Page 36 of Temptation Unleashed (Talaenian Fae #3)

“ B randon, wait up!”

Rori rushed across the parking lot, tugging her tie around her neck and juggling her apron and purse.

Brandon paused at the sidewalk leading into the restaurant, glancing back over his shoulder, his phone to his ear.

Her order pad fell from the pocket of her apron, and she groaned as she backtracked to retrieve it, losing her keys from her shirt pocket as she leaned over.

God, was this how the night was going to be?

By the time she caught up with Brandon, he’d tucked his phone away and greeted her with an open-armed hug. She wrapped her arms around his waist, the relief she felt pour into her igniting a sting in her eyes.

“Wow. Everything okay?”

Rori nodded and leaned back. “I’m sorry about last night. I-I don’t know what?—”

He pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her.

“Shh. Rori, the last thing you need to do is explain anything to me.” He smiled, his dark eyes holding no animosity.

“Listen, I was out of line. I knew better, especially since you’re still healing.

And…we’d both had a few drinks too many that impaired our better judgment.

” He pinched the tip of her nose and that made her laugh.

“I would have hated it if something happened and regret destroyed our friendship, hermosa . You mean too much to me to lose over drunken impulses. Steve gave me the low-down on his brother, his fascination with you at first sight, and that you didn’t know.

As much as I don’t like how he swept in and dragged you away, I’m going to give Steve the benefit of the doubt because I trust the guy.

If Ryan does anything to you, though, you’d better tell me. ”

Rori nodded once, nearly faltering over Cael’s chosen name for his brother. She grinned. “On my honor.”

“Good.” He slung his arm around her shoulders, falling into their normal routine, and headed into the restaurant. “Rest easy.”

“I feel better now. It’s been weighing on me all day, especially because there’s nothing between Th—Ryan and I. Last night took me by complete surprise.”

“Steve went after you both once he calmed me and Cassy down.” He held the door open for Rori to pass. “When he came back, he explained more to us. Of course, Cassy got all sparkly-eyed, thinking it was like something out of a romance novel.”

“That’s our Cassy.”

Brandon chuckled. “ Definitely our Cassy.” He guided her with a hand on her lower back through the tight curbside takeout room. “You came in early just to talk to me?”

“Yeah.” Rori shrugged, tucking a rebel wave that had fallen loose of her ponytail behind her ear. “I hadn’t heard from you and, I don’t know, I got worried. I wanted to clear things up.”

“You worry your beautiful head too much.”

That, she certainly did. At least she had one less thing to worry about.

Brandon’s friendship held too dear a spot in her heart to lose, and seeing he was his normal self with her left her shoulders far lighter than they had been driving in.

They worked in tandem to set up for opening, despite another server being scheduled for the open shift with Brandon.

Their banter came naturally, helping her forget the troubles that plagued her.

As the dinner rush started, and Cassy arrived, her contentment stretched.

At least here, while at work, she was safe.

Safe from Rich. Safe from the turmoil Thaddeus brewed.

Safe from herself.

Until heat trickled down her spine and flowed through her muscles as she placed wine glasses on a tray. The glasses clinked when a tremor weakened her arms. Instinctively, she snapped her head toward the front entrance.

The world shook. An explosion of butterflies unleashed within her belly, flying upward to the back of her throat. Heat scorched her face.

“Whoa.” The bartender’s hand steadied her tray, catching a glass before it toppled over. Rori cleared her throat and gave her head a gentle shake, fighting the storm brewing inside herself and finding some semblance of composure. “Ror, you good?”

The smile that formed was shaky at best, but she nodded regardless, fixing her glassware. “Yeah. Got a little woozy. Probably need a water.”

“Go grab a drink. I’ll set your tray up for you.”

“Thanks.”

Rori rushed to the back and grabbed a glass from the rack. Brandon paused on his way out of the wait station, brows furrowed. “ Hermosa , what’s up?”

She waved his concern aside, holding up the half-full glass of water. “Tickle in my throat.” She drank it down. “Probably a spice from the kitchen.”

He leaned out of the wait station, then turned back to her. “That spice has nothing to do with Steve and his brother waiting for a table?”

Damn, she hated lying. “Caught me off guard.”

Realization sparked in his eyes. “Grabbing drinks from the bar? I’ve a few, too. I’ll come with you.”

