Pyramids and Promises (Omega Mu Alpha Brothers Book 2) by Kimberly Loth Page A

scoot closer, but Octo wasn’t moving. He didn’t even lift his head. “This is why I don’t take you on more dates.”
    Jessica glanced out the window for a second to give her a chance to think. They had left the lights of the city behind, not that it really registered in her mind. All she could think about was Conner’s words.
    “What’s that supposed to mean? All bets are off?” She asked after she found her voice again. Conner rendered her speechless more often than she liked to admit.
    He ran his fingers along her arm. “It means, I absolutely did not turn you down. It simply wasn’t time yet.”
    Jessica shivered. She wasn’t sure she liked the sound of that. What did he have cooked up? But before she could demand to know what he was up to, Ahmed stopped the car.
    “We’re here, Mister.”
    Conner reached across her and opened the door.
    “Out you go.” He pushed against her, and she practically fell out of the car. Octo stretched and lazed his way out.
    Conner scrambled out after them and grabbed her hand. Wherever they were, it was dark. There was only a half moon out, and the only artificial light reflected back from Cairo proper.
    Jessica looked up. The moonlight might be minimal, but there was no hiding the shadow of the Great Pyramid looming over them.
    “What are we doing here?”
    Conner smiled. “You’ll see.”
    He went down on one knee and leashed Octo.
    “Are you starting to understand a little more now?” he asked.
    Surely, he didn’t mean that silly promise to have their first kiss on top of the pyramid. That was illegal.
    Octo whined and tugged on his leash, but Conner shushed him.
    “Deal, bub. I couldn’t bring you otherwise.” Leash in one hand, Conner reached for Jessica with the other.
    They walked up to the back of the pyramid where a group of six or seven men stood with wicked looking guns.
    Conner handed Octo’s leash to her and approached the guards. He spoke to them in rapid Arabic. One of the men dropped his gun and gave Conner a massive hug.
    Jessica watched the whole scene with interest. She had no idea what was happening. After a few minutes of discussion, Conner pulled out his wallet and handed the man a huge stack of bills. The man grinned and pointed up at the pyramid.
    Conner waved Jessica and Octo over.
    “You ready?”
    “For what?” she asked slowly.
    “To climb up to the top.”
    “Are you for real?”
    Conner nodded. “Turns out I know one of the guards. These guys will do anything for a little cash. Come on.”
    Jessica’s heart stilled. He wasn’t putting her off. He was making sure this night was memorable for her. Up until this moment she figured this whole thing with Conner would be a fling. A rebound relationship, but now she wasn’t so sure. She was falling hard, and she didn’t want to get her heart broken again.
    They walked down a bit for some privacy. Once they were out of sight of guards, Conner let Octo off his leash.
    “Stay close and piss on nothing,” he said. The dog bobbed his head as if he understood each word.
    “Shall we?” Conner waved at the stones. Jessica could barely breathe. She was actually going to climb a pyramid. Wait, not just any pyramid, The Pyramid.
    He let her go first, and she scrambled up on each brick. It was surprisingly easy to climb. Octo had no trouble leaping up from one level to the next. He’d stop and wait for Conner and Jessica to join him before jumping up to the next brick. After they made their way up about a hundred feet, Conner spoke.
    “Is our deal still on?”
    He meant the kiss. Of course he did. The very thing that Jessica herself had practically been begging for back in her apartment. She wanted it. Had wanted it all week. But now, out here in the dark and the partial moonlight, after he went to this effort, she felt unbelievably shy.
    “Well?” he prompted. “I wouldn’t even ask after how mad you were that I didn’t kiss you earlier, but I want to make sure.”
    Octo snorted.