Stupid Boy Read online

  “Who’s that with Brax?” I asked cautiously, studying the two with a close eye. “It looks like they’re arguing.”

  Olivia continued to watch the exchange. Then she sighed and looked at me. “They are. Well.” She laughed lightly. “Brax is. Sort of. It’s his older brother, Kane McCarthy. From Boston. They’ve been brothers since they were kids. Grew up in the same foster home for a while and have been joined to the hip ever since. Kane…kind of surprised Brax yesterday. He sort of just showed up at the observatory where Brax was helping me clean the scopes.” She glanced at me and gave a wan smile. “A love-hate thing, I guess.”

  Kane McCarthy. Ever since our brief encounter the day before, my thoughts kept drifting back to him. Something about his dark stare and confident posture burrowed into my subconscious. More than once during classes, I’d thought about him. His smooth voice, his quiet stare. That easy smile. And I’d been the one to send him to the observatory. I watched Brax throw his hands up, run them over his head, then push them onto his hips again. He took a few steps, then turned back to his brother. Meanwhile, Kane simply stood. Staring at Brax. Calm. “Why is that?” I asked.

  “Well,” Olivia explained. “Brax is still on probation with the baseball team from all that trouble last year. He can’t afford any more. At all.”

  My spine stiffened. “Is that what Kane is? Trouble?”

  Olivia looked at me, and her wide eyes softened. “I hope not, but it’s kind of looking that way.” She sighed. “This is the first time I’ve met Kane in person, but Brax has talked about him a lot to me. Brax loves him like crazy, but…” Olivia smiled. “They both grew up in a hard, unimaginable life on the street. Brax escaped. Kane unfortunately didn’t.” Her gaze moved back to the brothers. “Kane has been in trouble before. Running numbers.” She looked at me. “Brax says that’s what he’s probably here to do. Football season, you know.”

  “Is he going to start school here?” I asked, alarmed. “Or just numbers?” My gaze returned to Kane and Brax.

  “I honestly don’t know,” Olivia answered. “He’ll be staying with Brax for a while, anyway. Brax will try and talk some sense into him. And you’re aware of Brax’s method of talking sense into someone.”

  My gaze moved to Olivia. “Is Kane dangerous?” I looked at him again. Still standing quiet while Brax moved around, throwing his hands in the air, shaking his head. The whole while, Kane just watched his brother.

  “I’m positive Kane himself isn’t dangerous,” Olivia answered. “Don’t get me wrong—he’s been in his share of fights, so Brax tells me, and can hold his own. But I’m afraid of the numbers. That’s not only illegal. It’s dangerous business. And he was asking Brax about Kappa House.”

  The Kappa House? I continued to watch the brothers for a moment, lost in thought. Until an idea formed.

  What if I could reform Kane? Although his demeanor wasn’t that of a bad boy—at least, not like Brax, anyway—if he was a street-wise, number-running guy, he was bad in my book. I could steal him away from the Kappas and they’d suffer a loss. Which was pretty much the idea of the Deltas’ private Dare.

  Should I? Or…could I? Did I even have that kind of nerve? My eyes found Brax’s brother once more.

  I’d most definitely have to give it some serious thought.

  I was surprised to find I had a hard time looking away from Kane McCarthy, and was even more surprised by how the idea intrigued me. The idea of Kane as my Dare. I’d continue to search, though. Just in case a better prospect emerged. With a deep breath, I turned. “So, Olivia,” I said brightly. “Have you thought any more about joining the Deltas?”

  She shook her head. “Thanks, Harper. I know you guys are great but you know how I feel about that.”

  I nodded. “I understand. But, I had to ask. You’d be a phenomenal addition, if you ever change your mind.”

  “Change your mind about what?”

  My eyes darted to Brax, who’d jogged up to us. He wore a Silverbacks baseball cap, bill facing the back, and a Silverbacks tee shirt. The long-sleeved button down he wore over it hung open. When I glanced over my shoulder I saw his brother leaning against the live oak tree in the quad where they’d been arguing. His arms crossed over his chest, eyes were on us. Watching. Kane McCarthy. I felt as though he were looking directly at me. Inside of me.

  “Harper here is still trying to recruit me into their sorority,” Olivia stated.

