“What are you doing tonight?” Ethan asked Theo.
“I’m working.” Yes! He’d gotten her message.
Theo’s finger traced the condensation trickling down his glass, reminding Chloe about what those fingers had been doing to her last night. She mentally shook herself.Get a grip!
“On a Sunday?” Ethan said, snapping Chloe back to their conversation.
Theo shrugged like it was something everyone did with their Sunday evenings. “Yes.” He didn’t bother to elaborate.
“You work too much. It would be good for you to have a break.” Ethan picked up the wine list.
“What ifIhave plans?” Chloe huffed.
Ethan raised an eyebrow. “Do you?”
She flicked her fingernails. “No.”
“Okay. Have fun,” he said cheerfully as he scanned the wine list.
Turning to face Theo, she said, “You don’t have to do this.” Then she swiveled in her chair and glared at her brother. “What is wrong with you?”
Ethan’s eyes widened faux innocently at her question. “Nothing. You said you wanted to see the sights; I’m helping you out. You don’t mind, do you, Theo? If tonight doesn’t suit, arrange another time.”
Theo’s gaze flicked between Chloe and Ethan. If she could read his mind, she’d bet that taking her sightseeing was the last thing he wanted to do.
After a beat, Theo adjusted his tie and said, “I don’t mind at all. I’ll pick you up at eight thirty and make the reservations. The lights are beautiful at that time.”
If she made a scene and protested too much, Ethan might wonder why she was objecting so fiercely and start asking questions. Questions she didnotwant to answer. She plastered a fake smile on her face. “That would be great. Give me your number, and I’ll text you my address.”
They exchanged details, and then she took a long sip of water. She’d text him later and cancel. It was hard enough sitting next to him. Hours ago, she’d stood naked in front of him. Touched him… done things… No, there’s no chance she’d spend another minute alone with him. Not that she thought he’d make the moves on her. It was because she could barely look him in the eye.
“Oh look, here comes the waiter,” Blake said, breaking through the tense silence. After giving the waiter their orders, Blake turned to Chloe. “I don’t know if you were aware, but when I was younger, I had the biggest crush on you.”
Chloe choked on her water as a new and more awkward, tense silence descended. After clearing her throat, she chuckled. “You did?”
“Yeah, but I was too young and you never noticed me. You were busy following Theo around,” Blake said.
This time it was Theo’s turn to choke on his drink.
“No… I wasn’t…” She didn’t dare look at Theo in case he saw the truth in her eyes.God, kill me now.
“It wasn’t just Theo.” Ethan nudged her shoulder. “Chloe followed all of us around, Aiden included, because she wanted to run back and tell Mum what we were doing. She was such a snitch.”
“I was not snitching.” She nudged Ethan back.
“Oh really? Then whywereyou following us around?” Ethan looked between her and Theo, a twinkle in his eye. “Didyou have a crush on Theo?”
She snorted derisively. “Of course not, he was like a brother to me.”Liar!
Ethan just raised an eyebrow.
“Okay, fine, you were right, I was spying.” That wasn’t a complete lie. She had been spying on Theo for her own enjoyment, not to run to their mother and tell her what they were up to. That had just been a bonus.
Ethan shook his head and pretended to look disgusted while Blake and Logan laughed. Chloe risked glancing at Theo. His eyes narrowed at her like he was trying to figure out the truth. Even the arrival of their food didn’t save her from Theo’s inquisitive gaze. Knowing that she needed to change the subject, she asked Blake about his favorite football team and then sat back to enjoy the chaos she’d caused.
Unfortunately, not everyone was distracted by her ploy. Theo leaned over and whispered in her ear, “You had a crush on me?”
His warm breath washed over her neck, and she shivered with repressed need. “No.”