I cringe. My mind jumps to a place it shouldn't be. I can't keep staring at Smith whenever I'm near him. He may be incredibly good-looking and built like a sex god, but so are a lot of the men in this city. I need to stop looking in his direction.
"Would you like me to introduce you to him?" he asks excitedly as Smith nears the brownstone. "It would be my pleasure."
No. It would be Smith's pleasure because he'd think I'm hanging out in front of his home because I'm desperate for himto kiss me. In his mind, I've wandered aimlessly through life for the last eight years bereft because I was never gifted with the taste of his lips.
Jesus, the man's ego is bigger than Manhattan.
"Thank you, but that's not necessary." I watch Smith tug a set of keys from the front pocket of his jeans before he unlocks the brown door and steps inside. "I have nothing to say to Smith Booth."
"Why don'tyou two just hate-fuck already?" Adley scoops Pike into her lap. "I've never done it, but I hear it's mind blowing with the right person. Or maybe it's the wrong person since in order to hate-fuck, you have to technically hate the person you fuck."
"What?" I try to make sense of what she just said. "You're not saying that if I have sex with Smith that all my problems will be solved?"
"I've yet to meet a man who can fuck every problem away." She pets Pike's chest before she kisses the top of his head. "All I'm saying is that you're mad at him, he wants to kiss you and you're both obviously hot for each other. Just do it already, Brynn."
I glance down at the screen of my phone and the text message Smith sent me an hour ago.
We need to talk, Petal. Meet me at Easton Pub at seven. You know the address. You got caught inside the place with that shitty fake ID you had when you were seventeen. In case you forgot, I was the one who saved your ass that night. You owe me and I'm cashing in now. Seven sharp.
I don't owe him a thing. He came to Easton Pub that night because he was the one who answered Julian's phone when I called. Julian was on a date and had forgotten his phone at Smith's apartment. Smith arrived just as the owner of the pub was about to call the police to report me since I refused to leave. My rebellious stage was not cute.
Smith came and resolved the situation. He did it as a favor to Julian.
"Go and talk to him." Adley points at my phone. "Clear the air. Scream at him if you have to. If anyone else had bought that brownstone, you would have forgiven them. You're hanging on to this because you feel something for him. I see it. He sure as hell must see it when you two are in the same room."
"That's ridiculous," I scoff. "If I feel anything for Smith it's hatred."
"You couldn't hate a person if your life depended on it." She puts Pike in my lap. "I'm going to make us a salad. You'll eat and I'll keep Pike company while you go talk this out with Smith. Do it, Brynn."
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Smith
Brynn walksinto Easton Pub thirty minutes late. She looks like something out of a dream. Her body is covered in a short white shirtdress cinched at the waist with a simple silver belt; her feet are in silver heeled sandals. Her gorgeous long legs are on display. They're toned, tanned and all I want is to feel them wrapped around me as I fuck my name from deep in her throat.
She glances around like she doesn't notice me at the bar. I planted myself here when I arrived an hour, and two glasses of whiskey, ago. I saved the seat next to me despite the fact that two different women offered to keep it warm. I turned them down easily even though I'd normally invite them both back to my place.
Experience has taught me that the quick way to breakfast in bed for three is to flirt the fuck out of both prospects and let the cards fall where they may. I've been known to take all that's offered. It's never been more than I can handle, until now.
Brynn Bishop is the only woman I want tonight and judging by the look on her face, I'm the last man she wants anythingto do with. Her gaze catches briefly on the suited guy on stage singing the shit out of "Oops…I Did It Again."
Wisps of her pinned up hair fall around her face when she finally makes eye contact.
I wave her over, willing my dick to behave. The bulge in the front of my jeans is big enough to warrant attention from the woman who just walked by me. I'm not interested in her. It's Brynn that my body craves.
Her eyes skim over my face and the black T-shirt I'm wearing. I dress down when I'm out in the evening. Women still give me a second glance, but when I've ditched the tailored suits, they don't make the immediate connection that I'm the dude they drool over when they're eating their breakfast cereal every morning.
My hair isn't styled in place as per Rise and Shine standards tonight. I showered, ran my hands through it and left my apartment looking like I was ready for a fuck.
"What do you want, Smith?" Brynn's sapphire blue eyes cut through me as she approaches. This woman's eyes always got me. They may be the same color as her brother's but their depth is endless. The contrast to her jet black hair is striking. She's seriously the most beautiful person I've ever seen.
"Sit, Brynn. Have a drink." I pat the seat of the wooden stool next to me.
"I don't want a drink."
"Said you, never," I deadpan. "Are you still drinking vodka and orange juice? If you are let me introduce you to a new friend. His name is Jack Daniels."
She eyes the vacant stool. "I'll stand. Tell me why you ordered me down here."
