Burn Me Anthology

by Shantel Tessier

  This was just about one night. Then I had to concentrate on my new job and getting my life in order. Bad boys were not on my to-do list. Okay, maybe just not after tonight.

  Tonight would be about need.

  Sweaty, rough, dirty need.

  The way he was looking at me, I knew he could deliver dirty. Hell, if he wanted, he could give me a great wake-up call with his head between my legs. I’d be oh-so-okay with it.

  “Or we could make this fun?” I suggested brazenly.

  “How fun?” he asked, obviously interested.

  “We’ve never met, right?” I reminded him.

  “Right.”

  “No names, no numbers,” I suggested, fascinated by the fiery heat reflecting in his eyes.

  “No names. No numbers,” he repeated as if he was actually thinking it over.

  It was cute.

  He made a show of the way he was chewing over the possibilities. We both knew he was only prolonging the inevitable. My eyes roamed down his body, drinking in the angles and lines of his muscular frame, not missing the definite growing bulge behind those great-fitting jeans.

  “Sofia!” The deep male voice behind me felt like a bucket of ice-cold water. I didn’t know if I wanted to pout, stomp or cry.

  “Perfectly horrible timing, like always,” I mumbled, forcing a smile before I turned around to look at the man who had helped raise me after my dad had died unexpectedly.

  My big brother.

  “Gabe!” I kept forcing a smile that I knew didn’t look at all sincere, which he would only take as bitchy.

  “Sofia?” Mr. Bad Boy behind me repeated.

  “You found her!” Gabe announced, and I was more than confused. “Fuck, I’m so glad, man. This kid finds trouble like a magnet,” he said out loud, and I rolled my eyes. I wasn’t a kid. I hadn’t been a kid for a long freaking time.

  My big brother, ladies and gentlemen. In his eyes, I would never be anything other than the annoying ten-year-old with pigtails who followed him around, finding more joy that I would like to admit in annoying him. But I was a twenty-five-year-old woman and he still called me kid. Even if he was ten years older than me. I looked over at my sexy stranger, and it was like Legos connecting, all snapping into place.

  My older brother was talking to him.

  They obviously knew each other.

  Okay. Not to worry. Maybe he was just one of the guys from the firehouse. That could still be okay. I could still have my hot, dirty night. As long as it wasn’t Gabe’s best friend, the ever so loved—

  “Hi, Sofia, I’m Mav. Maverick Bridges.”

  Craptastic.

  Chapter 2

  Maverick

  His hands clenched around the beer bottle so tightly he had to be careful not to break the long neck in his grip as they all sat at a table.

  Shit.

  Shit was exactly what he felt like he had stepped into by flirting with the little auburn-haired minx. If Gabe, his best friend, brother from another mother, ever found out he had all but propositioned Sofia, he would have Mav’s balls as a snack.

  Sofia.

  The sexy, curvy seductress was his best friend’s spoiled little princess of a sister. His sister. Gabe’s freaking baby sister. Weren’t little sisters supposed to be chubby or nerdy and in pigtails? Stealing a glance at her, he took in a long, soothing breath.

  Sofia in pigtails. Shit. His cock jerked beneath his jeans. She was utterly and completely forbidden to him. As off-limits as they came. Someone had to send a damn memo to his cock.

  “I can’t believe you are actually back home.” Gabe grinned happily at her. He watched her give Gabe a tight, obviously uncomfortable smile.

  “Yep, I’m home.”

  “When do you start work?” Gabe asked, and her smile tightened further.

  “I won’t start till the new school year,” she informed him.

  “What do you do?” Mav asked out of curiosity, and something flashed in her eyes. Heat. Primal, lust-filled heat. She was thinking about their no names, no info deal. Gabe’s baby sister, he had to remind himself. Hell, it would probably be his new mantra.

  A shitty one. One he wished like hell he didn’t need.

  “I’m a teacher. I’ll be teaching third grade in the fall,” she shared with him.

  “They didn’t have a spot you could fill in for now?” Gabe asked, almost impatiently, and Sofia’s body stiffened as she sat straighter in her seat.

