Janiyah laughed. Her dad was the strongest man she knew. Not just physically, but in every aspect of his life. She’d never seen him show fear.
Aaron reached over and squeezed her shoulder. “Don’t worry. Everything will be okay.”
“What about Henderson Automotive?”
“We won’t let him sell it.”
The conviction in Aaron’s voice made her smile. One thing her dad hadn’t taken into consideration was that his kids were just as stubborn as he was.
He patted her shoulder. “Okay, let’s change the subject. We can’t be all sad when Fred gets here.”
“Freddy’s coming over?” She frantically wiped the tears from her eyes. “Why didn’t you say so?”
“I didn’t think it would matter. You’ve always hung out with the two of us before.”
“Yeah, well, I wanted to just spend time with you tonight.” And avoid facing Freddy and memories of what he’d done with a few strokes of his finger.
“Hey, he called me earlier to see if I was in town and wanted to hang. You’ve seen the state of my fridge so I offered to come to him, but he insisted on coming here.” He leaned back in the chair, his eyebrows raised. “Seems like I’m pretty popular tonight. Both of you trying to escape something?”
She shook her head and took a swallow from the stale beer. “What would I need to escape?”
Aaron laughed. “Answering a question with a question. Must be something going on.”
She scoffed and flipped channels again. “Please. There’s nothing going on. Freddy’s dry as toast.” But saturated with passion. She took another sip and shifted in her seat.
“Fred’s not as dry as you think. He’s more fun than you give him credit for.”
“He’s too stiff. He won’t just go with things.”
Aaron shook his head. “He’s structured, and I don’t blame him. You know how his parents are.”
“I like his parents. His mom’s a hoot.”
“You would think so.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. She is fun, I will admit to that. But she drives Freddy crazy. And the way his dad flips from one idea to another without thought of consequences. It was bound to make Freddy either crazy irresponsible or very principled.”
“Fine, it’s great to have structure in your life. I’m learning that. But what about letting loose, having fun, and going with impulse?”
Aaron gave her a sly look. “That woman he dated a few months ago thought he was pretty fun.”
Janiyah thought of the dental hygienist with her sensible shoes and plain hairstyle and waved her hand. “That isn’t surprising. She was as straight laced as he is.”
Aaron propped his feet on the coffee table. “I wouldn’t say that. Fred really liked her. And don’t let their outward appearance fool you. From what he said, they made some pretty good sparks together.”
Janiyah dropped her beer. The cold liquid soaked through her Pac Man t-shirt. She quickly snatched up the bottle and placed it on the coffee table, while Aaron laughed.
“Freddy talks to you about sex?” she asked, holding her wet t-shirt away from her body.
“Hey, we’re guys, what do you expect?”
“But she was so … ”
Aaron shook his head. “The right guy can bring out the freak in any woman.”
“I don’t make a habit of discussing Freddy’s bedroom goings on with his girlfriends. Besides, Freddy’s like a … ” She couldn’t say brother. Not with the very un-brotherly thoughts going through her head. “You know,” she finished weakly.
“Like family? Sure.” He said it like he was responding to a lie he’d heard too often.
Her eyebrows snapped together. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
There was a knock on the door and Aaron stood. “Remember, Fred is not your brother.”
She frowned; her brothers would normally shit a brick when she started dating a new guy. A part of her assumed they would put up some type of fuss, even if it was Freddy. She’d always assumed Aaron would be the one most upset, but his tone implied differently.
“Hey, Fred, what’s up, man?” Aaron said after opening the door.
He and Freddy gave each other a fist pound. “Working hard, that’s all. I’m glad we finally caught up. You’re always driving.”
“Hey, business is good, so I can’t complain. But, I’ll be around more.”
“I don’t know. It’s not like you to stay in one place for long.”
Aaron shrugged. “I can afford to send others out right now, so I’m chilling.”
Janiyah smiled sadly. Aaron did hate staying in one place long. Only concern about their dad would make him farm out his work.
Freddy held up a pizza box. “I figured you had no food, so I brought my own.”
Aaron laughed. “You sound like Janiyah. She was just trying to raid my fridge.”
Freddy froze. His eyes flew from Aaron to where she sat on the couch. Her stomach clenched. His muscular body, the grey button up shirt, and tan slacks excited her more than winning a bid on eBay. He’d lost the tie and jacket from work. The memory of earlier that day hit with a vengeance that made her lick her lips in a vain attempt to relive the taste of him.
“Hi, Freddy,” she said in an airy voice. Thank goodness none of her inner trembling came through.
“What’s up, Janiyah. When you didn’t knock on my door to watch the Fashion channel, I thought you were hanging with Liz or something.” He came over and placed the pizza box on the coffee table.
“So you remembered tonight’s Fashion Police night?” she teased. She could at least pretend everything was normal in front of Aaron.
His lips quirked, but no dimple. “After two years of you forcing your way in to watch it, how can I forget?”
“Ha, ha. You love my company.”
“As much as I love a head cold.”
She stuck out her tongue and he gave her a relieved, partial dimple, smile. He didn’t have to worry; Aaron might have hinted around that he wouldn’t be upset about her and Freddy, but she wouldn’t dare push it by bringing up what happened in the car.
