Chapter 136: BLAKE’S POV

Entering the famed French restaurant on Baker Street, I politely declined the maitre d’s offer of assistance. I knew Lucy and Toby were waiting impatiently. They’d been calling and texting like mad for the past ten minutes. I was late, and I didn’t mean to be. But Ivanna had taken her sweet time getting ready. Ivanna was the Nordic beauty from the plane. The woman had been uncontainable on the way back from Italy. I’d obliged her pouty requests. I fucked her twice, and the invitation for her to join me and my friends for dinner had sprouted out of nowhere.

Are you sure it wasn’t because there was a possibility of her joining us for dinner? Possibly. I just knew I couldn’t go in there defenseless.

The minute I found their table, Lucy’s eyes bugged out. “Lucy, Toby—this is my companion for tonight, Ivanna.” Luce and Toby greeted her politely as we took our seats.

“So, Ivanna, tell me—how did you two meet?” Her bright blue eyes were inquisitive as she took a long sip of her red wine.

“Oh, we met today. I was his stewardess to Italy, and he swept me off my feet. It was love at first sight.” Ivanna flashed her winning white smile at me while I paled at her retort.

Love? What the fuck is this woman on?

Luce choked on her wine and covered her mouth with the silk napkin as she coughed. She took a sip of water and cleared her throat. “Love at first sight, you say? That’s epic. Congratulations, you two! I’m so happy you’ve finally found your one true love, Blake. I knew you’d been scouring the streets of London to no avail, and finally… here you are—at last.” Her voice dripped with her usual sweetness and a trace of sarcasm. She looked furious.

“Lucy!” Toby warned her with a quick glance before returning to Ivanna. “That’s splendid! I’m happy for you both,” he said with his usual charming demeanor.

“Thank you! Isn’t that great, baby? They already like me!” the delusional woman went on. Christ, had I known she was going to rant like a rambling floozy, I wouldn’t have invited her. But now I was stuck with her for the rest of the night while Lucy’s eyes threw daggers at me.

“Let’s order, shall we?” I distracted myself with the menu as they discussed what to order.

When dinner was served, we spoke about Chad and the business world. The whole time, Ivanna was compliant and kept touching my thigh, which never failed to distract me and made me halt a few times mid-sentence. Lucy’s laser eyes saw where her hand kept reaching, and I reddened under her scrutiny.

Thank God she kept her opinions to herself without making snide remarks. Lucy was a sweet girl, but try crossing her and it was game over. Her attention kept diverting back to her phone, and she would smile once in a while while reading the messages.

“Why are you smiling like that? Who are you talking to?” Toby asked her. Her vibrating phone had become a nuisance.

“Oh, I just found out about this new fave band that I love. They’re playing tonight. We’re going there after we’re finished to enjoy live music and company. Do you two lovebirds want to come and join us?” she asked sweetly.

“Sure, count us in.” Ivanna gave me a quick peck on the cheek. “This is going to be a fun night!” she crooned with her thick accent. Christ, could she be any more annoying? I hated being fondled in front of an audience.

“Sounds… lovely,” Luce murmured dryly.

After dinner, I had Richard drive us to our next destination. We slid out of the Bentley, and Ivanna linked her arm with mine as we entered the punk rock-like atmosphere. The band Lucy had been talking about had already started playing. They sounded good, and a large crowd milled around the stage.

We were seated in a booth that gave us a great view of the stage. Toby took the liberty of ordering us alcohol, and I was relieved to get away from Ivanna’s clasping hands. I could easily brush her off, but I didn’t feel like being much of a brute tonight. It had been a long day. The visit in Italy had taken another toll on me. My uncle had had a heart attack. He was stable now but needed to rest. My aunt was barely hanging in there. I was trying to figure out a way to make things easier for them when the lead singer’s voice boomed over the microphone after their song.

“I want to invite a very good friend of ours up here. He helped us out and signed our band. He became a very good friend, and we found out that he can seriously jam. Kyle Matthews, get your bloody arse up here!” The crowd applauded and hooted for the “guest.” The bloody fucker emerged and went up on stage.

I tensed and looked accusingly at Lucy and Toby, who held his hands up. “Had no clue, mate. Don’t look at me.”

“Lighten up, will you? Now hush. I want to hear this one out,” Lucy ordered.

Damn, I should’ve seen this coming when she invited us to go somewhere tonight. Lucy was on Sienna’s side, and it didn’t take much to realize this was Lucy’s way of punishing me for being so crass of late.

“Hello,” the smiling idiot said into the microphone. “This is my first time playing with a large crowd, so I beg you guys to be patient. I’m going to play ‘Somewhere in Between’ by Lifehouse.” Strapping the guitar on his shoulder, he sat down and strummed it a few times before speaking again. “This song’s for Sienna—the love of my life. Remember what you promised.” He winked at someone in the audience, and I examined the crowd looking for her. I found her sitting in another booth across the room, smiling up at him. The room was dark, but I could see her sappy-looking face.