  “Don’t worry, Gabe. I have savings.” She was obviously irritated. Mav couldn’t say he blamed her. She had just gotten off a plane and Gabe was riding her ass about making money.

  “It’s not about the money.” Gabe sighed.

  “I’m only going to be at your place for two weeks.” That tidbit of information made him turn his head to his best friend.

  Huge red flags waved up and down. Sofia was staying at their place?

  “Wait, she’s staying with,“ he started to say, the walls suddenly closing in on him.

  Two weeks under the same roof with the first woman who had caught his eye in God only knew how long? The same woman he couldn’t touch. Ever.

  This couldn’t be happening. Why had he flirted with her?

  “Shit,” Gabe cursed, turning to look at him, clearly embarrassed. “I’m sorry, man. I forgot. Sofi is going to crash with us.”

  “Why?” he blurted out without thinking and caught the way her eyes widened before they narrowed in his direction.

  “Wow,” she mouthed, clearly disgusted with him, and again, he couldn’t blame her. He could only imagine what a great fucking impression he was making with her.

  “Her apartment isn’t ready. She’s going to take the spare room. I didn’t think you would have an issue with it since it’s empty. I should have passed it by you. Sorry, man,” Gabe apologized, making him feel even worse.

  Fuck. Why did he hit on her?

  Why didn’t he see the family resemblance?

  “No, it’s fine.” He frowned, not letting himself look at the beautiful little temptation in front of him as he finished his beer. “You can stay with us,” he told her without looking at her. His eyes skated toward the loud group of co-eds. It might have looked like his eyes were pinned on them, but all he could see was her and the way that damn dress fit her.

  She probably thought he was the world’s biggest jackass.

  But maybe it was better if she did?

  It would help keep her from pawing at him later.

  “Don’t worry about it, Michael,” Sofia chimed, and his head popped back to see her smiling wickedly.

  “It’s Mav,” he gritted, knowing that there was no way she had forgotten his name.

  “Right Max. Like I was saying—“

  “Mav,” he spoke through his clenched jaw.

  “Whatever. The landlord said it was possible that the apartment could be ready before then. They were just going to paint and—“

  “Paint?” His annoyance with her grew. It might have something to do with the permanent hard-on he was sporting. “Princess Sofia needed them to paint the place for her?” he taunted like a jackass and instantly regretted snapping at her. Hurt washed over her face for a second before she masked it, leaving him feeling a little ashamed for being such a dick.

  Ignoring him, she turned to look at her brother. Mav sat like a spectator, watching them talk about her time in Europe. Gabe asked about her last backpacking trip, and she was more than happy to share her stories about Barcelona and Ibiza. Never once looking back at him.

  But that didn’t stop him from looking. Nope. The weird draw to her made him a prisoner who couldn’t look away. She spoke with her hands. Her eyes sparkled with glee and mischief as she spoke, and he hated it. He hated that she wasn’t looking at him. It was like he wasn’t even there. He wanted her attention and that damn smile shining back at him. But he couldn’t have it, and he sure as shit shouldn’t want it.

  To keep from driving himself crazy, he willed his eyes to look
all over the room, anywhere but in her direction. Though, if he were honest, it didn’t help. All he could see was her and the promise of what they would have been like together.

  Too bad it wasn’t going to happen.

  Not possible.

  Not ever.

  Sofia

  Gabe’s phone rang, and I knew he was mere minutes away from leaving.

  “Okay. That was work,” he lied. I couldn’t help but smirk, wondering who the current secret flavor of the month was that would send my big brother running. “Here is your key, and you know where the house is,” he shared, handing me a key with a Minnie Mouse keychain.

  “I do.”

  “Worst case, you can follow Maverick home. Right, Mav?” Gabe asked, and I fought from rolling my eyes. Minnie Mouse keys and following his bestie home? What was I, sixteen again?

  “What?” Maverick turned, his attention finally off the rowdy college girls. By the look on his face, he didn’t like the idea of having me anywhere around him.

  “Sofia can follow you home in case she doesn’t know how to get—“

  “I know how to get there, Gabe,” I interrupted him, not wanting anything to do with my brother’s sexy best friend, who was an obvious dog. “I took piano lessons there, remember? When Mrs. Cheshire used to own the house?” I reminded him, ignoring the pang in my chest of what a dog Mav ended up being.

