Page 129 of Morally Black Betrothal

I pressed a foot on top of his. Hard.

He turned back to Simone. “So, you volunteer at the hospital. What else do you do, gorgeous?”

Simone bit her lip at the nickname I knew was mostly to get under my skin. “I, um, was working at a bar in Back Bay, but I don’t anymore.”

“Well, who can blame you for that? That sounds fucking terrible.”

“I actually liked it all right. I enjoy working with people, and the tips were good.”

“But not as good as my brother’s.”

“Owen, you can shut the fuck up now,” I snapped.

“Brendan!” Simone reached over to rub my shoulder.

My brother held up his hands, chuckling. “I’m joking, man. Just a joke.”

Simone stood to get herself some water, and Owen made no secret of raking his eyes over her body in her relatively clingy pajamas.

I was ready to chuck him out the window.

“Well, now you can do some charity work or something,” he said once she returned to the table. “I’m assuming Brendan is paying you handsomely for your services, and you won’t need that job after this one.”

A hushed awkwardness fell over the table as Simone looked down at her plate again.

“Owen, I swear to God?—”

“Actually, I think it’s a brilliant move,” he rattled on like he hadn’t all but called Simone a prostitute. “All the benefits of an engagement, without the messy entanglements and emotions. And when it’s over, you can wrap it up in a bow without a nasty divorce.” He shoveled more food into his mouth, and I continued to glare, hoping he’d get the message and leave. “Plus, it’s not like the door needs to be closed for future ‘arrangements’ if you find yourself lonely one night. The best escort in town is the one no one else knows about, am I right?”

I exploded out of my chair, charged around the table, and yanked Owen out of his seat by his collar, then tossed him ten feet across the floor.

My brother slid, laughing, over the hardwoods. “Well, damn, Brendan. Look at you, getting all gallant on me.” He stood and fixed his tie. “But I’ll warn you—do that again, and I’ll break your neck.”

“I’d like to see you try,” I snarled.

Owen looked very much like he wanted to, but just as he leaned forward, Simone stood from the table too.

“That’s enough. Owen?”

He looked at her. “Yes, gorgeous?”

“Stop with the nicknames. And for the record, while yes, this is an engagement of, shall we say, convenience, itisan actual engagement. I’m not a sex worker, so I’d appreciate it if you’d stop making veiled comments about that.”

Owen didn’t look like he believed her in the slightest, but he bowed slightly. “Your wish is my command.”

“Brendan?”

I continued to stare my brother down. “Yeah, angel?”

Owen’s brows lifted at the term.

“Brendan.”

I turned to meet her gaze and my fury chilled. Just a little.

“This is between us,” she said. “I don’t need you to fight your brother for me. It’s not worth it. Not even a little.”

Those sparkly blues held me rapt until enough tension flowed out of my shoulders, and I released the fists I’d been clenching. “Okay. Owen, I appreciate your offer, but I think we got it. No need to pretend to be Simone’s friend. Or really talk to her at all. And by that, I mean fuckin’don’t.”