Page 61 of Unbearable

“Of course and thank you,” she said, holding her glass up. He clinked his to hers. If she had to guess, she would say he was a whiskey drinker. Typical. She actually preferred the beer drinkers. They were more fun. “How’s your night going?”

“Much better now.” He smiled, and she saw the perfect white teeth. They must have cost a fortune. She decided to test his vanity.

“You have a beautiful smile,” she purred.

“It takes one to know one. I’m Peter. My friends call me Pete,” he said, holding his hand out. She took it in hers with a coy smile.

“Cat,” she answered.

“Hello, Cat. Can I refresh your drink?” he asked, nodding at her almost empty glass.

She nodded, and he motioned for the bartender to refill both drinks. She knew she had to nurse the next one until this was over. A few more whiskeys, and he would be good to stagger out the back door.

The drinks arrived, and he insisted on clinking them together again. She would roll her eyes, but that wouldn’t send the right vibe by any means.

“So what do you do when you’re not doting on a lonely barfly?” she asked. He laughed a little too loudly at her joke. Good, he was already tipsy.

“I’m a history professor at Cambridge. I know, you’re wondering how I got that job so young. It was nepotism. My mother is the head of the Philosophy Department. I was raised by my dad over here, though. Hence the American accent. I’m here for a visit and some research on a book about the revolution. It’s quite interesting really. You see?—”

Brooke listened to him drone on about his research. She had become very good at acting interested while completely tuning out. Did she have a tell like Fox? Nothing as dramatic as his nose spewing of course. But could Pete see that she wasn’t listening at all? Apparently not, or he wouldn’t still be talking.

The bartender replaced Pete’s drink without him noticing. He was now at least three whiskeys in and ready to start on the fourth. The man could hold his alcohol. She had to give him that.

“How long are you in town for?” she asked, cutting in to his rhetoric. He took a moment to drink more from his glass.

“Another week here, then I’ll head west to visit my dad. He’s firmly ensconced in the Berkshires.” His voice was starting to slur, a very good sign. “I think I’ve finally discovered my favorite place to hang out too.” He grinned at her. She winked back.

“I’ve never been there. Lived in Boston my whole life and have never ventured outside the city,” she admitted.

“You should go. Better yet, you should go with me. I can show you all the finer points of the countryside. There’s plenty of room too. Dad has loads of extra bedrooms.”

For a moment, his enthusiasm was infectious. She wondered what life could be like if she just left with this man. Would living in England be better than this?

Then she came to her senses. Based on what she had heard, he would bore her to death quickly.

Edmund was more her cup of tea. She almost laughed at her own pun but schooled it at the last moment. Besides, Edmund would be waiting for her out back by now. She could never leave him. These men were too shallow to hold her interest. They were just like Fox, always trying to make her into a fantasy. Only Edmund saw the real her, the demon that lay underneath her skin. He was her soulmate.

“Maybe. How about we see how tonight goes first?”

“I think it’s going amazingly so far.” He finished his drink and set it back on the bar. No slamming down the glass for the college professor. There’s absolutely nothing rowdy about the man. He was almost too easy.

“I feel the same way. Tell me more about your book research.” She listened to him drone on again. More importantly, his talking made him thirsty.

“You know what,” he said, suddenly stopping his lecture on American history. “I need to make a quick trip to the gentleman’s room.” He stood from his chair on wobbly legs. “If you’ll excuse me for a moment. Don’t go anywhere.”

She watched as he slowly wove through the crowd on the way to the back hallway. Taking one last sip of her watered-down drink, she followed him.

When he emerged from the bathroom, she was waiting for him. She leaned against the opposite wall with her clothes adjusted to present the best view.

“Here you are,” he said. “Did you need to go also?”

She managed again not to roll her eyes. Fisting the front of his dress shirt, she pulled him against her. His first reaction when their lips met was surprise, but he quickly changed it to excitement when she slipped her tongue into his mouth. Then he was grinding against her when she grabbed his ass.

“Not here,” she gasped. “Come on.” Taking his hand, she pulled him through the back door into the alley.

He didn’t notice the car sitting not more than two hundred feet down the alley. His only concern seemed to be how fast he could get his hand under her shirt. He barely let out a grunt when the needle plunged into his neck.

“About time,” Edmund sneered as he dragged Pete’s body to the car. “Do you have any idea how hot it still is out here? Even at this time of night, I’ve sweated through my clothes. It’s disgusting.”