Fate (Steel Brothers Saga 13)

Anyone’s except mine, that was.

I alone could control Wendy, and I meant to do it now.

“Any questions?”

She nodded.

“Go ahead.”

“What’s in this for me?”

The question I knew was coming, and the question for which there was only one answer.

Wendy needed nothing. She had her own money, thanks to her business acumen and my investments. She had a family who loved her and doted on her, though they seemed ignorant of her troubled ways. Perhaps because she was an only child. They couldn’t see her faults. She had a band of lackeys—Theo, Tom, and Larry—to carry out her business deals and other wishes.

She had no needs. Nothing I could offer her to keep her in line.

Except the one thing she coveted most in the world.

Me.

I was now taken, so I had to find another way.

To do that, I had to drive to the ranch.

Tonight.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Daphne

My first nighter date turned out to be a nice guy named Jason Durham, who was nearly as tall as Brad. He was a football player, very muscular, and pretty good-looking too. Any other time, I’d be thrilled.

But all I could think about was what he wasn’t.

He wasn’t Brad Steel.

He made no secret that he felt he’d hit the jackpot with me. I was flattered, but I didn’t return the compliment. I couldn’t.

Nine o’clock rolled around. Only an hour until Brad.

Still another hour to fill with Jason. Patty was happy with her date, and she came clamoring up to Jason and me. “We’re going for ice cream. You guys want to come?”

“Sounds fun,” Jason said. “You up for it?”

“I…don’t think so.”

“Come on, Daph,” Patty said. “We’re just going over to the Cage on campus.”

“Oh, okay.” That was different. I could get quickly back to the dorm. “Sure. I’m in.”

We walked to the Cage. I didn’t need to talk much, because Patty was always a lively conversationalist, and Jason and Patty’s date, Rex, added to the talking as well. All fine with me.

We arrived and ordered our ice cream. Patty laughed when I ordered vanilla.

“All these flavors, Daph, and you want vanilla?”

“It’s my favorite.” Which it was. I liked chocolate, but vanilla always seemed creamy and perfect to me.

Patty laughed. “You know? It fits you.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know…”

Was she alluding to my virginity? If so, it was none of the guys’ business.

“Don’t tell me,” Rex said. “We actually have a virgin here on campus?”

My cheeks warmed. I could deny it, but Patty would know I was lying. Why should I deny it anyway? It wasn’t anything to be ashamed of.

“Yes,” I said.

“Interesting,” Jason said. “Why are you waiting?”

“I’m not waiting. I just haven’t met anyone yet that I’m willing to do that with.”

He smiled. “Maybe you met someone tonight.”

“I don’t think so.”

“I thought we were getting along really well,” he said.

“Could we please not talk about this here? My virginity is not up for debate.”

“Yeah, of course,” he said. “Sorry.”

“I’m sorry too, Daph,” Patty said.

Yeah, she should be, but I wasn’t going to argue with her in front of two virtual strangers. We’d have words later.

“I’m willing to take that problem off your hands any time,” Jason whispered in my ear.

“Not really in the mood after this conversation,” I said quietly.

He nodded and took a seductive lick of his chocolate peanut butter in a waffle cone. Was that supposed to turn me on?

Because it didn’t. In fact, it kind of made me want to puke.

“There’s a big party at my dorm tonight,” Rex was saying. “What do you say we all go over there after this? The RAs are getting us a keg.”

“Sounds great!” Patty said. “You guys should come too.”

“I’m up for it,” Jason agreed.

I looked at my watch. Nine thirty. “I have plans.”

“At nine thirty?” Jason asked.

“No,” I said. “At ten, actually.”

“For fuck’s sake.” Jason shook his head. “You got a boyfriend or something?”

“Not if she’s a virgin,” Rex said.

I stood. “I think I’m done here.” I threw my uneaten vanilla cone into a nearby wastebasket.

Jason stood reluctantly. “I suppose I should walk you back.”

“Please,” I said, “don’t trouble yourself.”

“It’s dark. I’d hate for something to happen to you.”

Okay, maybe my first impression of him was right. He was a nice guy after all. Why did the subject of my virginity turn a nice guy into a jerk?

“Thank you,” I said. “I appreciate it.”

“Hey, just because I’m not going to get lucky isn’t a reason to let you walk alone and get attacked.”

Right. My second impression was definitely on the money. Still, I’d take the escort back to my dorm. I took self-protection seriously after Mariel’s lecture.

He didn’t try to hold my hand or anything. We just walked back to the dorm pretty much in silence. When we got to the building, my nerves started to jump. What to say now? “Nice knowing you?”

“Nice meeting you, Daphne,” Jason said.