  “Oh shit, that’s right.” Gabe grinned and I smiled back. “I can’t believe I forgot about that.”

  “Plus, Max looks like he’s going to have his hands full with Alpha-Phi-Skanky over there.”

  “Excuse me?” He frowned. Gabe’s chuckle confirmed my guess about Maverick being a dog.

  “Okay. I’ll see you in the morning?” my brother asked, and I gave him a genuine smile.

  “Yeah.”

  “You want to have breakfast before I have to go to work?”

  “I wish I could, but I have a breakfast date with Mom,” I shared with him and saw a small flash of disappointment. Maybe my big bro was a little happy to have me back?

  “That’s right. I can go with you if you want,” he offered.

  “Nah, it’s okay. Mom’s new place is out of town. I wouldn’t want you to be late to work.”

  “Okay. I’ll see if I can get away and stop by to make sure you’re settled in.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine,” I assured him, not wanting to be more of a bother than I already felt.

  “Okay.” Gabe and I stood up, and I was surprised by the hug he gave me and kiss he left on the top of my head. I waved good-bye and didn’t look twice at the big, sexy guy who I had no chance in hell with now.

  I walked away from the table and went back to the bar. After ordering a drink, I felt him before he actually spoke. “What are you doing?” his deep voice timbered into my ear.

  “Getting a drink,” I enlightened the guy. Maybe he isn’t too bright?

  “You’re driving.”

  “Thank you for the update, Dad.”

  “You’re driving,” he reminded me.

  “Okay…” I drew out slowly. “And?”

  “And this isn’t Europe. You shouldn’t drink and drive.” He scowled, his nose flaring.

  “Here’s your diet Coke, beautiful.” Wally set it on the bar, and I smiled at him.

  “Add it to his tab.” I pointed at the beautiful but annoying guy behind me, who was obviously pissed.

  “Sounds good.” Wally grinned and left. I felt Maverick settle in at the barstool next to me. I was going to drink my Diet Coke and leave for the house I was obviously not welcome in, and lock myself into the guest room.

  I could avoid him for two weeks.

  “I think we got off—“ he started to say, but I quickly cut him off.

  “We didn’t,” I pointed out, hating how sexually aware I felt around him. With a sigh I added, “And we won’t, right?”

  “What?” I had obviously caught him off guard with my blunt question.

  “We won’t get each other off, right?” I asked straight out, trying to avoid staring at his sexy, thick neck. As much as a man slut I had a feeling he was, there was something about his neck that made my mouth water.

  “Sofi...” he started to say in a tone I was all too familiar with.

  “Yeah.” I couldn’t help shaking my head in disappointment. “What is it about guys and stupid rules?”

  “Babe…”

  “Let me ask you, if I weren’t Gabe’s sister, would we be heading to a hotel right now?” He licked his lips, and as pissed as I was, I wanted to feel them over mine.

  “Hey, handsome,” a high-pitched voice said, and we both turned toward it.

  A brunette with wild curls, a tight top, and a short-as-hell skirt grinned at him, and I knew he’d probably go home with her. Suddenly, I wanted to claw her eyes out.

  Chapter 3

  Maverick

  The brunette with wild curls grated his nerves. He usually never gave a thing like that a second thought. Hell, why would I? A pretty girl touching him? Practically falling over his lap, offering everything? On any other night, he might have taken her up on her unspoken offer.

  Tonight was different.

  He had to keep an eye on his best buddy’s little sis. That’s what I’m supposed to be doing.

  Babysitting.

  Through his peripheral vision, he saw her carefully step down from the barstool, smoothing out her pretty dress just as a guy walked up to her, a guy who looked vaguely familiar.

  The bubbly brunette giggled and touched his arm again, clearly not getting the point that he wasn’t interested. Glancing back at Sofi and the guy, he recognized the poor idiot who had no chance in hell. The kid was the new cop in town.

  Fuck, what is his name? Roger? Rocco?

