Rebel (Wolfes of Manhattan 1)

“Oh.” I nodded. Whoever had offed Derek Wolfe had done the world a favor. I honestly hadn’t cared about the trail.

Until now.

We needed to figure out who had killed my father before someone found my secrets and the cops came after me.

And I had the distinct feeling that Roy had secrets of his own.30LaceyMy God, this man was boring. Brent Hedstrom was delicious to look at, and his hands were works of art that could soothe the tension out of anything, but could he talk about anything other than holistic stuff? I was all about massage and yoga and even color therapy. But cupping? Crystals? Psychic healing?

Yeah, drawing the line there. No way would I pay someone to heal me with his thoughts. I didn’t have that kind of spare change lying around.

I glanced over at Rock still sitting at the bar with his brothers. Rock Wolfe would be laughing his ass off at the idea of psychic healing.

And I’d be right there with him.

I held back my belly laugh, though. I was not a rude person. Besides, Brent was buying me dinner.

At least I thought he was, until he ordered a bottle of wine and then instructed the server to issue separate checks.

Seriously? I was a partner in a Manhattan law firm and could certainly afford my own dinner. And yes, I probably made ten times what he did as a massage therapist. But he had invited me.

I’d decided not to drink tonight, but when the server brought the wine and poured me a glass, I took a drink. Hell, I was paying for half of it, might as well get my money’s worth. After one sip, though, I knew I wouldn’t be finishing it. It was a German Riesling and was just too sweet for me. I’d be buying half of his bottle of wine. He’d probably cork it and take it home.

This would so be our only date. To think I’d actually had the idea that I’d sleep with him to get Rock off my mind.

Brent kept talking about Zen and aromatherapy and how he’d backpacked and hitchhiked through the back ass of nowhere for a year. He was a chatterbox, especially for a man. Not that men couldn’t enjoy conversation, but this guy was the conversation.

“When I met my spirit animal, that’s when I really found myself. He’s with me all the time now.”

For real? I nodded.

Again.

“What about you?”

I lifted my brow. Was he actually asking me to speak? I hoped he didn’t think my spirit animal was with me at the moment.

“Never backpacked,” I said. And never would, thanks very much.

“You should try it. It’s such an amazing experience. Pure Zen.”

Good thing I didn’t like the wine he’d chosen, or I’d be getting drunk again tonight. Anything to make his stories more interesting. I’d just had a great massage and a shower and steam. I should be more relaxed than I was.

Probably because my body was hyperaware of the handsome man still sitting at the bar with his equally handsome brothers.

I itched to dump Brent and walk over to Rock. If he sat me down on a bar stool and took me right here in public, I doubted I’d object. I was squirming already just thinking about it.

Which meant I had to get out of here.

“I’m sorry, Brent. I’ve got an early day tomorrow, and I need to go over a lot of depositions tonight.”

“Oh. I’m not quite finished.”

Of course he wasn’t. He’d been talking the entire time I was eating. “I’m sorry. I really do have to go.” I flagged down our server. “Could I get my check, please?”

“No need,” she said. “Both of your tabs have been paid.”

I widened my eyes. “What?”

“Mr. Wolfe over at the bar took care of it.”

“Mine too?” Brent lifted his brow.

“For the table,” she said. “Gave me a very generous tip too. I hope I earned it.”

“Of course. You’ve been great.” I stood. “Goodbye, Brent.”

“Wait,” he said. “Do you know that guy?”

“He’s a friend,” I said.

“We should go thank him.”

“Uh…I’ll thank him. You go ahead and finish your dinner. I’ll be sure to tell him how grateful you are.” And how cheap.

“I thought you had to leave?”

“I do. I’ll just pop over and say thanks first. Thank you for a lovely time, Brent.” I tried not to sound too sarcastic.

I didn’t want to interrupt Rock and his brothers, but I did need to say thank you. And to tell him never to undermine my date again. Not that I’d ever go out with Brent and his spirit animal again. Threesomes weren’t my jam.

The three Wolfes were deep in conversation when I approached.

I touched Rock’s hard shoulder. Tingles shot through me at the contact.

He turned to face me, his emerald eyes burning. “Lacey.”

I cleared my throat. “Thank you. You didn’t need to do that.”