Royal Cocktail by J. Kenner

Chapter Four

The Uber droppedher off at the corner of Sixth and Congress, and Skye glanced around downtown Austin as she waited for the light to change. Her condo was only a few blocks away, and for a moment, she considered going straight home. She enjoyed The Fix—it was one of the few places in town where she didn’t feel completely self-conscious—but she really did need to study. She ought to text an apology to Hannah, tell her she’d stayed at school too late, and just go home.

But she didn’t.

She loved her condo, although technically it was her dad’s. An investment property he’d bought over a decade ago. Originally, she’d worked up the courage to share a house with some other students who’d been matched during first year orientation. But when her dad offered to let her have the condo rent-free, she’d jumped at the chance. Not only did her place have a gorgeous view of the river, but she was living alone, which meant she didn’t have to speak in front of strangers.

At the time, relief had flooded through her. Now, she regretted the decision. With her hesitancy to speak much and the long hours of studying, plus the travel back and forth from campus to downtown, she hadn’t made many friends in law school.

If she’d agreed to share the house, maybe by now she’d have a group of friends to study with. Or at least to share a late-night movie marathon. But she’d chickened out, and for the most part, law school was a solo journey for her.

Still, she did have some friends, and one of them was waiting for her at The Fix on Sixth.

The light changed, and she crossed Congress Avenue, heading east toward the bar and away from her condo. She’d just crossed Brazos when her phone pinged. She glanced down and saw that the text was from Hannah.

Matthew surprised me by coming home early. Getting naked and blowing you off. XXOO

Skye shook her head at the irony, then frowned, pausing outside the wooden doors that led into The Fix. She was happy for Hannah, but the idea of going to a bar alone didn’t appeal to her. Sure, she liked the staff, and after coming to The Fix regularly for more than two years, she felt mostly comfortable talking to them. But they’d be working. And Skye was the last person in the world who wanted to strike up a conversation with a stranger.

Still, she’d come all this way…

She reached for the door, hesitated, and changed her mind. A crowded bar on a Friday night where strangers would be mingling and talking? Definitely not the kind of stress she needed going into the weekend. Besides, she really should be thinking about antitrust law.

As she took a step backward, the door opened outward and she stumbled. She registered a blur of motion, then a firm, strong hand closing around hers, pulling her upright and steadying her.

“I am so sorry.” The voice was deep and male, with an accent she couldn’t place. “I wasn’t looking where I—”

He lifted his head, met her eyes, and stopped speaking. The guy from last night.

“You.” Her heart pounded against her ribs, and once again she felt as if she might topple over.

“Funny,” he said in that adorable accent. “I was just going to say that.” He stepped all the way out, the doors closing behind him as they lingered on the sidewalk.

“You were … looking at me.” The words came out slow and thick, her speech more distorted than usual. Which, of course, made her want to go hide under the nearest rock. “Last … night,” she added, feeling like an idiot, and wishing she’d just kept her mouth shut.

“I was looking at you?” The corner of his mouth twitched, and those blue eyes lit with humor. “I believe it was you doing the looking.”

Clearly he’d had no trouble understanding her, and if he found her speech impediment annoying, he hid it well. Skye had to fight a ridiculously stupid grin as she said, “Oh … no. You were the one looking. For sure.”

“Do I seem like the kind of man who would be so impolite as to ogle a beautiful woman?”

“Um, yeah.” She grinned. He matched her smile, and it made him so handsome, her knees went a little weak.

“It’s like you already know me,” he said, and this time she couldn’t stop the laughter.

Banter. She was actually bantering with this guy. How had that happened?

“Why don’t we split the difference and say that we were looking at each other?”

“Yes,” she said, managing to control her giggles. “I can … live with … that.”

He turned toward the door, and she wanted the ground to swallow her up, since he was obviously now making a quick getaway. But then he flashed that smile again. “You were on your way in, weren’t you?”

“I—yes. I mean, no.”

“Well, that’s rather confusing, isn’t it?”

She cleared her throat and concentrated on speaking slowly and breathing properly. Usually she didn’t have to focus so much, but he made her unreasonably nervous. “I was going to meet a friend. But she cancelled on me.”

“So you were going to leave and deny those of us in the bar the pleasure of seeing you?”

“You were leaving, too.”

“Something I never would have contemplated had I known you were about to enter.”

“You’re sweet.” She looked down to hide both her blush and her nerves. “But … I should go. I have … finals coming up, and—”

“What are you studying?”

It was a common enough question, almost the equivalent of “How’s it going.” But he seemed genuinely interested.

“Law.”

“Really? I wouldn’t have taken you for a lawyer last night.” His head tilted slightly as he looked at her, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Actually, maybe I would have.”

“Why?”

“You looked like you were debating. That was one of the things that kept drawing my eyes back to you.”

She’d been with Hannah and her law partner, Easton, both of whom Skye was comfortable speaking around. That, however, did not make for an accurate first impression. “I … don’t usually talk that … much.”

“Really? I’m surprised.”

He spoke with no irony at all, but the words were just too much. The man wasn’t deaf, which meant he had to be pulling her chain, and that pissed her off.

“Surprised? Then … you … are an … idiot.” She turned away and started down the sidewalk. What the hell? It was one thing to ignore her speech. Another altogether to mock it.

She’d only gone five steps when he moved in front of her, blocking her path. “Please forgive me. That came out terribly wrong.”

She considered pushing him aside—after all, she didn’t know this guy and owed him nothing—but she heard real mortification in that polished voice.

She nodded, quick and sharp. “Apology accepted. Please … move.”