  “Excuse me.” He winked at the brunette, who looked slightly confused, but he didn’t stay put and kept moving. His feet took him directly to Sofia and the idiot who was busy putting the moves on her.

  Gallantly slipping his hand over her shoulder, he felt her stiffen, but she relaxed when she looked up at him. Her eyes were warm, and he should have stepped away.

  Hell, he shouldn’t have touched her again. But she was looking at him with those damn wide eyes, and without knowing it, she was soothing something inside of him. Before getting lost to the point of no return, he glanced away and glared at the cop who was looking as if he still thought he had a chance.

  You poor clueless sap.

  “Hey.”

  “Hey, Bridges, how have you been?” the cop asked, obviously remembering his name.

  “Good, uh…”

  “Rocco,” the rookie shared, and Mav nodded.

  “Rocco. That’s it. I didn’t know you knew our little Sofi here.” He sounded like an asshole, and Sofia would have probably agreed with him, judging by the way her body tensed up.

  “Little Sofi?” the idiot asked, raising an eyebrow, and he shook his head.

  “Sofi. Sofia Blanco. Gabe Blanco’s sister. His baby sister, right, Sofi?” he asked, daring to look at her, but she wasn’t looking at him. Her eyes were on Rocco and his reaction.

  “Oh,” the ball-less moron mumbled, taking a clear step back. Her shoulders slumped forward in slight disappointment.

  Did she want to go home with Rocco?

  The idea of any other man touching her didn’t settle well in his stomach.

  “I didn’t know. Umm, well… It was nice meeting you, Sofia. See you guys around!” He turned, just in time to get the bubbly brunette’s attention, and they started to talk.

  Sofi and he stood silently for a moment, side by side as they watched the two flirt.

  “You’re welcome,” he announced, tilting his head to look down at her. She’s a tiny little thing.

  ”Welcome?” she asked slowly, and he shrugged.

  “Yeah.”

  “For what, exactly?” Her creamy-toned skin was a pretty shade of pink. His hands wanted to reach out and trace it. Gabe’s sister, he
reminded himself again. He stuck his hands in his pockets.

  “For saving you,” he pointed out, looking away and around the bar. She should have been thanking him for saving her the headache of the little idiot. Instead, he could feel the daggers she was shooting in his direction.

  He acted as if he didn’t notice and just shrugged, adding, “Rocco’s not a bad guy, just a dumbass.”

  “Well, at least I know he’s in good company,” she muttered like a smartass, stepping away from him, and he let go of her, ignoring the way he missed the feel of her.

  When have I ever missed a woman being close?

  Turning to look at her, he realized his mistake. She was gone. Skimming around the bar, he spotted her sexy little body at the exit. The little minx was walking out. He should have let her go.

  That’s what a smart man would have done.

  Too bad he wasn’t the brightest crayon in the box.

  Sofia

  All I wanted to do was get to Gabe’s place and take a shower. The colder, the better. All thanks to Gabe’s roommate! How had I never met the famous Maverick Bridges? How didn’t I know the guy my mom and brother constantly talked about lived with Gabe?

  Key in hand, I got into the old Jeep Gabe had stored for me. I slipped the key into the ignition, but nothing happened. I tried again and closed my eyes, then I leaned my head against the steering wheel when the engine refused to turn over.

  If anything, it sounded like a drowning cat. Damn it. This was the last thing I needed.

  Pressing my head against the steering wheel, I took a deep breath, reminding myself of why I came back home.

  My mom.

  My brother.

  Regardless of what they thought, family was important to me. Even if living in this tiny town meant I couldn’t date a guy within a twenty-mile radius. Being Beech Grove’s future fire chief’s little sister made me untouchable.

  As much as a pain in the ass as that could be in itself, I loved my hometown. I loved the way everyone knew one another. It was rare for Southern California.

  I wouldn’t have left if it hadn’t been for the fact that I had received a full scholarship to Oxford after completing a study abroad program in high school, and later, a grant for my master’s. Not that I hadn’t enjoyed my time seeing places that many people only daydreamt of. I had. I wrung the hell out of my experience in Europe. It had been amazing, but now I was finally home.