Freddy turned to Aaron who’d followed him over. “You got anything to drink?”
Aaron cringed. “Just some old beer.”
Janiyah held her empty bottle up. “It’s not too bad.”
Aaron laughed. “I think you dropped it on purpose so you wouldn’t have to drink it.”
“It was kinda stale.” She stood. Her t-shirt stuck to her stomach where most of the beer had spilled. “You got a shirt I can change into?”
Aaron nodded. “Sure, get one out of my drawer. I’ll run to the store and grab something to drink. Anything in particular?”
“I’m good with anything,” she said. She looked at Freddy, who was scowling at the front of her shirt. “Why is your face all screwed up?”
He blinked and his expression cleared. “Did you pour the beer on your shirt?”
“You’re such an idiot. No, I dropped it.”
Freddy lifted a brow, but thankfully turned to Aaron. “Whatever you pick up works for me, man.”
“Cool. I’ll be right back.” Aaron grabbed his keys off the nail beside his door. “You two make yourself at home.”
They stood staring at each other after Aaron left. She’d never had trouble talking to or teasing Freddy before. Now her tongue might as well be lead.
“Are we okay?” he asked.
She crossed her arms, only to quickly uncross them due to the cold wetness of her shirt. “I don’t know, are we?”
A solemn look came to his face. “I hope what happened won’t ruin our friendship. I’m sorry I took things too far.”
He looked so genuinely concerned that her wish he would take back what he said was dashed. “I get kissed by guys all the time.”
He scowled. “Thanks for the reminder, but I did more than kiss you.”
Heat ran up her face. “I know … but you’re th
e one saying it was nothing.”
He took a step toward her. His eyes blazed behind his glasses, sending a shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with her wet shirt. “It can’t be more.”
She gulped. “Do you really want that?”
His nearness sent her heart into overdrive. Her gaze lowered to his lips and her body heated. It took everything in her not to squirm. His features relaxed and he took a step back. “I think forgetting it would make the most sense.” His eyes lowered to her shirt. “You smell like beer.”
Going with impulse, she lifted the edges of her shirt and whipped it over her head. His nostrils flared as his searing gaze traveled over her body. Her nipples beaded beneath her bra, the flimsy fabric doing nothing to hide them.
“I can fix that.”
His face became impartial, the desire there earlier quickly hidden by a bland look. “Go get a shirt, little sister.”
So that’s how he wanted to play this. “Will do, big brother.” Her fingers lightly brushed his chest on her way and she took some satisfaction that his body trembled.
CHAPTER 18
Do not follow her. Do not follow her.
Maybe repeating it would help it sink in. Fredrick clenched his fists. Closing his eyes, he tried to ignore the lust that roared to life at seeing her without a shirt. It was useless. The memory of her body pressed against his and her silky wetness on his fingers flaunted itself. Torturing, tempting, and tearing through all the reasons why he should forget that she made sanity fly out of his head.
As much as he wanted to regret what he’d done to her in the car, he didn’t. She’d been so responsive. So damn wet. When she came around his fingers, he’d nearly ruined his pants and joined her.
That was the problem. They’d been in public. Anyone could have seen. Most women he dated would have kissed him back and said they should save it for when they were in private. The women he dated would have gently reminded him they were responsible adults, and as such, did not have sex in public. Janiyah hadn’t shied away. She hadn’t cared where they were.
She made him forget everything except her. Touching, kissing, and bringing her pleasure. And now she wanted him. The look she’d given him when he first arrived didn’t help either. As much as he wished he didn’t like it, he was turned on by the hot look in her eye. For once, Janiyah wasn’t looking at him like the boring boy next door, but as a man.
He sat on the couch and drummed his fingers on his knees. Blowing air through his lips, he leaned back. He could ignore this.
Running his hands over his face, he laughed softly to himself. Even here in her brother’s apartment, the last place where he should be overwhelmed with the need to have her, he still couldn’t force her out of his mind.
“I’m pathetic.”
“No, you’re not.”
He opened his fingers to look at Janiyah through the cracks. His heart crashed like the 1929 stock market. Instead of wearing one of Aaron’s oversize t-shirts, she wore a black t-shirt that revealed an enticing expanse of her flat stomach with the word Cocks emblazoned across her chest.
He swallowed repeatedly before lowering his hands and speaking. “Tell me that’s not your brother’s shirt?”
She grinned before gliding over and hopping onto the chair next to him. “I was just as surprised as you when I saw it.”
“Is there something Aaron needs to tell me?”
She shook her head and turned around. The University of South Carolina’s Gamecock logo was on the back. “I thought the same thing until I saw the back. I think one of his girlfriends must have left it here,” she said, turning back. “It’s a woman’s tee.”
He took in the way the cotton material squeezed her breasts. “More like a child’s t-shirt.”
Her head fell to the side. “What child would walk around with Cocks on their shirt?”
“What woman would?”
Her eyebrow lifted. “One that wanted attention.”
“You don’t need to take such extremes to get attention.”
“Really?” She leaned forward. “I like your reaction when I get too much attention.”
