Can I?
She seems pretty sure about it. As a matter of fact, it was as if it were nothing more than a business transaction. Which, I guess, in a way it is.
But doesn’t she deserve more than that?
Every woman deserves to be swept off her feet.
I doze in and out of sleep, but I don’t really get any rest, so when a loud bang rips through my apartment, it scares the ever-loving shit out of me.
I’m on my feet in a heartbeat, and without thinking, I run toward my living room.
A beat before I get there, a familiar voice hit my ears.
“Everett Donnelly, get your sneaky ass out here right this—whoa, what the fuck?” Parker screeches, her hands flying up to cover her eyes. “Your dick. Why is your dick out?” she cries as she turns her back on me.
“Because this is my apartment, and I can walk around naked if I want.”
“Yeah, well, don’t,” she snaps. “Go and put something on. I refuse to hold any kind of conversation with you while that thing is swinging free.” She full-on shudders at the thought.
“Fine. But it’s not my fault you’re pissed that I was gifted a bigger one than your fiancé.”
“That is not—Linc is…” She huffs, making my smile widen as I saunter off. “Just put some clothes on.”
All too soon, the sounds of Parker making use of my kitchen float down to me, and by the time I walk back into my living area, the scent of freshly brewed coffee hits my nose, making my mouth water.
“At least you’re good for something,” I tease as I snag one of the mugs and lift it to my nose, breathing in the rich scent.
“Ow, fuck. What was that for?” I bark when she suddenly punches me in the shoulder. Boiling coffee sloshes over the edge of my mug and splashes over my feet.
“You went on a date,” Parker shrieks.
My heart sinks to my burning feet.
“H-how do you know about that?” I ask, although, deep down, I already know.
Going for those waffles was a risk. Any one of the people we were standing in line with could have recognized me.
“Found a photo of you on some puck bunny site this morning.”
I still as I wipe the coffee from the tops of my feet with a dish cloth. “Why the fuck were you on a puck bunny site?”
Parker raises her brows as if to say, “Is that really the biggest issue here?” But when I don’t give her what she wants, she quickly explains, “I was seeing what they were allsaying about the engagement.”
“Wonderful things, I’m sure,” I mutter, throwing the cloth into the sink and walking away from my sister in favor of the couch.
“Oh yeah, they’re all delighted that another Viper is officially off the market. Not that it’ll stop them.” She mutters something under her breath that I can only assume is an insult as she follows me. “Anyway, you went on a fucking date. A date, Rett. What the fuck?”
“It isn’t a big deal,” I mutter.
It’s a really big deal.
“You haven’t taken a girl out on a date since…” Her words trail off as she thinks. “Never. You’ve never taken a girl out on a date. Who is she? Where did you meet her? What’s she like? Are you in love with her? Tell me everything,” she demands, hugging her coffee in her hands and staring at me with so much happiness and hope in her eyes that it makes my stomach knot.
She isn’t going to understand. But I can’t lie. Not to Parker, and certainly not to Linc. They both know me better than anyone, and they’ll be able to see through any bullshit act.
“Her name is Bea, and she’s…fuck,” I grunt, dragging my hand down my face and slumping back on the couch.
“Eloquent. I know you probably talk to Linc and the guys like that. But I’m going to need a little more here. Is Bea going to be my sister-in-law one day.”
