Axel and Lex congratulate him and take off for a meeting. Apparently, Lex’s new business venture, the Epicurean Elite, is really takingoff.
And slowly I meet with my brother’s disdainfullook.
He leans over and tousles my hair. “If you need help with your résumé, just say the word. You know I’d do anything to help you,kiddo.”
“Right.” I glance to Low and scowl because we both know he won’t help anyone when it comes time to embrace the fact Brody and I aretogether.
He leans toward Brody. “So, who’s this chick? Let me guess, the girl from thebar?”
“Yup. It’s the girl from the bar.” Brody brazenly winks my way, and I gasp. He has lost his ever-lovin’ billion-dollar mind. Brody might have dollar bills stacked to the moon, but they won’t do him any good if he’s lying in a casket. “I’ll introduce you soonenough.”
“Sounds good.” Levi slaps him over the back and takes off for thekitchen.
Low clears her throat, pulling me up. “Why don’t we head to the little girls’ room? I’m feeling a potty emergency coming on.” Low has always referenced the restroom with the panache of a three-year-old, and I don’t care what anyone says—I’m looking at you,Lex—I think it’sadorable.
Low trots me off and buries us deep in the aforementioned little girls’room.
“Oh my God!” She bounces on hertiptoes.
“I know he’s rich! It’s my mother’s dream cometrue!”
“Not that.” She swats me. “I know you couldn’t care less if that boy had a nickel to his name. He almost outtedyou.”
“Speaking of outing.” I get nose-to-nose with the girl I’ve known for going on a decade. “How in the heck did my brother get an inch of the matrimonial truth?” I gift her a hard poke in the chest and accidently land on a boob. “God, your boobs are like pillows. My brother really is a luckybastard.”
Low stabs her fist into her hips. That crooked smile she’s slow to give says she’s mildly pissed. “He’s not that lucky. His wife has chosen to keep vital information from him in order to please herbestie.”
“Who is also your sister-in-law.” I cringe. “I’m sorry. I hate that you’re keeping things from him. The last thing I want is for there to be a rift between you two. I promise I will find a way to end this—as soon as I come up with a way that doesn’t involve Brody losing hisballs.”
“Levi is swift with thethreats.”
We head out of the restroom, chortling over thefact.
“Brody Wolf would never know what hit him!” I caw just as I smack right into—Levi. “Gah!” I spin in a little spastic circle. “You scared the shit out ofme!”
“Good thing you’re near the bathroom,” he teases while pulling Low inclose.
“You’re disgusting,” Ibleat.
“And you were talking about Brody.” He shakes his head, looking from Low to me. “Can you believe it? Man, the gold diggers are going to come out of the woodwork. And you would be the biggest.” He frowns my way. “Stayaway.”
“Hey.” I stomp on his foot with my stiletto. “I might be, but that’s none of your business.” It’s true. I might have dated a stockbroker or two strictly based off his portfolioperformance.
They laugh it off and head for the exit, and before I can move an inch, my knight in shiny gold-backed armor comes at me with a devilish grin on hisface.
“I’m going to kiss you, Masterson.” Brody’s lips curve with the threat. “Right here in this restaurant you taunt me in night afternight.”
I wrap my arms around his neck as he comes in for the kill, and Brody brazenly lands a wet one right over my lips. His mouth lingers over mine, and my soul melts as he makes me his right here in this most forbidden place ofall.
“What in the hell?” a male voice seeps with disappointment, and I push Brody away as if I were a teenager just caught with a boy in herroom.
Axel Collins looks markedly pissed at the both of us. “Never mind. Neither of you owes me anything. Just know when you have a huge life change the way you just did”—he glares at Brody—“you shouldn’t be quick to jump into anything.” He doesn’t say another word, simply disappears in therestroom.
“Kiss me again, hard and like you mean it,” I demand, and Brody sheds that lopsided grin that makes me melt oncue.
“Anything for you, myqueen.”
Myqueen. I fall into him with an open-mouthed laugh. Brody grips me with those strong arms, and I want nothing more than to pull him into a dark corner and have my way with him—partially because my body is begging for it to be so and partially to give my brother the metaphoricalfinger.
