Page 5 of Unraveled

“On a scale of one to ten, how badly do you want to take off?” Russ asked after I’d made my choice.

“It’s about an eight point five out of ten, but it’s fine. I’m not leaving. Just wishing I’d brought a date to send the message there’s not a chance in hell of anything happening with Carly again. Ever.” But I hadn’t met a woman since moving back. Even if I had, I wasn’t about to invite her to an event where she’d be meeting close friends. That did not scream casual. And casual is all I had time for these days when I was trying to get my company up and running.

Russ had his phone out and was sending a text to someone. “Carly keeps glancing over here. As soon as you get up, I bet she’s gonna follow you.”

I sighed, ordering another beer from the waiter making his rounds. “I know.” It was as if she was biding her time, watching her prey. The image made me laugh. “Guess I’d best get it over with.” I was already a beer over my max capacity and needed the restroom. No more stalling.

“Do you want me to go with you?” Russ frowned at his own words. “Jesus, I sound like a chick. Forget I said that. I’ll be out here. Give a loud cuckkaw if you get in trouble.”

I chuckled, halfway tempted to go in a pair if it meant I could avoid the ex. Thankfully, I made my way into the men’s room without incident, but on the way out I found Carly waiting in the narrow hallway. Big surprise.

“Hi, Kellan.”

“Carly.” I gave her a nod and tried to walk past her, but she pouted and grabbed my wrist.

“Please. Give me five minutes. It’s been years. Are you really so angry with me you can’t be civil after all this time?”

I pulled my hand away from her touch and met her brown eyes. “I’m being civil, but that doesn’t mean we have anything to say.”

“Jesus. I was twenty-two and stupid. I did say I was sorry.”

My mouth curled up in a smirk. “Actually, you didn’t. I believe your exact words, when I came home from work early to find you riding my roommate on the sofa, were ‘but you don’t pay enough attention to me.’” I hadn’t had the time. Unlike her, I’d had to work my way through school.

She cringed. “Like I said, I was young and stupid. But I am sorry. Truly.”

Not that I trusted her, but the easiest thing was to give her forgiveness and move on. “Fine. Apology accepted. I need to get back before it’s my turn.”

But she wasn’t done. “Wait. Can’t we catch up? I’m staying at a hotel a couple of miles away. Perhaps we could go there and talk after you’re done.”

Her hand reached out, touching my chest and hinting what type of talking she had in mind. I had to admit I was slightly tempted. She’d always been good in bed, and frankly, it had been months since I’d had the time to get laid. But my pride wouldn’t let me go back there. “I don’t—”

She was already shaking her head. “Don’t say no. Especially since we’ll be seeing a lot more of one another in the near future.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. “What do you mean?”

Her expression was knowing. “The house you’re remodeling starting Monday. It belongs to my parents.”

A sick sensation settled in my stomach. Then I realized it couldn’t be. “No, I’m working for a Mr. and Mrs. Williams.” I’d not met the couple yet, but Carly’s last name was Stewart.

“My parents divorced and my mom remarried. She took my stepfather’s last name. I saw the design. The remodel plans are amazing, and I was thrilled to find out you were one of the bids. Of course, with you being new, you weren’t my mother’s first choice, but I persuaded her.”

“What’s your game?” I didn’t want the fate of my biggest job and the reputation that would go with it having anything to do with my cheating, college ex-girlfriend.

She shrugged, looking coy. “Not a game. Simply a welcome back. I could give you a better one if you want to join me tonight.”

My name was being called from the tables to do my pick. The answer was a definitive no to sleeping with her. But she clearly hoped that if I worked on her mother’s home it would further her agenda.

Losing this job would devastate my short-term plan to reinvest the profit into my business. Nevertheless, I made myself clear. “It’s not gonna happen, Carly.”

A smile curved her lips. Confidence shone in her eyes. “We’ll see.”

Returning to the table, I quickly made my pick for the ninth round and sat down to take a long pull of my beer.

Russ sighed. “I should’ve gone with you. Please tell me you’re not taking her up to your room tonight, dude.”

I didn’t want to get into the revelation I was remodeling her mother’s house right now. I was still sick over it. “I’m not going anywhere with her. But she doesn’t like to take no as an answer.”

“Keep drinking like that, and it may not be.”