“Thanks, but I’ve got it.”

Brandon hesitated but finally left, only to be replaced by Cassy. Her friend grabbed her arm and tugged, her face beaming, eyes sparkling, one of the biggest smiles on her face. Her excitement was palpable. If only Rori could feel remotely as excited.

“ He’s the one who swept you away and this is the first time I’m getting a good look at him.

Damn it, girl! I didn’t think anyone could come close to Steve, but Ryan?

” Cassy fanned her face, feigning a heat flash.

“Those two brothers are lethal in looks. And if Ryan is even a fraction as amazing as Steve, you’re one lucky bitch.

I should smack Steve for not warning me about his brother. ”

Wonder what you’d say if you knew Thaddeus tried to kill your boyfriend and knocked you unconscious.

Rori laughed quietly. “I’m trying to deal with Rich.

The last thing I need is another person in my life, so I’m sure Steve came to see his beautiful girlfriend, ’cause he can’t keep his eyes and hands off you, and dragged his brother along.

” She put her glass in a dirty rack and jutted her chin toward the bar. “I’ve drinks waiting for me.”

“Yeah, I highly doubt that.” Cassy gathered glasses and lined them up for her drinks. “Steve doesn’t like coming here unless it’s to pick me up or drop me off. He’s not an attention seeker, and the few times he’s come in, these chicks don’t know how to tone down their wild comments about him.”

The universe must have been eavesdropping, because not a moment later, a small clique of said chicks scrambled into the wait station, giggling as they commented on the brothers. Cassy hissed, spinning on them and wagging a finger at the other three servers.

“Watch it. They’re very taken.” She looked them up and down. “And none of you have a chance in hell to win them over. “

“Fuck, Cassy. We know Steve’s your boyfriend, but that other?—”

“Has his sights set already, so don’t waste your time.”

Rori sidled between Cassy and the group of women, escaping one fire for another.

Dear God, why is this happening to me?

Cael and Brandon laughed over something at the bar as he slowly collected his drinks.

Thaddeus leaned up against the division wall between the bar and the main dining area, arms and ankles crossed, his expression masked until he pinned her with his perceptive gaze.

She slid into the small spot next to Brandon and retrieved her tray, thanking the bartender.

“Hey, Rori. Brandon and I were just talking about checking out that new Latin club on beachside after work. Cassy wanted a redo of last night—” He hitched his thumb toward the stoic Thaddeus.

Only when she helplessly followed Cael’s thumb to the beautiful Faery man, his mask softened and a strange warmth infiltrated his gaze.

Did his shoulders straighten a little more?

His chin dip? Was that a ghost of a grin at the very corners of his mouth?

“—this imbecile included. She thinks he needs a proper introduction to the group since his unannounced arrival.”

She worked up a smile for Cael and shook her head. “I think last night did me in. I have to study for an exam on Monday.” She knocked Brandon in the hip, arching her brows. “You should study, too, so I don’t hear how you could’ve done better.”

“When you tutor me, I do well.” Brandon nudged her arm. “She’s the smartest one in the class. Only way I keep my head above water.”

Cael shot Thaddeus a warning glance before Rori had the opportunity, but she caught a definite stiffening in his body. His eyes cooled. Had Brandon paid attention, she was certain he’d shrink beneath the gaze that burned through her friend’s head.

“You’re lucky she gives you the time of day to help you succeed,” Cael agreed.

Rori rolled her eyes, balanced her tray on her arm, and gave the three men her back. “Some people have to work for a living. Don’t cause trouble.”

She cast Thaddeus a guarded glance before she hurried off.

She turned her tables once, and started to close out the second round without excitement, all but forgetting Thaddeus was watching her from a corner booth in Cassy’s section.

He made sure she didn’t forget him, whether it was the occasional clash of glances, the ebb and flow of heat his very presence caused in her, or the shameless gawks most of the female servers shared between themselves.

Who was she fooling? No degree of conversation with customers could erase him from her mind. He may as well have etched himself into the core of her creation, the bones in her body, for how attuned she was to his observation.

And yet, he still took her by surprise when she finished taking orders from her last table and headed to the wait station, practically body-slamming him when she rounded the wall.

He cast the mural painted on the wall an unimpressed glance, his nostrils flaring as he observed something she couldn’t see that apparently didn’t meet his high standards.

“This…place is…”