Page 59 of Forbidden Billionaires, Vol. 9

We walked into the bar down the street. I had been there a few times before. It was always packed and always super loud. And it definitely wasn't a place I would normally go.

I wasn't sure if Rory and Connor actually believed my story about my date. I pretended to yawn and glanced over at Rory. He was staring at me.

"What's your poison, Keira?" Connor asked.

"Whatever you're having is fine."

"Scotch on the rocks?" Connor said skeptically.

I made a face. "A beer is fine."

"I'll be right back." Connor pushed through the other patrons to reach the bar.

Rory touched my shoulder and leaned in toward me. His touch gave me goose bumps. For a second I thought he was going to kiss me. But his lips moved to my ear. Of course.

"You don't have to stay," he almost had to yell over the band. "Let me take you home."

"I have to find someone else to take me home.

Isn't that the whole point?" I tried to give him a challenging look.

If he didn't want me to hook up with other people, all he had to do was say so.

Even though I was trying so hard to hide it, I was pretty sure he could still tell I liked him. Why wasn't this working?

"You don't have to do this, Keira."

I laughed. "I want to. I think it's about time I let loose. Let's dance!" I grabbed his arm, but he didn't budge.

Connor came back over and handed me my beer. I took a long sip. I was supposed to be making Rory jealous, not mad. I was starting to regret my decision to go with them. Maybe I should just leave.

"So," Connor said. "Anyone spark your interest?"

I glanced over at Rory, but quickly looked away. "Umm..." I looked at everyone dancing. "I think I need more time to decide. Do you want to dance?"

"Absolutely." He set his drink down and escorted me to the dance floor. He grabbed my waist and pulled me in close. "You slept with Rory, huh?"

My face started turning crimson. "So he did tell you?"

"No. But it's kind of obvious. You've got him pretty worked up."

"I'm not so sure about that," I said. A girl had started talking to Rory and he seemed completely immersed in the conversation.

"I didn't say you no longer needed my help."

I looked up at Connor. "You still want to help me? What happened to pretending to be a bad boy?"

He shrugged. "Turns out I'm too nice."

I smiled up at him. "Well I'm glad you decided to be yourself. But I don't think there's anything you can do to help. Rory and I were just a one night thing."

"And that's what you wanted?"

"It's what I agreed to."

"You probably shouldn't have agreed to that."

"I know that now."

"Look, Rory's like a brother to me. But I feel like I should warn you...he's a fucking mess."

I laughed. "Said like someone who wants to get in my pants."

"No. I'm backing off. He wins. I'm saying this like someone who knows his friend has a thing for you."

"He doesn't."

"He does. He just doesn't know what he wants. But I know that he'll regret it later if you just become a one night thing."

"Yeah, right."

"Just give him some time."

"Time to fuck dozens of other girls? I can't live with time like that." I bit my lip. Time was killing me.

"Well, whatever you're doing is working. And the fake date? Genius."

"It wasn't fake."

"Um...yeah, it was."

"Stop getting in my head." I looked up at him. It was strange. I felt like we were friends now too. But I really didn't know anything about him. "What happened to your marriage?" I blurted out.

It looked like I had slapped him.

"I'm sorry, you don't have to answer that. It's none of my business."

"No, it's okay. We started dating in high school. Things were simple then. Same with college. We got married right after we graduated. I don't know. She just changed. Maybe I did too. We ended up not being as compatible in the real world as I thought we were."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I wasn't happy."

"Are you happy now?"

"I'm happier. I'm figuring it out. I don't know how many more nights like this I have in me though. This isn't me."

"Me either."

"And I'm beyond pissed that you like Rory instead of me. I'm definitely the better catch."

I laughed. "You're fantastic. I just think we're too similar."

"It's for the best anyway. I think you're exactly what Rory needs."

"What he needs?"

"Yeah. A nice, sweet girl with a wild side."

"I don't have a wild side."

"I'm not sure if that's true. You play strip poker, wear lingerie around the apartment you share with a guy, pretend that you shower with all your friends, and you like being blindfolded in bed."

I could feel myself blushing. "I didn't... but you said Rory didn't tell you..."

"Rory's my best friend. Of course he told me he slept with you."

Oh my God. How much detail do guys go into?

"Which is why I thought you could still use my help," he added. "Especially after catching you on your fake date. You were very smooth," he laughed.

"Was it really that obvious?"

"It was to me. But Rory was so agitated after you left for your date that I'm not sure he did. You should play that up. Do it again tomorrow."

"I'm not sure lying to him is working out that well. Maybe I should just tell him how I feel."

"Trust me. Playing hard to get is the right strategy here."

"And why should I trust you?"

"I'm the nice one, remember?"

"Okay. So what should I do tonight?"

"I'm guessing you don't want to hook up with a stranger?"

"Not at all."

"Okay, so here's the game plan. See that guy at the bar over there? The one with the baseball cap right next to where Rory's standing?"

"Yeah."

"Go over to him. Talk for a few seconds and pull him onto the dance floor. When you're sure that Rory isn't looking, sneak out that back. I'll tell Rory you left with someone."

"Thank you, Connor. You're the best." I stood up on my tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek.

"Okay, game time." He lightly slapped me on the ass.

What the hell? I finally thought I was understanding Connor. These three guys were the most confusing people I had ever met. I pushed my way through the dance floor and walked right up to the guy with the baseball cap.

"Hey!" I said and touched his arm. "The Eagles?" I said and pointed to his hat. "I love them!"

He smiled at me. "You better love the Eagles if you live in Philly."

I could feel Rory's eyes on me. "You know what else I love? Dancing with handsome Eagles fans."

The baseball cap guy laughed. "Then it's my lucky night I guess."

I grabbed his hand and took him to the dance floor.

We danced together for several minutes as Rory glared at me off and on.

Connor knew his friend pretty well, because Rory definitely seemed jealous.

When I finally got a chance, I excused myself, pushed through the people on the dance floor, and went out the back door.