Thoughtful (Thoughtless, #1.5)(100)

I couldn’t help but watch Kiera as she took in her sister. There was an emotion there that I couldn’t quite read. Kiera loved her, I was certain, but she was…sad, or self-conscious…like she was comparing herself to Anna, and in her head, she was losing. But that was ridiculous. Yes, Anna was gorgeous, but with her it was…forced. Manufactured. Kiera didn’t have to try that hard. She effortlessly radiated beauty. She didn’t have to be bended, twisted, and arranged into a masterpiece. She was already a work of art.

Finally, Kiera inhaled a deep breath. “Guys, this is my sister—”

Interrupting Kiera, Anna held her hand out to me. “Anna,” she finished, her smile warm and inviting.

“Kellan.”

I was shaking her hand when Griffin stood up and yanked it away from me. Smooth. “Griffin…hey.” He had such a way with words, it was almost magical. Anna giggled though, as she said hello.

I watched Kiera while Anna introduced herself to the guys. Kiera seemed a little uncomfortable that Anna didn’t need her help. Maybe she was wishing that she could be that bold. She could be, if she really wanted to. The only thing holding her back was her.

Griffin, determined to impress Anna into his bed, grabbed a chair nearby. That chair unfortunately had someone sitting on it, but Griffin didn’t care much about that. With a “Get off, f*cker,” he yanked the seat away and set it beside himself. While the ousted customer flipped him the bird and stormed off to go complain to Sam, who I’m sure wouldn’t do anything about it, Griffin patted the cushion and beckoned his newfound love to join him.

Anna smiled, said, “Thank you,” then grabbed the chair and hefted it over to my end of the table. Matt and Evan laughed at her maneuver. Griffin scowled. Surprisingly, Kiera did too. Interesting. Was she jealous of Anna and me? Even though I’d promised her I wouldn’t do anything with Anna? She sure looked that way when Anna sat down.

Testing this theory, I gave Anna a friendly grin when she sat so close to me our sides touched. I could almost see the smoke coming out of Kiera’s ears as she watched us. Very interesting.

“Well, I’ve got to get back to work. I’ll bring you a drink, Anna.”

Anna’s eyes never left mine as she answered. “Okay.” As an afterthought, she added, “Oh, some guy named Sam put my jacket and bags in the back room.”

Kiera sighed, like she couldn’t believe what Anna could get men to do for her. I wanted to tell Kiera that was the power of *, but I didn’t think she’d appreciate that comment, so I kept quiet. “Okay, I’ll call Denny. He can give you a ride home.”

Anna finally looked back at Kiera. “I think I can manage.” I knew she meant me, and my grin widened. Anna was making this so damn easy. All I had to do was smile, let her do her thing, and watch Kiera go green with envy. I knew I probably shouldn’t be playing this game, but making Kiera jealous felt a hell of a lot better than wallowing in sadness over what I couldn’t ever have with her. And besides, this was what Kiera wanted. She had to know there would be a price to pay for letting me go.

Anna’s eyes returned to mine. They were sparkling, playful, and easy to read—I want you. “So…you’re a singer, huh?” She scanned my body so seductively, she may as well have reached over, shoved her hand down my pants, and started fondling my cock. “What else can you do?” she asked. Very forward.

While Anna laughed and I grinned, Kiera fled. She apparently didn’t want to be anywhere near us, but she didn’t want to leave us alone either. This visit was going to be so much fun.

After Kiera disappeared, her sister turned on the charm. “So, Kellan Kyle, tell me all about yourself, every little detail.” With a crooked smile, she told me, “I want to know you inside and out.”

I bet she did. I didn’t open up like that though. She’d have to settle for the basics. “I spent some time in L.A., but I was born and raised here.” And will probably die here. “You already know all about the band, so there’s not much else to tell.”

She leaned in. “Girlfriend?”

Griffin, eavesdropping, sniggered, “That * doesn’t do girlfriends. Me, on the other hand…” He opened up his arms in invitation.

Anna glanced at him, then returned her eyes to me. “No girlfriend. Good to know.” She gave me a heart-stopping smile, and I gave her a devilish grin. This was so easy, it was almost too easy.

“Okay, I told you about me, now tell me about you.” I lifted an eyebrow and waited for her to start speaking. Once she did, she didn’t stop, and I didn’t interrupt her. The more she opened up about herself, the less I had to open up about me. I preferred to listen.

Kiera came over when Anna was discussing her years at school. She’d gone to the same college Kiera had started out in. She’d been a cheerleader. I wasn’t too surprised. Kiera put a reddish drink in front of her sister, and Anna paused long enough to toss her a “Thanks” before resuming our conversation. Well, her conversation at me.

I peeked up at Kiera. She was frowning at us. It was entrancing, and some sick part of me really enjoyed making her jealous.

Now that Anna was around to make things entertaining, the night sped up. While Anna told me all about her life, hopes, and dreams, she flirted. And she was good at flirting. If I wasn’t interested in somebody else, I’d definitely be raring to go after her little display. She touched my face, my shoulder, my leg. She ran her hands over herself, subtly outlining her curves. It was erotic, I’d give her that. And even though I was only allowing it to continue to irritate Kiera, she was an attractive woman; I didn’t mind the show.