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“Yeah, about that—in terms of our bet?—”
“You’re really worried about our bet right now?”
Quill puffed out a relieved breath. “Whew, I thought for sure you’d hold me to it. Until I ‘get married’ has been causing me acid reflux. I haven’t slept a solid night since?—”
“Oh, you bet your untrusting, judgmental behind that I’m going to hold you to it.” Genevieve giggled softly. “I said right now because I’m lying in a hospital bed trying to keep my eyes open.” Drowsily, she slurred out, “These meds are messing with me.”
“Oh, come on, Genevieve, please,” Quill pleaded to her utter amusement. He was a piece of work, and she’d have to work really hard to find him ‘the one.’ A woman who could hold her own, that was for sure. “My intentions have been good this whole damn time,” he continued in a persuasive tone. “I was trying to protect my best bro—the same man you were trying to protect, mind you—from being taken advantage of and suffering a massive heartbreak. Now that I understand you a little better, I’m sure you would have done the same.”
“Sorry, a bet is a bet,” she mumbled, trying not to drift off. “You didn’t have to rise to the challenge, but you did. I might have let you off the hook if I didn’t think it would be good for you, but I think it will be.”
Quill balked. “Good for me?”
“Yes, clearly you have trust issues. You need a nudge to start dating, and I mean dating, not just flirting and having a fun time for a few dates before you end it.”
“Who said I was just flirting and having a fun time for a few dates before…” Quill’s eyes landed on Brendan’s guilty grin. “Bro!”
“Sorry.” Brendan crinkled his features, looking oh-so-adorable at feeling guilty for spilling info to her. Their dynamic was going to be a riot. “It might have come up on one of the days when Gen and I were lounging by the pool at The Golden Star.”
Quill crossed his arms. “Oh, it might have, huh?” He snorted. “Well, the bet was that Genevieve could set me up on endless blind dates, not that I had to ask any of them out on another one.”
Genevieve’s eyes popped open. “Who said that I couldn’t set you up with the same woman twice?”
“Blind date implies that I’ve never met them. Your words when you made the bet, not mine.”
She nibbled on her lip. “Hmm…you’ve got me there. Oh well, one of them is bound to pique your interest.”
“How’s that different than if I pick my own dates?”
“The type of woman. There’s no way you’re going for complicated when you?—”
“Why on earth would I want complicated?” Quill ground out, tossing up his hands.
“Because complicated is worth it.” Genevieve flashed a radiant smile at Brendan. “I love you.”
“I love you too. More than you know.”
Quill cleared his throat. “Okay, I’m outta here. This has gotten too sappy for me.”
“Bye, Quill,” Genevieve said, beaming an ornery grin at him. “Expect a text from me soon about your first blind date.”
“Ugh, I can’t freaking believe I was stupid enough to…” Quill grumbled on his way out.
A faint smile curled Brendan’s mouth. “Well, you’ve got him all worked up.”
“Sure do.” Genevieve sighed contentedly, feeling happier than she had in years. “And I haven’t even gotten started yet.”
“I know he needs someone assertive, but go for someone who’s patient too. I expect he isn’t going to open up easily. I don’t even know the half of his past. Heck, he continued to call me Mr. King or bro all the way up until my life was in danger.”
“He avoided intimacy even with friends. Almost as complicated as you.”
Brendan blinked and reared his head back. “Me?”
“Please.” Genevieve rolled her eyes. “You’ve only opened up to one woman in your entire life.”
Brendan flashed her his cocky grin. “What can I say? Only one woman in the world does it for me.” He bent down and pecked a gentle kiss on her lips. “You’re my whole world, Gen.”
“And you’re mine, Mr. King.”