“Stop it, Janiyah. I thought we settled this.”
“No, you settled this. Why, Freddy? Why do you keep pushing me away?”
She was close enough for her delicious smell to tempt him. Need made his breathing haggard.
He slid away. “Because, it wouldn’t work. There are too many things that make us incompatible, starting with the fact that you work for me. Let’s remain friends. It’s better that way.”
“After what happened today, we can’t just go back to being friends.”
“We can and we will.”
“Ugh, you’re so stubborn. You make me want to … ” She balled her fists and scowled.
She looked so frustrated and adorable. He chuckled, then laughed, at her baffled expression.
“You think this is funny?”
“You looking like you want to hit me? Yes, it’s humorous.”
“You asked for it.” She grabbed the pillow off the couch and hit the side of his head.
He sat stunned for a few seconds while she giggled. When he turned to face her she tried to suppress her laughter. He reached out to grab her, but she squealed, jumped from the couch, and ran. He quickly gave chase and followed her into the dining area. She used the table as a shield. Her shoulders shook with amusement as she avoided him by running to the opposite side whenever he moved to get her.
“You can’t hide behind the table all night.”
“I can hide here until Aaron comes home and makes you stop.”
“Your brother’s got nothing to do with this.” He dashed around the table. She shrieked and ran down the hall, but he was on her in an instant.
One arm held fast around her waist. He got his revenge by tickling her ribs. She laughed and squirmed against him in her efforts to escape.
“Are you going to hit me again?” he asked, not relenting.
“Yes … ” She laughed. He increased his efforts. “Okay … no … no.”
He stopped, but didn’t let her go as they both laughed. She always did this to him. Whenever he tried to be serious she found a way to make him laugh. She always made things he thought were insurmountable seem insignificant.
His amusement gradually gave way as he became acutely aware of their position. In the back of his mind he’d known chasing her might lead them here. And honestly, he wanted another taste of her lips, another touch of her body. Her heavy breathing shortened while her heart pounded against his arm wrapped beneath her breasts. Her vanilla perfume danced around him, killing the remnants of his humor and breathing life into his desire.
Her laughter stopped, her body stiffened. He should let her go now. He didn’t. He was pumped up on adrenaline and the vestiges of lust. She relaxed, her head tilting back just enough to make her neck available to him. With a shuddered breath, his arm around her waist relaxed and slowly slid back until his hand splayed against her flat stomach. She quivered, a soft whimper igniting a primal need within him. Hesitantly, only because some dim part of his brain acknowledged if he did this it was a point of no return, his hand moved up to cradle her soft breast in his palm. Her nipple hardened, burning his hand like a branding iron. A tremble went through his body. He pressed his dick against her butt and she gasped.
The front door opened. “Hey, I got the drinks!” Aaron called.
Fredrick snatched away from her. She spun, the small amount of light from the living area illuminating the rapid rise and fall of her chest. Her eyes were soft and inviting. He had to get away before he pulled her back into his arms and Aaron rightly punched his lights out.
“Excuse me,” he said, rushing past her into the bathroom.
He stayed in there until his erection finally died down and his breathing returned to normal. He couldn’t do this. He would fall in love. He’d watched enough men fall in love with Janiyah and end up heartbroken. Or worse, she’d love him back and he’
d do anything to make her happy.
He finally left the bathroom. Aaron and Janiyah sat on the couch watching a reality show about men hunting alligators in the swamp. Aaron looked from the television and frowned.
“Damn, man, did you blow up my bathroom?”
Janiyah glanced at him and just as quickly diverted her eyes.
“Uhhh, something like that. I’m not feeling too well, I’m gonna bounce.”
“You just got here. You haven’t even eaten the pizza,” Aaron said, holding up the pizza box.
Fredrick shook his head. “You keep it. I’ll give you a call tomorrow. You’ll still be in town, right?”
Aaron nodded. “Yeah, I’ll be around for a while.”
“Cool. Have a good night, man.” He looked at Janiyah. “You too, Janiyah.”
“Alright, Freddy, feel better.” She gave him a weak smile then snatched the pizza box from Aaron.
Aaron looked between the two with a questioning look on his face. He raised a brow at Fredrick. With a shake of his head, Fredrick turned and left.
CHAPTER 19
Fredrick needed a wakeup call, so he went straight to his parents’ house. They lived close to the Hendersons. He used to walk the short distance between their houses when he was younger and needed to escape the flights of fancy his mom often went through. There had been a time when he didn’t understand how his dad could risk so much for the love of a woman. The last thing he had wanted was to end up like that. But wasn’t he playing the fool for Janiyah? He gave her free run of his apartment, agreed to interview her for the job, then gave it to her knowing she’d wreak havoc on his good sense. And if that weren’t enough, he’d seriously considered making love to her in a parked car in the middle of the day. He had to face it: Janiyah had him whipped and he wasn’t even dating her.
Lights shined from every window of his parents’ two story home. His dad answered the door. Similar to him in height, but larger in build, Christopher Jenkins smiled broadly.
“Fredrick, what brings you here?”
Fredrick followed his dad into the house. Smoke and the smell of something burning filled the air.
Just My Type Page 14
