time and again they were just friends. “Why would it be awkward?”

The woman turned when she realized they weren’t following. “Gentlemen?”

Noah’s jaw tightened and he gestured, not very subtly, for Wes to get moving. “I don’t know. You’re the one acting weird. I just want a drink.”

Wes lowered his chin, hoping that Hailey was tucked away somewhere in a far corner booth with a view of anything other than Wes arguing with his brother.

“Let’s go,” Noah said.

They followed the hostess past tables, up a small ramp to a lounge area. Everything was sleek, black and chrome. Soft lighting and folk music added nice touches. In one corner of the lounge, slightly removed from the rest of the tables, was a circular bench seat. The hostess led them there and said someone would be right with them.

Before she walked three steps, her look-alike took her place and asked for their orders.

“I’ll have a martini. Dry please,” Noah said, his charming smile locked in place.

“Vodka tonic, please,” Wes said, scanning the groups and couples sharing meals on the floor in front of them. Their seat was like balcony seating at a play. They had a view of everything.

The drink order reminded him of the quiz. She’d loved it. When she enjoyed something, it was impossible not to enjoy it as well. She vibrated with energy. The waitress smiled and walked away, and Noah leaned both forearms on the huge round table, looked straight at Wes. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing. I just don’t want Hailey thinking I’m tailing her on a date or something weird. I mean, it’s weird that I’m here on the first date she’s had in who knows how long, right? If she sees me, that’ll be hard to explain.”

Noah’s brows rose. “What’s weirder is how many words just came out of your mouth all at once and that they were about a woman, not a computer.”

“Fuck you.”

Noah laughed, which made Wes grin.

“Seriously, man. I thought you were friends.”

“Friends.” The word had once seemed like the easiest term in the world. Now, it filled him with knots of uncertainty, a mixed-up tangle of emotions he didn’t want to dive into. “We are. She’s fantastic.”

“Then it’s just a coincidence. Even if you had the hots for her, you didn’t know I was coming here.”

Wes glared. “I do not have the hots for her.”

Noah held up his hands. “I said ‘even if.’ Why are you so touchy about this? Maybe someone’s gone a little too long without some … uh, touching?”

Wes shook his head, closed his eyes to take a deep breath. When he opened them, he was facing Noah’s unrepentant grin. “You’re an ass.”

“That’s fair. So, who’s her date? Is he good enough for our girl?” Noah looked around like he’d spot her in the dining area. He looked back at Wes. “Who is this guy?”

The waitress returned, dropping off their drinks. They waited until she walked away to continue.

“I don’t know. A colleague of her cousin’s husband. An investment banker.”

“Suit.”

Wes laughed. “Yeah. Can’t trust a suit.”

Noah raised his glass. Wes clinked his against it, took a long swallow.