Sasha: Chapter 22

I watched Killian light a cigarette, the angry red glow staring at me.

Initially, I thought it was a good idea to take some time and have dinner on our own. So we could get to know each other. Now I wasn’t so sure.

We’ve texted back and forth over the last month or so. That was easier than this. Awkward silence was non-existent via text. In person, not so much.

“So what does a social blogger do?” Killian asked casually.

“What does an Irish mobster do?” I retorted back and his lips tugged up. He wouldn’t answer, I knew he wouldn’t, but I couldn’t resist.

Killian Brennan was a man of few words. I liked him; I really did. But I couldn’t help but notice how he watched me like I was a damsel in distress. Unlike another set of pale blue eyes that watched me… well, differently.

“Have you decided on the wedding date?” Killian questioned instead. Truthfully, I hadn’t even thought about it. I’d been dragging my feet on the whole charade.

At least he was likable. Everything about him screamed wealth and his sex appeal was so potent I could taste it. So could every single woman in this restaurant because they all stared at him.

He was handsome, but very different from Sasha. Killian was younger but no less lethal. Thick, dark, wavy hair. Cheekbones that could chisel stone. His dark blue eyes whispered about darkness and sins that most of the men in the underworld possessed.

“I don’t want a winter wedding,” I answered instead.

He nodded. “Summer then?”

“Sure.” I smoothed my hand over the tablecloth to hide how much the idea of marrying him rattled me. “You don’t strike me as a smoker,” I remarked for no apparent reason. I didn’t want another stretch of silence to grow too heavy.

His blue eyes met mine. Against his dark hair, they were striking. The wrong shade of blue, but no less devastating than the other set. It seemed the color blue would forever be compared to the pale blue eyes of a certain psychotic mobster.

He blew out a breath of smoke.

“Does it bother you?” He put his cigarette out before I could reply.

“My brother smokes sometimes.” This was so stupid. No man rattled me like Sasha Nikolaev. Killian wasn’t making me nervous, yet I couldn’t slow down my heartbeat. “It doesn’t bother me.”

He nodded, but he didn’t light up another cigarette. Truthfully, I didn’t particularly like the smell of smoke. I understood why Alessio smoked. He only did it when he was worried about something. Usually me. And now Autumn.

I cleared my throat, searching desperately for another topic. “Do you smoke a lot?”

Before I agreed to marry him, I researched Killian. His smoking habit didn’t come up. Not that it was a deal breaker.

“Not really.”

I sighed and picked up my fork, then resumed pushing food around my plate. I wasn’t hungry, but at least it was doing something rather than sitting here in silence.

“My cousin is going through some shit.” His words had me searching out his eyes. “It’s worrying me.”

“Ah.” So he was very much like Alessio. “Anything I can help with?” I offered.

He shook his head. “No. She just has to get through the Olympics and she’ll be fine.”

My eyebrows shot up. “Wow, Olympics?”

“Yeah. Figure skating.” His eyes found mine. His face was relaxed with an indecipherable expression etched on his perfect features. Suddenly, I got the sense that Killian was a man of many secrets. “Wynter Flemming is my cousin.”

My spine stiffened, but I kept my expression blank. Wynter Flemming was Killian’s cousin? What. The. Fuck!

The background check I got on Killian was apparently shit. An audio played in my mind. Be the bigger person. She doesn’t matter. But my blood boiled and I wanted to shout out, “Fuck bigger person. Give me your cousin’s number. I’m gonna go kill her.” Man, that would go over well.

“Oh.” Then realizing I sounded more disappointed than excited, I added, “Wow.”

He chuckled. “You don’t sound impressed.”

I forced a smile to my face, although I had to wonder if it didn’t come out more sour than anything.

“I’m not much into sports,” I admitted. It was a true statement, although it wasn’t exactly the reason for my sour expression.

“That’s okay.” He straightened his suit sleeve with an indecipherable expression on his face. “I’m definitely not into figure skating.”

“Are you two close?” I asked. “Or is she closer with your sister?”

The corner of Killian’s mouth tugged up. “Yes, with both Wynter and my sister, Juliette.” If his expression was anything to go by, he was very close to them. “They are trouble, both of them,” he added.

This time I smiled too. “Alessio often called Autumn and me troublemakers.”

“Did you rob your enemies?” he asked. I shook my head. “Well, those two did.”

Oh, okay. Autumn and I needed to up our game.

“Maybe you should increase their allowance,” I suggested jokingly.

“To half a million a month?” When my eyes widened, he explained, “They robbed three places in about a month.”

My phone beeped and I retrieved it from my purse. It was a message from Autumn. I slid it open and read the message.

*Sasha just stormed out.*

“Everything okay?” Killian asked.

I met his blue piercing gaze. “Yes, just a message from Autumn asking if we are still coming.” I smiled, hoping to hide my lie behind the smile. “She’s eager to meet you.”

A half-smile touched Killian’s mouth. If he was handsome when he was serious, he was downright gorgeous when he smiled.

He stood up and extended his hand.

“What are we waiting for then?”