Young Love Dies Hard: The Young Brothers, Book 1 by Nikki Lane (old books to read txt) 📗

flowed big under the short message she’d printed. Call anytime, it stated, her phone number scrawled next to it. I tossed it in the back seat when the light turned green.

I had a hard time finding a parking spot and decided to let the valet handle it. Why not? It’d been a while since I’d let myself take the easy way.

The valet held out his hand to help me out of the car.

“Thank you,” I said.

His eyes went right for my cleavage.

“Anytime,” he said with a wink.

I gave him an uneasy smile as he handed me the valet slip. Months ago, I’d probably feel flattered by the attention. Maybe even given him my number. But not tonight. Or anytime soon for that matter.

Inside was bustling with people. A mixed crowd of older couples, chatting over tables covered in white linens and glasses of red wine, and younger pairs at the bar, drinking martinis and bottles of beer.

I waited as the group in front of me was seated. I was rushed with a sudden bout of self-consciousness. The last time I was in a place as elegant as this one was in Florida with Jacob’s family. I felt just as out of place now as I did back then.

“Can I help you?” the hostess asked. She stood behind a lectern.

“I’m meeting someone here,” I replied. “But they’re running late.”

“You’re more than welcome to wait at the bar.”

“Okay.” A drink sounded good.

I weaved through the crowd and was a little disappointed when there wasn’t an available seat.

A man on the piano, crooning into a microphone, sat in the corner, against the only brick wall in the room.

I checked my phone to see if Jacob had called, but mostly because I didn’t want to be standing there with nothing to do and nowhere to sit.

Thankfully, the hostess called a couple away from the bar, and I slid into one of the empty seats. I plopped my purse down and ordered a martini.

I was almost ready to completely relax, to let out a deep breath and accept that the day had panned out pretty well despite the trepidation I’d been feeling for the better part of it.

But then I saw his face. It was almost like a Where’s Waldo moment. Rich was at the other end of the bar, casually sipping a drink. Probably whiskey. I looked away before our eyes locked and hoped he hadn’t seen me. And just like that, all hope of total relaxation was sucked out of me.

The bartender set my martini down, and I wasted no time in taking a sip. A long one.

I was afraid to let my gaze wander too far. I didn’t want to catch Rich’s attention. I was slightly relieved when someone sat in the seat next to me, and it wasn’t him.

It was like I had a built-in sonar because I could feel his presence getting heavier.

“Well, look who it is.”

My stomach flopped at the sound of his voice.

I slowly turned to see Rich, hovering behind my seat.

“Nice to see you, Maeve.”

“What are you doing here?” It came out sounding like some kind of accusation.

“Business dinner. Some meeting my father set up with one of his work colleagues about an internship this summer. I was just finishing up my drink and spotted a familiar face.”

I gave him a closed-lip smile, but it had fake written all over it.

“Now that my meetings over, I’d thought I find a way to enjoy the rest of my night.”

“What do you want, Rich?”

He scrunched his face. “Just to say hello. Is that okay?”

Another couple was called to the dining room, freeing up two more bar stools. Rich made himself at home right next to me.

“Can I buy you another drink?”

I opened my mouth to speak, but he didn’t wait for me to answer.

“Another martini,” he said to the bartender. He focused his attention back on me. “So, what are you doing here all alone…and looking so beautiful?”

“I’m meeting someone.”

“Who?”

I didn’t want to go into detail. Telling too much information to Rich could be a dangerous thing.

“A friend.”

“A friend?”

I let out a frustrated sigh. “Yes. A friend. And they’ll be here any minute.” The bartender set the new martini in front of me and confiscated the empty glass.

Rich leaned in close to my ear, and I could smell the alcohol on his breath. “Maybe I could come over later.” His hand found its way onto my thigh.

I recoiled from his touch. “I don’t think so.” I grabbed his hand and removed it from my leg. Where was my hand sanitizer?

“Come on, Maeve. If you keep turning me down, you’re going to give me a complex.”

My gaze floated around the room. This couldn’t be happening. Not here and definitely not now. There was no way Jacob could find us here, sitting together at the bar.

I pulled out some cash from my purse and laid it on the bar for my drinks. “I have to go.”

I slid out of the stool and made my way as far away from the bar as I could. Where was I going? I had no idea. Just as far away from Rich as I could get.

“Where are you going?”

I didn’t want to look back. But I could sense him following me. The walls started to feel like they were closing in. The murmur of chatter rose to a dull roar. I made a break for outside.

“Maeve,” Rich called.

I pushed through the large double doors and the cool air knocked the wind right out of me.

“Maeve, wait.”

“Please,” I said, walking past the valet stand. “Just leave me be.”

He trotted toward me. “I’m sorry, okay? I just…I’m still not sure how to act around you, even after all this time.”

My pace slowed as I neared the end of the building.

“Hey,” he said. “Just hear me out.”

I turned and crossed my arms over my chest.

Rich took a few deliberate steps in my direction. My phone started to ring. I glanced down to see it was Jacob, but I