“Hey,” Nicole says dryly, and my brows hike as my forehead wrinkles.
“I-is your brother here?”
“In his office. Come on, I’ll take you to him.”
A frown forms as I reach out to stop Nicole from walking away.
“Office?”
“Yeah. He owns this place. Come on, he’s expecting you.” Nicole turns and walks away without giving me a chance to say anything else.
My steps are heavy as I trail behind Nicole, and my mind reels from the news of Righteous’s ownership. I have been coming here for a while, and Nicole has never shared or let on who owns this place. It now makes sense why I had to deal with rude people during our date. Righteous’s motive that night was to get me to find him and those individuals repulsive. Less than two minutes later, Nicole taps on a closed door before she enters and waves me inside.
“See you around,” Nicole tells me before closing the door with her on the other side.
I frown at the emotionless nonchalance from Nicole because she’s never given me the cold shoulder. It makes me wonder what’s going on between her and me. But I’m unable to continue my confusion when Righteous speaks.
“Take a seat. We need to talk.” Righteous’s stern voice bounces around the room, and the chill in my body increases.
“Oh. Are you ready to address why I haven’t heard from you?”
My gaze shifts from the door to Righteous, who sits behind a worn black desk and an office chair that seems to have seen better days. His hulking figure makes me wonder how the chair’s springs haven’t given out from his massive size. Even with the menace in his eyes and the hardness within his facial muscles, Righteous is the sexist man I’ve come in contact with. My juices flow like a slow stream the longer we stare each other down. I take a seat in one of the two uncomfortable-looking chairs in front of his desk.
“Whatever you think is gonna happen between us ends now. I can’t do it,” Righteous says with finality.
“What do you mean you can’t do it? Do what?”
“This. Whatever it is.”
The curl of his lip doesn’t reflect the regret in his eyes and causes me to stare intently into them before I speak with indignation.
“You’re a coward, and I didn’t take you to be the type of man who runs scared.”
A sly smirk slides into place as Righteous leans back in his chair, and the springs cry in protest from his action.
“Is that so?”
“Mhm. Only a man with no balls would push away the woman he knows he’s attracted to.”
A low, humorless chuckle falls from Righteous’s lips as he strokes his thick beard, which causes an image of it dripping with my juices to flash in my mind.
“What do you expect to happen between us?” The merriment within his eyes causes me to roll my eyes as the urge to slap him takes root.
“I expect you not to run, especially when your lips and guttural moan during our kiss told me that I’m not in a one-sided attraction. I expect you to not be a coward.”
“Hm. That’s the second time you’ve attacked me with that word.”
My eye roll is immediate, and the tension mounts in my shoulders as I squirm in the hard chair I’m in.
“If you don’t like the word, then maybe you shouldn’t exercise the traits.” I cross my arms over my chest and give him a pointed stare.
Sexy bastard.
“Let me ask you a question.”
“Go ahead,” I snap.
“If you really believe that, then why are you still interested?”