  I turned and Brax’s startling blue eyes and scarred face studied mine as he draped his arm over Olivia’s shoulders. He pulled her close, kissed her on the temple, then grinned. “Yeah, good luck with that, sweetheart. Gracie here ain’t into clubs of any sort. Unless it’s the Brax club.” He chuckled, and his strong Boston accent paired with a penetrating gaze as he studied me a little longer, an unsettling sort of inspection that almost had me fidgeting where I stood. I struggled not to glance away. Sometimes, he looked at me as if he knew. Knew my secrets, just like Murphy seemed to. Brax’s mouth pulled up in one corner, and it was a soft, friendly sort of movement that eased his harsh features. “Nice suit.”

  I glanced down at my wardrobe, then back up. Corinne Belle always insisted that in order to be successful one had to dress successful, at all times. No jeans. No tee shirts. No sweatpants. Only the finest would do. My wardrobe was chosen and tailored for me each semester by Corinne.

  She’d insisted.

  And so I did just that. But I couldn’t tell if it was sarcasm or a compliment. Knowing Brax it probably was a little of both, but I took it as a compliment. “Thanks, Brax.”

  He gave a slight nod, then looked at Olivia. “You go ahead,” he said, then kissed her on the nose. “I’m going to”—his eyes flashed quickly to me, then back to Olivia’s—“get my brother out of here for a while. Come over later?”

  “Of course,” Olivia answered softly.

  Suddenly, I felt like an intruder. I could feel the tension rolling off of Brax in waves. Was he that angry with Kane? I’d seen Brax Jenkins angry before. It wasn’t a pretty sight. My eyes flicked to the slim black leather watch strapped to my wrist. “I…have to go,” I said hurriedly, and smiled at Olivia. “Oh—did you sign up for the Turkey Run on Saturday?”

  Olivia grinned. “We both did.”

  I nodded. “Super, thanks. See you guys there.”

  “Oh, Harper,” Olivia said. I looked at her, and she smiled. “I’ve been meaning to ask. Do you have plans for Thanksgiving? You’re welcome to come home with us. We always have a load of food.”

  My insides froze, and I pasted a smile as panic seized me. “Oh, thank you, Olivia, but…I’m going home.” I gave a laugh that came out a lot meeker than I’d planned. And so did the lie. “It’s a huge Belle ordeal. Very Norman Rockwell. You know what I mean. But thank you.”

  Olivia nodded, and her eyes softened. “If anything changes, the offer is there, Harper.”

  Brax kissed Olivia’s temple and wiggled his brows. “She makes pies.”

  This time, my smile came easy. His love for her came off him in waves. “Thanks, Olivia. Brax.”

  I hurried off toward the library, and at the steps I paused and looked over my shoulder. The pair moved up the walkway, Brax’s arm protectively around Olivia, his head bent close to her ear, then they stopped at the walkway leading to the Science complex and he pulled her close, pressed his mouth to hers and kissed her long. Olivia’s head lifted, smiling up at Brax, and he turned and jogged away.

  I couldn’t imagine what Thanksgiving would be in Olivia’s world. I knew she had a big family, and I envisioned it to be something similar to one of the Holiday Hallmark movies Murphy frequently watched on her laptop. I swallowed my sigh, pushing Thanksgiving and holidays and turkey and big families out of mind and turned, my gaze seeking Brax’s brother.

  His stare seemed dead on me. I couldn’t move; couldn’t look away. Finally, Brax reached him, and the pair turned and sauntered off.

  Kane McCarthy. Mysteriously quiet and attractive. Str
eet kid. Foster kid. From Boston. And he was here to run bets during football season. Not much to know about a person, and what there was to know was pretty shady and a little frightening. But by the time my last class finished for the day, he’d entered my mind at least a dozen or more times. Slightly frustrating when trying to concentrate on the notes Professor Sizemore was giving on the Ming Dynasty. That quiet, slightly accented voice and those dark smoky eyes kept interrupting my thoughts. Disruptive, to say the very least. Then there was that crooked smile—

  “Hey, Harper,” a familiar voice sounded behind me. I’d just escaped class and was headed to a meeting for the annual Greek bake sales when Murphy caught up to me. She eased into my pace as I hurried along. “Fancy a little curry for dinner?” she asked in her heavy English accent. “I heard of a new place that just opened in Covington.” She elbowed me as I gave her a side glance. “The absolute dog’s bollocks, I’m told. I’ll drive.”

