Defiant Heir (The Heirs 3)

I signal a waiter closer as Jase sets Mila down. She punches his shoulder with a mock angry glare while they take their seats.

“The salmon salad and a chicken sandwich,” I give our orders to the waiter. When he glances up from writing the dishes down, I add, “Also, a coke and a sprite, please.”

Jase and Mila add their orders, then Fallon looks at Mila. “Have you decided what to wear to the Christmas ball?”

Mila shakes her head, then Jase says, “I’m going to dress her as a sexy elf.”

“Like hell you are,” Mila grumbles. “It’s not a costume ball.”

“Damn,” Jase sulks, then he glances at his cousin. “Why aren’t we having a costume ball? You just took all the fun out of it.”

Fallon shakes her head. “You got to dress up for Halloween. Don’t mess with my plans for Christmas.”

Jase lets out a chuckle. “I wouldn’t dare. I don’t have a death wish.”

As a server brings our food, we’re joined by Noah, my best friend who’s more like a brother to me. Our fathers are also best friends, and we grew up really close.

“Hey,” Noah mumbles while grabbing a menu, but then he looks at my plate and tells the server, “I’ll have the same as him.”

“How’s your day?” I ask and wait for Noah to take half of my sandwich, knowing I’ll get it back when his meal comes.

“Boring as fuck,” Noah grumbles, then he takes a huge bite.

While I eat, I listen to the conversation around the table.

“Are we going skiing for Christmas break?” Jase asks.

I glance at Fallon, who first swallows the bite she took, then she answers, “Yeah, Kao and I are in.”

The corner of my mouth lifts when Jase’s eyes slant in my direction. Then he asks, “When are the two of you going to come out as a couple?”

Fallon quickly glances at me then looks back at Jase. “That, my cousin, is none of your business.”

Jase lets out a chuckle. “You’re not fooling anyone.”

“You took forever,” Mila chastises Jase. “Leave them be.”

Jase’s gaze turns to Mila, and a loving smile softens his features right before he frames her face with his hands and kisses her.

Fallon finishes her salad just as Noah’s order comes, and it has me saying, “You can have the whole sandwich. We’re going for dinner later.”

“More for me,” Noah grins.

I get up, and as soon as Fallon’s standing, I take hold of her hand.

“Catch you all later,” she says to the group before we leave the restaurant.

On our way to the dorm, we run into Hunter and Jade. They were the first of our friends to couple up. Thank God. The way they were fighting, I was afraid someone might die.

“Did you just have lunch?” Hunter asks.

“Yeah,” Fallon answers. “The others are still eating, though.”

Hunter and Jade continue walking toward the restaurant as Fallon and I head toward our dorm.

Entering our building, I grin down at Fallon. “Anywhere specific you want to go for dinner?”

She thinks about it as we step into the elevator, and when the doors slide shut, she answers, “The Ranch House.”

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I Google their contact number, and stepping out of the elevator, I press dial. I make a reservation for seven as we walk into the suite. Tucking the device back into my pocket, I say, “All done.”

“I’m going to go get ready.”

Frowning, I chuckle. “But it’s only two in the afternoon.”

She gestures with a hand over her body. “All of this takes time, and I want to look pretty tonight. In case you haven’t heard…” She takes a step closer to me until I feel her breath skim over my ear, “the guy I like finally asked me out on a date.”

I let out a burst of laughter and fight not to grab hold of her so I can kiss the ever-loving crap out of her. Fallon’s like fine wine. I want to savor every moment with her.

I relish in the anticipation building between us. Lifting my hand to her face, I brush my thumb slowly over her bottom lip, murmuring, “I can’t wait for tonight.”

Her eyes lock with mine, her expression intense and filled with excitement. “Me too.”

I watch her walk to her room. It’s only a matter of hours before I’ll finally get to kiss her. A real fucking kiss and not the sweet pecks on the cheek and forehead I’ve been giving her. The corners of my mouth lift at the thought.FALLONI’m busy curling the ends of my hair when Hana, my best friend, comes into my room. Jase, Hana, Hunter, and I are more like family than friends. Our families go way back to when our great grandfathers were friends, and I can’t imagine my life without them in it.

Hana’s eyes scan over all the outfits scattered on my bed, then she asks, “Are you going somewhere?”