“I only meant that you looked as if you were having a real conversation, not just random bar talk. I took you as a woman who goes deeper than small talk. I didn’t mean to mock your speech. Is it dysarthria?”

Her spine went straight. “You know that?”

“My uncle was thrown from a horse when he was fifteen. He was treated, of course, and had regular therapy. And though there was some improvement in the early years, he never regained what most people would call normal speech.” He smiled warmly at her. “He had his own normal, and though we could hear the difference, it bothered no one. The family was very matter-of-fact about his speech, and to be honest no one outside the family would have thought of teasing him or looking down on him because of it.”

“Oh.” Outside group therapy as a child and some volunteer work she did in a nursing home with stroke survivors, she’d never met anyone else with the condition. “What did he do for a living?”

“He was an advisor in, ah, the family business. He spoke quite a bit. Made presentations. That kind of thing. It was both a public and important job.”

“I was five,” she said, the words surprising her. “A car wreck. It … killed my mother.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you. And—well, I’m sorry I … snapped.”

“No, I was insensitive.” He tilted his head in a small nod, the gesture seeming both charming and old-fashioned. “So the man at your table yesterday….”

“Yes?”

“When the woman with you left, you and he seemed more … engaged.”

“Oh, no. I’m not getting … married.”

He chuckled, and her face burned as she realized he didn’t mean that kind of engaged.

Thankfully it was too dark for him to see her cheeks, and she started walking again. Fast.

“No, no,” he said, hurrying to catch up “I meant that the conversation seemed intense.” He paused. “You’re really not seeing him? Or anyone?”

She slowed her pace, shaking her head as she looked sideways at him. “We were making plans. For Hannah’s birthday. Nothing more.”

The corner of his mouth curved up in the most adorable grin. “Well, that’s good information to have, isn’t it?”

“Is it?” Her voice sounded breathy.

“Have you ever heard of quantum entanglement?”

She made a whooshing motion over her head.

He waved the words away. “Sorry. Not important. Let’s just say you caught my eye.”

She wanted to press him to tell her more, but she knew enough to know that he was talking physics. And frankly, a science lecture wasn’t the direction she wanted this conversation to go. Not law, either, for that matter.

Rational thought warred with desire, and she hugged herself, wanting to join him for a drink, but also terrified by the idea. She didn’t date much—hell, she didn’t date at all—and right before finals hardly seemed like the time to start.

She cleared her throat, determined to stay focused. “I should get home.” A group of three drunk guys stumbled by, all ogling her and whistling. Harmless, but annoying. She ignored them, her attention still on her companion. “I’ve got finals soon.”

Disappointment registered on his face, but he only nodded, then extended his hand. “I’ll walk you to your car.”

“My condo’s close. I’m fine.”

His attention cut back toward the three drunken guys, then returned to her. “Then I’ll walk you to your door.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“No, but I know how daunting it can be to feel like you’re being watched. Like you can’t go from one place to another safely. Please, let me escort you.”

She realized he spoke with an exactness to his words. His voice polished and careful. “Why do you know that?” she asked as they walked slowly down the street.

“Let’s just say I’ve had an interesting life.”

“You’re too young to have completely had a life yet.”

“I’m twenty-six. So let’s say that I’ve had an interesting life so far.”

She nodded slowly. “Are your parents celebrities?”

“Something like that.”

“That must be hard,” she said. “Being in the spotlight. They chose it, but you didn’t. But ultimately, you’ll … have your own life.”

“Perhaps. Perhaps not. I come from a very traditional family,” he said, “but I also know that we’re very old school. And definitely an anomaly compared to most of the population.”

She was about to ask what he meant when he continued.

“And you? Were you born into a family of lawyers? Or have you chosen this path?”

“Both. My great-grandfather founded a firm. I’ll join, but only if my grades … are up to the firm’s standards. And only … after I clerk for a judge.”

“You’re not willing to just skate because you’re family.”

He said it with approval, and she stood a little taller, amazed that he recognized that in her. And liked it.

“What if you didn’t want to be a lawyer?” he asked as they approached the cross street. “What if you truly didn’t want to, but you absolutely had to?”

The question was so surprising that she actually stumbled to a stop, then looked him up and down. She had no idea why he was asking it. He might simply be making conversation, but somehow she doubted it.

She licked her lips, not sure what the best answer would be, so she said the only true thing that came to mind. “My family wouldn’t do that to me.” But even as she said the words, she wondered if they were true. Her father had aspirations for her, after all.

“Pretend.”

She frowned but tried to really think about the question. “I … I don’t know. I wouldn’t want to let them down, but…”

She trailed off with a shrug, and he nodded.

“Exactly,” he said. “But.”

For a moment, they stood in silence, then his lips curved in a slow smile. “Will you do me a favor?”

She swallowed, feeling a little excited, a little nervous. She had the strange realization that she’d been flirting, something that had never come naturally to her, but it felt good with this guy. Easy. “I don’t know. What’s the favor?”

“Will you turn around and let me buy you a drink?”

She thought of finals coming up. About how she’d been almost relieved that Hannah had bailed on her, because she needed to go lock herself in her apartment, curl up in bed with a mug of coffee and her antitrust book and learn everything she could.

She had things to do, law to learn, concepts to evaluate and turn over in her head until they made sense and felt like a part of her. It was important stuff. Important to her grade and the career she so desperately craved.

But she knew other things were important too, and for some inexplicable reason, she thought that this guy might be one of those things. “I’m Skye,” she said.

“Leo. And is that a yes?”

She nodded, and when he took her hand, it felt like the start of something wonderful.