  I smiled and shook my head as we weaved through the student body of Winston. I’d learned most of her witty British slang, so I knew dog’s bollocks was a good thing, despite the crude sound of it. “Your driving terrifies me.”

  “Ha! I’ll have you know I’ve pinched only two violations since arriving here, Ms. Belle. My driving skill is nothing short of legendary.”

  I laughed. “Right, right. I can’t, though.” I looked at her. “I have a meeting.”

  “After the meeting, goose,” Murphy coaxed, and we both stopped. She looked at me. “You’ve got to eat, Harper.”

  I pondered Murphy’s invitation. I’d turned down her invites at least three times in the past week. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to go for just a little while.

  “Harper?” She snapped her fingers in front of my eyes. “Hello in there? Curry? You know—smelly but delish?”

  I smiled. “Okay, okay. After my meeting. Smelly curry.”

  Murphy’s smile was wide and epic. “Brill! Well, chivvy along, love. Finish thy meeting, post-haste, and I’ll pick you up at the house at...?”

  “Six,” I answered.

  “See ya then!” Murphy grinned.

  With a wave, I hurried to the meeting—for the bake sale—and again, I found myself having a difficult time concentrating on my tasks. Maybe it was because the information was nothing new to me; the bake sale was a standard Greek fundraiser and I’d done several already. It was to help fund the holiday Dash-n-Date, a conglomeration of the sororities. All—well, most anyway—were taking part in it. It was a formal event and each participating sorority house would host one course in a five-course meal. And, a date would accompany them. Gown and tux. It was quite the event. Over the last three years every sorority participated.

  Maybe I couldn’t concentrate because for some strange reason, Kane McCarthy wouldn’t leave my thoughts. Ridiculous, really. I’d only seen him once. Well, twice if you counted the interaction with Brax. Still, he wouldn’t leave me…

  Meanwhile, I’d keep my eyes peeled for a true blue bad boy to reform.

  Murphy was waiting for me at the house when I pulled up. Black leggings, a big slouchy ivory-colored sweater and brown boots completed her casual, easy look. I smoothed my suit jacket and closed my car door.

  “Chivvy along, chivvy along,” she coaxed, and then jumped behind the wheel of her white Land Rover. I shook my head, crossed the lot and climbed into the passenger side. The sun had dropped behind the horizon and darkness settled over campus as we maneuvered through the tree-lined streets and out of the main gate. I surprised myself, though, as my eyes searched every group, every solitary person walking along. Looking, I suppose, for him. Kane McCarthy. And I wasn’t even sure why.

  Murphy filled our drive time by popping in her favorite CD mix, starting with one of her favorite British bands, The Proclaimers. It started with her number one favorite song of all time, I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles). She played it every single time she got into her vehicle. Every time. To be honest, I’d come to love the song almost as much as she did. We sang along until the song ended, then she restarted it. I smiled and shook my head.

  The words burrowed into my thoughts. Imagine a man who would indeed do what the lyrics stated and walk a thousand miles to fall down at the door of the one he loved? Whether it was a father walking that many miles to his child, or a man to the woman he loved. Either was beyond rational thought, to me. A dream almost. Fantasy.

  Karma was a small restaurant set in a copse of trees off the highway, just inside the Covington city limits. The building looked like quite a lot of the ones in rural Texas: rugged. Once a BBQ joint, Karma, now an Indian restaurant, had retained the rugged look. Wood sided with a new sign over the entrance, painted in tall red letters: KARMA. Murphy found a parking spot near the back and stopped the Rover. She grinned. “I bloody well love that song.”

  I shook my head and fought a smile. “Yes. I know.”

  “Well, come on then,” she said and leapt from the truck. “I’m famished.”

  I followed Murphy to the entrance and we stepped inside. Busy for a Thursday, we were finally seated near the back at a small table at the window. I glanced out as I sat, into the darkened woods behind the restaurant.

  “Warning: I’m so bloody hungry I’m barking,” Murphy said, studying her menu. “Oh! I’m having vindaloo.” She winked and pointed at the menu. “It says right here that it’s enjoyed by pyromaniacs. I’ll be breathing fire for a fortnight. What about you?”

  I scanned the menu. “Gobi saag.” It’d be less than five dollars with my student card.