What did she promise him? What the hell!

“Goodness, he’s going to serenade her! Right in front of all these people! How romantic! Sienna’s probably peeing her knickers just about now.” Lucy’s excitement piqued my increasing annoyance at the damning situation.

The fucking wanker was going in for the kill, and she looked like she was eating it all up. I wanted to throw something at him to shut his gob.

He started to play the guitar and sang. His soft, raspy voice lulled the audience to silence.

I can't meet

Losing sleep over this

No, I can't

And now I cannot stop pacing

Give me a few hours

I'll have this all sorted out

If my mind would just stop racing...

“Gosh, did any of you know that he can actually sing? What a lovely voice! Is it just me, or has Kyle gotten edgier? Look at all those tats. It looks incredible,” Luce gushed with amazement.

Who cares? I wanted to yell at her. Ivanna even looked mesmerized by the crooning bloke. Women turned gaga over men singing with their guitars strapped on. The bad-boy appeal, perhaps? Even the sweet, proper Lucy simply looked awestruck. Bloody women.

“Try not to gawk at the poor bloke, love—he might get struck by lightning. I’m sure he doesn’t need any more trouble other than the wrath of Blake. That alone is deadly,” Toby jested. He wasn’t even jealous when his girlfriend admired another man. I wished I’d been that confident when I was with Sienna.

This is over my head

But underneath my feet

'Cause by tomorrow morning, I'll have this thing beat

And everything will be back to the way that it was

I wish that it was just that easy

My eyes landed back on Sienna. I took in her sexy ensemble. She looked provocative and racy in that red-and-black lace corset. God, she looked sultry and utterly fascinating. She could pull off any bloody look. How did she do that? She could look divine and sophisticated in her A-line dresses and pearls, then like a cowgirl next without much ado. Fuck, her breasts looked like they were about to topple over. Did she dress up for him? My thoughts countered. Bloody fuck, I hate her!

'Cause I'm waiting for tonight

Been waiting for tomorrow

I'm somewhere in between

What is real, just a dream

I felt a heavy ache sitting on my chest. I wanted her so badly it hurt to breathe, but hell would freeze over before I succumbed to Sienna again. I wouldn’t let her hurt me that way again.

I felt Ivanna’s hand on my thigh again and smiled. It was a good call to bring her with me, or I would’ve bloody dragged Sienna out of here before she could blink twice. I still had the inkling to do so, but my pride prevented me and rationalized my thinking.

When Kyle finished his song, he said thanks and left the stage. The audience seemed to love him. I watched him like a hawk as he strolled toward her. He picked her up and kissed her quickly on the lips as he twirled her around.

How cozy. It looks like they’re back together, I thought dryly as I took another swig of my drink—Belvedere on the rocks.

Luce and Toby excused themselves and made their way toward the inseparable couple. Ivanna’s hand kept going upward until she reached my crotch and massaged it. “You know you’re a very sexy man, Blake.” I shrugged, smiling at her. “You are. I can’t stop touching you.” She pouted her lips and tried to catch my attention.

I bet my bank account appealed to her more, no doubt. She was dressed in a silver sheath short dress with her platinum-blonde hair and silver-grey eyes that made her look like she’d come right off the fashion runway. She was gorgeous, and she knew how to use that to her advantage. Although she was a tad delusional… I might just keep her around if she could manage not to spout crazy notions about her and me. Or I could just drop her and properly pursue Camilla—if I could get my act together.

Ivanna was actually not bad with sex—nothing astounding, but fairly decent. She was quite responsive and didn’t mind that I called her a different name. I couldn’t help it, you see—it just happened naturally, even if I tried not to. Every single bloody fucking time I was fucking someone, I imagined it was Sienna. Am I going crazy? It was quite bizarre and mystifying to me.

I smirked when I thought of doing the same thing with Camilla—she would be aghast and would never speak to me again. She was such a sweet, proper woman. That was why, if I decided to consider her, I had to be rid of Sienna. Or at least not scream her name while I was buried nine inches deep inside another woman.

All four of them were approaching our booth. I leaned over to Ivanna’s ear and whispered seductively, “Keep doing that… you might just get rewarded tonight. Can’t help it, can you?”

She shook her pretty blonde head. “How? That’s impossible. You gave me two mind-blowing orgasms,” she announced with no filter whatsoever—and right in front of our four approaching guests. Ivanna kept smiling at the newcomers. I heard Toby and Kyle break out in riotous laughter.

Perfect, just in time.

Toby and Luce slid in first. That left room for only one more person. “Come sit on my lap, babe,” the idiot said, sliding next to Toby and pulling Sienna from the waist to position her on his thigh.

Brilliant. Just bloody fucking brilliant!

