Barely Breathing(15)

“Then what?”

She shrugged. “He just seems like that kind of guy.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“He seems like a guy who’s looking to get laid after he takes a woman out for dinner.”

I glared at her, offended on Kane’s behalf. “And you base that on what, exactly? You only met him for a few seconds.”

“I base it on my inner radar, which is pretty damn accurate. When you meet a guy at a club and he looks like that, he’s usually not looking for anything serious.”

Cara was sometimes too opinionated. I reminded myself of that, but still, irritation made me continue the conversation.

“Looks like what? And he’s one of the club owners, by the way.”

“Oh.”

“Not that it matters. I would’ve wanted to go out with him even if he was a bouncer.”

“He just looks . . . rough.” Cara shrugged again. “With the tats and that scowl. You should try to get him in bed, ‘cause I bet he’s amazing.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said wryly.

Cara set her sandwich down and gave me a serious look. “Viv, I just don’t want you to get hurt. You’re looking for a husband, and this guy doesn’t seem like your type.”

“I am not looking for a husband. I’m looking for a relationship.”

“Which will lead to marriage.”

“Okay, eventually, yes. But in all the time I’ve been here, I’ve gone on lots of dates and I’ve never felt this way.”

“You felt this way before that * Eric cornered you in the alley.”

I shook my head. “I thought Eric seemed promising. He checked all my boxes. But Kane . . . he checks none of them. I feel something different with him. It’s like I’m drawn to him for reasons I don’t fully understand yet. I know he’s strong and honest and that means so much more than any of the stuff I thought I wanted in a man.”

“After one date?”

“And one alley rescue.”

Cara furrowed her brow. “Do you think you’ve put him on a pedestal because of that?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “Maybe. I just know that I’ve been looking forward to seeing him again since a few seconds after he left Friday night. It feels really good.”

“Just be careful.”

I laughed at her big sister tone. “Don’t worry about me. What about you? What’d you do over the weekend?”

She shrugged and looked down at her plate. “Just went to the club Friday night.”

“What club? Six?”

“Yeah. I met someone there that night with you and we hung out.”

“Good. Do I get to hear more about it?”

“Not yet. I don’t want to jinx it.”

That was unlike Cara. Her innermost secrets usually poured out of her. I said nothing, but my curiosity was piqued.

We walked back to our office after lunch, the fall breeze blowing our hair and making us button up our wool coats. I loved fall in New York. The bright colors of changing leaves and crisp air signaled time for flannel pajamas and hearty soups.

“Busy afternoon?” Cara asked me as we rode the elevator up to our floor.

“Two meetings. Not bad,” I said. “You?”

She rolled her eyes. “I have my evaluation today.”

“You’ll get a good one.”

“I hope. My billable hours are pretty kickass.” She reached for my arm as we stepped off the elevator, her lips parting with interest. “Viv, who is that?”

A tall, fit man with short dark hair was leaning over the desk of Samantha, one of our paralegals, giving her a smile that was literally making her eyelashes flutter. I was embarrassed for her.

“That’s my brother,” I said to Cara. “I don’t know what he’s doing here.”

I approached and Samantha gave me a look that said go away.

“Grayson,” I said as he turned and hugged me. “Did you do something requiring legal representation?”

He laughed and squeezed me tighter. “Not today, sis. You got a minute?”

“Sure.”

He followed me into my tiny office and I closed the door.

“Private office,” he said appreciatively. “Nice.”

“Right. Not quite as nice as yours, I’m betting.”

Grayson was three years older than me, and I’d followed him to New York after he took off in in his position at an investment banking firm. We didn’t get to spend much time together, but it was nice having a family member close by.

“So what’s up?” I asked, sitting down in my desk chair.

“Something’s gotta be up for me to come see my little sister?”

He was trying for a light tone, but his gaze was darting around my office. He looked nervous, which was very unlike my confident, successful brother.

“Whatever it is, you can tell me,” I said.

He let out a deep exhale. “I really hate to ask, but I need to borrow some money.”

I forced myself not to let my shock show. Grayson made much better money than me. I assumed he was loaded, but apparently not.

“Okay. How much?”

Another exhale. “Maybe five hundred?”