  Murphy blinked. “That’s it? A bit of spicy veggies?” She looked at me, her eyes soft. “One day I’m going to get you to my mum’s for some pot roast and Yorkshire puddings.” She grinned. “You’d eat yourself sick.” She closed her eyes. “Oh God, I want that now.”

  I laughed softly. “It sounds wonderful. I’ll take you up on that sometime.”

  We ordered and, as we waited for our food, Murphy leaned close. “I know I just asked you yesterday, but any prospects?”

  I nodded. “Sort of.”

  Murphy let out a squeak. “Oh! Do tell!”

  “Well,” I started. I didn’t want to tell her everything Olivia had told me about Kane, so I left out the details regarding the numbers. “Brax Jenkins has a brother in town. From Boston. A foster brother. I think he’s here to do business with the Kappas.”

  Murphy’s eyes widened. “What sort of business? Dodgy?”

  I shrugged. “I’m not sure, but I think, yes.”

  Murphy stifled a squeal. “Tell me everything. Manky, and non-manky. Because this,” she wiggled her brows, “is juicy. And you know how I fancy juicy.”

  “Yes, yes,” I said with a grin. “We all know.” I sighed. “I overheard Brax telling Olivia about it.” My brows knitted. “Brax wasn’t happy. Not at all.”

  “I bet not. He’d get in a tub of trouble.” She eyed me, and her hazel orbs almost sparkled. “You could, too, you know.”

  I lifted my chin. “I won’t. And neither will Brax. Or Kane for that matter.”

  She rubbed her chin. “Tell me how you met him.”

  Suddenly, it was there. The cramped, trapped feeling I got when people asked too many questions. Forcing me to tell too many lies. I willed the sensation to go away. “First, he just randomly asked me for directions to the observatory. Then he saw me talking to Brax and Olivia.” I shrugged. “I…noticed him watching me for a while before he and Brax walked off.”

  “That is uncanny, love.” She lifted one chestnut brow. “Perhaps a bit stalkerish and you’re most definitely off your trolley.” Her eyes widened. “It’s perfect. He’s perfect, Harper.” She grinned. “You must choose him.”

  I leaned forward. “I don’t want to get into trouble over this, Murphy. I…can’t.” My grandmother’s stern face flashed before me. Cowered me. Made me remember.

  “Well,” Murphy continued. “If he’s up to no good and having shady who-knows-what sort of dealings with the Kappas, then I say take
him on.” She grinned. “You can do it, Harper old girl.” Her Cheshire cat smile returned. “Reform the barmy beast.” She leaned back and met my eye. “But I probably wouldn’t let on to Olivia. You know? Being that he’s Brax’s brother and such. She might not be too keen on the idea.”

  “Right,” I agreed.

  And immediately, that thought sat ill with me. Olivia had been Brax’s Dare; neither would like it. But I stashed it away, just like I skillfully stashed so many other things away. Out of sight. Back into a corner of my mind even I had a difficult time locating. For no one else to see.

  * * *

  It wasn’t until the next afternoon that I encountered Kane McCarthy again. Completely unintentional, he seemed to suddenly just be…there. In my path as I made my way to the library. He was talking to Cliff Barnes, president of the Kappas. As I passed by, Kane’s gaze found mine and locked onto it, and I couldn’t seem to look away. It was brief, yet much more intense than the first time. It was enough, and I was more aware of him this time. Details that had escaped me before leapt at me now. Dark eyes the color of coffee followed me, and they seemed to smolder, simmer, spear right through me as he openly stared. His skin was pale; flawless, with dark brows and thick dark lashes that were too thick and long for a man. A strong-cut chin and full lips looked as though they’d been pulled straight off a marble statue. He was the kind of gorgeous that made your eyes kaleidoscope. At least, to me. Quickly, I looked away.

  * * *

  By the time I’d finished a very poor attempt at studying for an Art test and exited the library, the tell-tale signs of pending dusk had crept onto Winston’s manicured campus. The early November air felt crisp against my cheeks as it whisked through, rustling the leaves and sending several pirouetting to the ground to land in scattered colors on the grass like some strange abstract stained glass. Knowing darkness would soon swallow everything, I hurried to the campus coffee house and café that stayed open until midnight. Inside, students sat at tables studying, their laptops open, the light illuminating their faces and coffee cups by their sides. As I took my place in line I selected my usual pre-packaged turkey sandwich and a bottle of lemonade and stood, waiting to pay.