The lovebirds sat before Ivanna and me. I didn’t even bother introducing Ivanna to them. I was raging with madness right now. I was trying to reason with myself—that I had to get used to seeing her with someone else from now on. But I couldn’t see straight! It was like waving a large crimson-red flag at a raging, wild, and uncontrolled bull. All I saw was that red flag waving, baiting me to take a good hit at Kyle Matthews once again.

Oh, I was sure he loved this awkward, uncomfortable situation. I knew he’d savor this sweet victory of his and rub it in my jealous face. He was doing a splendid job. I was just about to lose it when Toby spoke.

Thank God! At least there was a person here looking out for me before I grabbed Matthews by the throat and throttled him. He was fairly muscled, but I was much bigger and stronger. Thanks to rugby football and boxing. For pastime, I liked to row and sail when I got a chance. The man wouldn’t stand a chance against me.

“Ivanna, this is a good friend of ours, Sienna, and her friend Kyle.” Toby cleared his throat and continued, “Uh, this is Ivanna—Blake’s—uh…” He was at a loss for words, bugger.

“Lover… girlfriend… whatever fits,” Ivanna offered airily. “So, you two are a couple? That was super sweet with you singing to her like that, Kyle.” Her accent was much more pronounced with her rolling of the words.

“Thanks! Yeah—it was actually a surprise. I sang to her a few years back, but I’ve been practicing for quite some time now. I enjoy it a lot. Did you like it, babe?” he addressed his “babe.”

“Um, that was very sweet, Kyle. You did great.” Her murmuring voice made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

Kyle’s only fault was that he loved Sienna to distraction, as did I. If he hadn’t been after her like a rabid dog waiting on the sideline when Sienna and I were together, I could’ve taken a liking to him. He and Toby seemed to get on quite nicely, but I couldn’t bring myself to be civilized enough to make pleasantries when I was incensed with fury toward him and Sienna. I didn’t even bother looking up at them. I couldn’t risk it with my current frame of mind.

Instead, I grabbed my drink and annihilated it.

The leader of the band, who introduced himself as Will, came over to our table and thankfully dragged Kyle back with him to join them for drinks. “You coming with us, foxy?” Will asked Sienna, who gave him a stunning smile. Yep, the lapping bloke didn’t stand a chance when she smiled like that.

“No thanks, I’m staying with my friends for a while. I’ll catch up with you guys later.” He pouted and placed a hand on his heart. “How you keep breaking my heart! Got to dash—but do call me when you’re ready for that date I asked you about! I won’t disappoint. I swear it.” She laughed throatily as he headed back to Kyle and his friends.

“Are you going on a date with him?” Ivanna inquired. Sienna’s smile died as she shook her head. “No, it’s not like that with Will. He’s just horsing around.”

“Because you’re in love with that Kyle over there?” Ivanna’s choice of words made her sound quite foreign. Sienna glanced at Lucy and back to Ivanna. “Kyle and I have been the best of friends since we were kids. Of course I love him.”

“Sienna… I like that name a lot… don’t you think so, baby?” She glanced at me with an accusing glare. Ha! She finally figured out whose name I screamed every time I climaxed.

Ha bloody ha.

I merely shrugged. “Sure, if you think so.” Sienna gave me a small smile. “How was your trip to Italy?” Her eyes were rimmed heavily with kohl-black liner, and it made them stand out… making them absolutely… spellbinding.

I looked at her, dead in the eye. My hate/love/fascinated/violent emotions drilled into her with a glance. She looked perplexed and kept staring at me like she was seeing me for the very first time.

“Fine,” I responded curtly, without much ado. We weren’t friends any longer. No need to chitchat about where and how.

“Uh, that’s good to hear then.” She kept staring at me and bit her lip when I ignored her.

“Don’t mind Blake, love—he’s quite spent from his Energizer Bunny-like lifestyle,” Luce drawled.

“Tell me—did you know that Kyle could actually sing? You never let on.” Blimey, the woman seriously didn’t like me at the moment.

“He used to play for me—it was merely a hobby. What he did tonight was sweet, really,” she said with a smile.

“Mind letting us in on what the ‘promise’ was?” Lucy asked giddily.

I did want to know, and I didn’t. I didn’t know how I’d survive sitting at this very table with Sienna for quite some time without breaking down or doing something drastic.

She looked shy and discomfited for a second. “I um… sort of promised to um, consider him again. Trial period and such—but I haven’t given him an answer yet.” Her words hung in the air as she stared back and forth between Toby and Lucy.

“Are you sure that’s wise, Sienna? Do you remember the basis of the very reason you two broke up in the first place?” Toby asked with all sincerity.

“Don’t make any hasty decisions. But I get where you’re coming from—he is your first love and your best friend. The unbreakable bond between you two is remarkable. Think it through before breaking that barrier again,” Luce chimed in.

We all didn’t want Sienna to be back with Kyle. We all knew and felt this way. But at the end of the day, it was all up to her.

I was elated that she wasn’t back with him but a bit squashed that she was even thinking of getting back with him.

What happened to the “I’m not going back to a cheater” speech she used to say?