Ethan arched one brow. “Complicated as in not true? Or more theyou knocked her upsort of complication?”
Will let out a half laugh, half growl. “Shut up, man. I absolutely did not.”
“Am I the best man or is that a surprise, too? If you tell me it’s that Nolan prick, we’re done.”
Will shook his head, made yet another split-second decision. “It was a misunderstanding that got out of hand and now my parents are losing their minds. But I like this woman and want to see where it could go. So, pretty much a PR fucking nightmare over a relationship that I don’t want ruined before I get to know her.”
Ethan’s gaze widened. He huffed out a breath and clapped him on the shoulder. “Shit. Nothing is ever straightforward in your family. Mama Grand must be pissed about not getting to choose her daughter-in-law. You’re right not to tell her the truth. Who is this woman? Are you meeting her here?” Ethan looked around.
“I only met her a couple of days ago and yes. I’m going to sit in the back.”
They walked side by side to the area at the back of the room. Ethan said hello to customers on their way past the tables. Not far from the water or Seattle’s downtown, the place gave out-of-towners a taste of what the locals loved—being close to the action without all the crowds.
Will followed his friend, taking the three steps up to the raised area. The seating up here was plush and comfortable, reminding Will of his father’s study with high-back chairs and low tables arranged to encourage conversation. A large stone fireplace sat as a focal point, with framed pictures of Ethan, his family, and the staff on the wide raw-wood mantel. To the right of the fireplace, two deep-brown leather wingback chairs sat empty, facing each other. To the left, a group of six women laughed and chatted animatedly, three of them on a love seat, the others taking up the chairs.
“You two can join us,” one of them, a blonde who looked close to Kyra’s age, said.
The following giggles and suggestions made him feel older than his thirty years. Well practiced at flirting, Ethan winked at the table.
“Not this time, ladies, but enjoy yourselves.”
Will shrugged off his thin leather jacket, hanging it on the little hook attached to the chair. When he sat, Ethan took the seat across from him, pulled his phone out, and frowned at the screen.
Looking up, he shook his head. “I have to deal with something. Give me the lowdown. Where’d you meet this chick?”
“Jesus, man. Grow up. Her name is Alexandria. Lexi. She’s incredible. I met her at a restaurant. She was the waitress and…” There was no easy way to explain it. Will sighed. “It’s complicated.”
Ethan whistled. “Papers didn’t say much about her. Your parents know she’s a waitress?”
Will shook his head. Ethan knew how judgmental his parents could be about family backgrounds, education, and employment. It didn’tmatter to Will. “The chemistry is off the charts. Things got messed up in the news and now I’m just trying to get her to see I’m worth a second date. Honestly, I feel like I’m spinning out of my depth.” He spoke low and fast because even though Ethan was busy, he was also Will’s best friend and Will needed someone other than his sisters to know the truth.
“Wow. Listen to you. You really like her. Maybe things didn’t get so messed up after all. Just because you didn’t write it down first doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea.”
Will didn’t like how much his friend made him sound like his parents but he was able to shrug it off when he saw Alexandria weaving her way through the crowd.
“That’s her,” Will whispered, his heart rate speeding up. He waved at her, feeling like a fifteen-year-old with his first crush.
He met her at the stairs, leaned in to kiss her cheek, inhaling the sweet scent of her shampoo or body spray or whatever it was that made her smell so intoxicating.
“Hi.”
She leaned back. “Hi. Is this a college bar? I think we’re the oldest people here.”
Will laughed. The only other people who made him laugh effortlessly were his siblings, his grandfather, and Ethan.
“I’m older than you so maybe I am but you aren’t. It’s a great place. My buddy owns it. Come meet him.”
He heard the low groan under her breath and laughed again. When he took her hand, pleasure unfurled inside him. He recognized the punch of lust that hit him square in the gut—it’d been a while and he couldn’t remember it ever being quite so sharp. However, the warmth and happiness that filled his chest, just from seeing her, were completely foreign to him.
“I had to meet your best friend,” he reminded her, happy when she laughed. It was a great sound.
Will caught Lexi’s glance toward the women, a couple of whom were watching them. Whether she realized it or not, Lexi moved closer to him, like she had the other night when Carolyn had been too friendly. It tripped something inside of him. Something protective and unfamiliar. He put an arm around her shoulders, all too aware of the way she fit so well against him. His pulse raced, anticipation humming over his skin. When was the last time a woman made his heart beat harder? Quicker? Made him so aware of everything he was feeling? Dangerous, he thought. And yet he couldn’t stop himself.
“You look beautiful,” he said before they reached Ethan.
“Thank you,” she said, looking up at him. “So do you.” She bit her lip. “Good, I mean. You look good. Really good.”
Will bit back a laugh. “But not beautiful?”
