He scratched his jaw, casting me a ‘yeah, right’ look. “Is that why you wanted to kick my ass for looking at her too closely?”
I didn’t bother answering him. His statement did not warrant a response.
“Well, if you guys aren’t serious, and maybe she’s into me, maybe I’ll take a shot at—”
Before I could even stop myself, I shoved his chest so hard he shifted on impact. “Don’t fucking say it. I’ll knock you out cold. She’s not some sex toy.”
His eyes widened and he raised both hands. “Easy, easy. I don’t see what the big deal is. If you’re not together, and she’s up for a one-night . . .” His voice trailed off, probably from the scary-ass look on my face.
I stood. “Stop,” I commanded. “She’s off limits. End of story, shithead.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” His mouth trembled with a need to smile. “I’m just playing. I want nothing to do with your Kendy. I’m just trying to prove a point.”
“What point?” I ground out.
“That you’re falling for this girl.” He softened then, and I wanted to punch him for that, too. I didn’t need his pity. “Hey, look, I’ve been there.”
“I’m not there. There’s no ‘there’,” I growled. “Quit being such a dickhead and leave it.”
Trey sighed, stood, and placed one hand on my shoulder. “I’ve been there before, bro. With your sister. I tried my hardest to win her back, and part of me wishes . . . part of me wishes I’d tried even harder.”
Win her back? He’d had my sister. They’d been together. What was he talking about?
Pain flashed in his eyes as he let his hand fall to the side. His look turned serious, like he was finally going to go into what had happened between them, but then he shook his head instead. “You can win this girl. Don’t regret it and walk away without trying.” He turned toward his bedroom, glancing back one last time. “Don’t use work as an excuse, man. You let her walk away and be with that doctor without telling her how you feel, you’ll regret it. Trust me.” When he shut the door behind him, I contemplated heavily on his words.
My mouth slackened as I let myself drop to the couch. The sane part of my mind was screaming at me that I had the deal of a lifetime. Every guy’s dream. No strings attached.
But the crazy part of my mind wondered ‘what if’?
I let my head fall between my hands again as it pounded more painfully than before. I ran my hands through my hair, gripping the tips in my fingers as I remembered how jealous I’d been last night. I slowed my breathing, inhaling deeply through my nose and exhaling slowly through my mouth.
Why? Why had I been jealous?
Trey was being a bastard, but maybe he wasn’t all wrong.
I pressed my palms hard against my eyes, seeing only darkness, when the truth started coming to me. No, Trey wasn’t all wrong. Because he was right.
I was falling for her. Hard and so fucking fast.
Shit.
I’m screwed.
Now the question was—what was I going to do about it?
THIRTEEN
BRIAN
In typical Brian-mode on a Sunday night, my computer was on my lap and I was tapping away, trying to write a proposal and figure out questions that I could ask the company when I met with them for our first meeting.
My manager had just added a new prospect in my portfolio that he wanted me to call on after my Tiggins Corporation meeting. Here I’d thought that if I landed Tiggins Corp., I’d be sitting pretty for a while.
Not at the nation’s biggest bank. There were probably a hundred young professionals willing to take my position tomorrow. I had to wear my game face.
Kendy had called and wanted to hang out, because she was bored at home, so I invited her over. After what Trey had said, I shouldn’t have. And even though she’d be a distraction, I knew there was no way I could say no to her.
Kendy flipped through the channels from where she sat beside me on the couch. “What time are you going to be done?” She had asked the same question five minutes ago, reminding me of a child in a car asking, ‘Are we there yet?’
I lifted my head and noticed her signature pout. I wondered if she was doing it on purpose, or if it was just a natural reaction for her. A big part of me wanted to bite her bottom lip, which was jutting out, then maybe we’d just have dinner in bed.
I shifted to adjust myself. “Give me thirty minutes.” I promised her dinner after I finished, and I wasn’t about to go back on my word. This boy needed to eat, too.
She only bit her bottom lip then stared at the TV as though she was upset by the reality dance show she was watching.
As I focused on the financials in front of me and studied the manufacturing company’s business, my stomach churned. I had an important customer call with the client tomorrow. If I impressed the CFO, I could secure a meeting with the decision maker, the CEO of the company. I had to convince the Tiggins Corporation why they should leave their current bank and bring their business over to Financial State.
I rubbed my brow, squinting at the write-up on my screen. I had memorized my pitch, yet somehow I knew I could tighten it up, make it even better. Letting out a heavy sigh, I tilted my head from side to side to ease the tension in my shoulders.
When I peered up at Kendy, I couldn’t help but smile as her knees bounced to the hip-hop music the dancers were performing to.
Something about this girl calmed me. There was an overall lightness to her aura that was contagious. A minute ago, I was about to pound my head against the computer. Now, just watching her, I felt my whole body loosening up. She was like my own personal beer on legs. All I needed was a dose of her at the end of a long ass day to relax me.
But as I let that sink in, I remembered Trey’s assumptions, and my smile slowly faded. Jackass was haunting my thoughts.
I debated telling her that maybe we could order in, but I didn’t want to see her famous pout again. I didn’t want to disappoint her when she’d come down specifically because I’d promised her dinner. This woman was my distraction to my every day. I didn’t know what to do with this newfound realization.
My fingers worked faster on the keyboard, trying to finish my work up so I could satisfy this hunger in my belly and feed my girl.
My girl?
Closing my eyes, I took in a slow, jagged breath. Funny how the subconscious knew before the mind made a decision.
Now what was I going to do about it?
I guess I needed to finish the task at hand and eventually feed my girl.
***
KENDY
Bored out of my mind, I had the sudden urge to mess with him, but that would prolong me getting fed. But then an awesome idea entered my head so I poked his side.
His stare was intently glued on his screen that I startled him, and he jumped at my touch.
“Hey, do you want to watch a movie after dinner?” I poked his side again as his eyes remained glued on the screen in front of him. “Come on,” I cooed coercively.
The side of his mouth curled up in a slight smile. “I just have to get this proposal done, and we can do whatever you want.” He was so focused that he hadn’t glanced my way. I was throwing him my Kendy sex look, but it didn’t help my case if he couldn’t see it.
I started to unbutton my shirt, and then laughed when his eyes flickered toward me. Now I had his full attention. My fingers stopped on the third button, revealing my pink polka dot bra, which was a large contrast to my black button down.
He quirked an eyebrow, amused.
Seizing the moment, I shut his laptop, placed it on the low center table and climbed into his lap, straddling him. “That’ll be here when you get back. Come on, they’re showing that Zombie movie. Oooh, scary,” I taunted him, wrapping my arms around his neck. I pulled him even closer and gave him my pretend sad face, knowing he couldn’t resist.