"Yeah, Archer and his fiancé. Trust me, you'll love her. And Archer, too. This isn't some business dinner, Marina. Just pleasure."
Just pleasure. Oh, now those are two words that take on different meaning when used in reference to Gage and me.
"Okay." I swallow hard. "Let's go out to dinner with Archer and his fiancé." I close my eyes and push my desk chair into a circle. This is probably a really bad idea.
But I can't back out of it now, right?
Chapter Seven
Gage
"YOU WANT TO go on a double date with your sister and me?" Archer chuckles, the sound irritating as it rumbles in my ear, and I pull the phone away, wishing I could tell him never mind and hang up.
I can't though. Promised a certain someone it would happen, and now I have to come through on that promise. Plus, I want to see her again. If I'm lucky, maybe I'll get her naked, in a bed, where I can take my time and map her entire body with my lips.
Yeah. I can't get the thought of her out of my mind. The way she clung to me, the taste of her lips, the sounds she makes when she comes . . .
I tried calling her father first thing this morning. No dice. The man hates my guts or flat-out doesn't give a shit. So I need to get in his daughter's good graces and maybe eventually she'll introduce the two of us. It could be a win-win for everyone.
Because just as much as I'm attracted to Marina, I'm also attracted to the fact that she's a Molina. Scott Knight's freaking daughter. I am so close to getting an in with him, I can almost taste it. Does this make me an asshole, wanting to get closer to her so I can get to her father?
Yes.
Damn it. That's what I thought. And I hate that I feel this way, like I'm using her. Getting to know her, kissing her, having sex with her . . . it's changed everything. The power has shifted between us.
Not that I ever really believed I held the power when it came to Marina and me. She's been tough on me since the first moment we met.
And I like it.
"I definitely want to go out with you and Ivy tonight," I finally agree, keeping it simple, waiting for the inevitable questions.
"Who's the girl making you want a double date?"
There's question one. "Don't laugh at me," I start, but he answers for me, his tone smug.
"Let me guess." He pauses for dramatic effect. He's having way too much fun with this and the conversation has only just begun. "Marina Knight."
I don't bother responding for a few seconds. I don't need to. He knows he's irritating the shit out of me. When his chuckle grows into full-out laughter, I'm ready to end the call.
"How did you make that happen?" he finally asks when he gets his laughter under control.
Question number two. "I convinced her I was a good guy and now she wants to date me." Lies, all lies. Like I can tell him the truth.
I fucked her against a wall in her bakery. Hottest sex of my life. Dying to do it again.
"I call bullshit."
Well hell, now I'm offended. "Why do you find that so hard to believe?"
"You badmouthed her family. The Molinas and the Knights, they're all about the family. You breathe one bad word against them and they're ready to take you down and tear you apart. Every single one of them acts that way," Archer explains.
I remember her Aunt Gina calling me Rat Boy. That sounded rather . . . mobbish. Is that even a word? "You make them sound like the mob," I mutter, glancing about my temporary office. I'm staying at a house I purchased a few months ago in St. Helena. It's cute, small, and very old. Needs major renovations-we're talking a total overhaul-and I've been getting bids on the job over the last few days. Its central location makes it the ideal place to stay while I'm here in Napa.
"Rumor has it they might be, though I doubt it," Archer says, his tone serious.
"Mob ties, give me a break," I mutter, more than ready to change the subject. "Listen, she wants to talk to you." I'd fibbed a little when I called Marina. I'd left a message with Archer when I couldn't get a hold of him and grew too anxious waiting for him so I broke down and called her anyway.
I knew I could get him to see her, but I haven't confirmed anything yet. I just wanted to call her. Listen to her voice. Imagine the way she sounded last night when she whispered my name as I sunk particularly deep inside her tight, wet body-
"Talk to me about what?"
"Yeah, it's about business. She won't tell me what exactly, but Marina says she has a proposition for you and she kept meaning to call you but hasn't yet," I explain.
"Huh, wonder why she hasn't called. I've talked to her a few times. Nothing extensive though." He makes a noise; I can hear him shift in his chair, the unmistakable creak coming through loud and clear. "When do you want to go on this momentous double date?"
"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 asshole.
"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 fuckup; 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 asshole 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 asshole 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 . . .