Keeping Her Close: A Slow Burn Standalone

by Casey Diam

  She swallowed. “I got it.”

  “No, I got it,” he said, grabbing as many things as he could manage after forcing bottles of water into his pockets.

  Adrianna gave them a quizzical stare. “What exactly are you two crazies doing dating other people?”

  They walked back to the group in silence.

  “Was there anything healthy over there?” Stephanie asked as they approached, looking at the hot dogs in scorn.

  Brandon handed Stephanie a plate, seeming annoyed. “Not that I could see. Besides, you need the calories if you’re planning to keep up with me.”

  Jordan saw Andrew shaking his head at Sarah.

  “Now I see what you mean, Sarah, when you said you’ve gained weight since being in a relationship,” Stephanie declared.

  Jordan’s eyes widened. That was it. She didn’t care who this Stephanie was; she was done biting her tongue.

  “But a woman with curves to grab on to is so much better. Isn’t that what you like, Brandon?” Jordan asked loudly enough for everyone to hear before stuffing the hot dog in her mouth.

  As Brandon bit the grin from his upturned mouth and averted his gaze, Sarah and Andrew looked at each other in solid recognition of Brandon’s famous words.

  “As I said earlier,” Adrianna chimed in, shaking her head.

  Brandon smiled at Stephanie, easing the resulting tension. “It’s really good, I promise.”

  Jordan picked up her phone to text Greg. Now she wished she’d invited him. “Are we calling it a night after this?”

  “I don’t care. It’s up to you guys. I’m down for whatever,” Sarah said.

  “There’s a billiard place down the road. We could leave here before the concert’s over and have a few beers before the bar gets packed,” Sam’s boyfriend suggested.

  Jordan messaged Brandon, not knowing why his approval mattered.

  Jordan: Would it be weird if I invited the guy I’m dating to hang out?

  Brandon: Why would it be? I did ask you to bring him.

  Jordan: Well, I don’t know if it’s a good idea. I don’t want him to think this is the next step or something.

  Brandon: It’s not like he’s meeting your parents. Invite him. Don’t think so much! Do I need to teach you the rules of the game?

  She needed to forget he took her to meet his parents.

  Jordan: No thanks. Sleeping with the whole city of Los Angeles doesn’t appeal to me.

  Brandon: Hey, go easy!

  Jordan: She’s pretty, I guess.

  Brandon: Is that jealousy I hear?

  Jordan: Nope. Just an observation.

  Brandon: I’m not dating her. Andrew did this. I told him to bring me someone datable . . . I’ve known her less than two hours, and she’s already tried grabbing my dick.

  Jordan: Yikes! That would be bad or weird for anyone else. But you’re Brandon, so it should be the kind of thing that gets you off.

  She continued to type on a more playful note.

  Jordan: Let her touch you. I like to watch!

  Her cheeks scorched at the text. But it was already sent. Where Brandon was involved, the need to win had become stronger each time, which always left her feeling awkward after blurting out some random crap she’d had no intention of saying in the first place.

  Brandon: I take all credit for the woman you are right this second! And don’t worry, I’ll keep the things you like in mind☺.

  After the concert, Jordan and the rest of the group reconvened at the bar, settling into a booth, and soon Greg showed up. Her sweet, adorable date was the perfect distraction from the rollercoaster that was Brandon. But after being around Brandon, it was crystal clear what was lacking between her and Greg: the carnal desire pulling at her every second she was with Brandon.

  But that was good. It meant she had control with Greg and would be safe from falling too fast and getting hurt.

  Jordan smiled as she hugged Greg from the side. His black hair, prescription eyeglasses, and slim physique made him the complete opposite of Brandon. But he was exactly what she needed.

  After a few more drinks, everyone wandered off to do their own thing, but she stayed close to Greg, though not so close that Adrianna felt like a third wheel. Greg had been kind enough to bring along a single friend she could mingle with, but Adrianna didn’t find him too attractive. So there was that.

  Sometime later, Jordan looked over to see Brandon having a lengthy conversation with Adrianna while she was playing pool with Greg. She began to steal glances at the two of them sitting by the bar, anxiety urging her to interrupt their conversation. But why would she even worry about it? Brandon was just a friend. Besides, Adrianna would never disclose personal things about her to Brandon or anyone. They were likely talking about Damian.

  Then Stephanie walked up to Brandon and wrapped her arms around him, whispering something in his ear, and Jordan wanted to gag. Adrianna got up from her place on a barstool and smiled as she caught Jordan staring.

  She hurried over with a wild gleam in her eye. “Who’s driving tonight?”

  Jordan leaned onto Greg. “Neither one of us. I can pick up my car here tomorrow. Greg agreed to give us a lift.”

  “Good. That means I can drink more. Come on, have another drink with me,” Adrianna said, dragging Jordan away from Greg.

  She turned and waved to him in silent apology.

  “That girl is annoying,” Adrianna grumbled. “I don’t know how Brandon deals.”

  “I imagine he won’t much longer, if that’s the case,” Jordan said, peeking at the two who were now seated facing each other on bar stools. Stephanie’s hand rested on Brandon’s upper thigh, and Jordan shook her head. “And he’ll probably still get laid. Why does it piss me off that he doesn’t even have to work for it? He’s such a slut.”

  Adrianna laughed, steering her to the booth where Andrew and Sarah sat.

  “You guys are so cute. How long have you been dating?” Adrianna asked, sliding into the seat across from Sarah. A waitress presented them with drinks as Jordan took her seat; Adrianna must have ordered them before leaving the bar.

  Andrew and Sarah looked at each other. “Oh, wow, um . . . five, six years?” Sarah asked.

  “Sounds about right,” Andrew responded.

  Jordan smiled. “That’s amazing. I haven’t seen a bond like yours in a while. It’s inspiring.” Jordan wanted to ask why they weren’t married, but she figured that was personal.

  “Thank you.” Sarah grinned.

  “How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?” Adrianna said.

  “Twenty-five. I don’t know if oldie over here feels comfortable revealing his age.” Sarah laughed.

  “You are so funny, sweetheart,” Andrew said, shaking his head. “Turning thirty-one in two months.”

  “Wow, Andrew, I think you should go sit with the fellows a little bit more in your age group,” Jordan said, signaling a table close by with men who looked well into their sixties. The girls squealed in laughter.

  A change in the air alerted Jordan that Brandon was near before he even approached their table.

  “What’s going on over here?” he asked.

  “I don’t know, but you need to handle your girl. She’s over there cracking jokes on me,” Andrew snitched.

  Brandon grinned, looking down at her as she sucked her cocktail through the straw.

  “I have no idea what he’s talking about.”

  Andrew cocked his head at her with his mouth open, then looked at Brandon. “She was making fun of my age.”

  “Hey now, he and I are roughly the same age,” Brandon protested.

  “Hmm, I guess old guys must be in,” she jabbed. “Where’s your date? What is she, like, twenty-one?”

  Andrew brought his fist to his mouth. “Oh, shit!”

  Brandon smirked and shook his head, “What am I going to do with you?”

  Sarah jumped in. “I’ll tell you what you are not going to do . . . date her. Ever. Matter of fa
ct, stop flirting with her. This one’s a keeper, Brandon. I like her, and I don’t want you scaring her off. I haven’t had any girlfriends for the longest time because of you and Dami—”

  The mood went from light to heavy in a split second.

  “Let’s not forget whose friend she was first,” Brandon challenged, changing the subject back to its happy state.

  Jordan’s hair jiggled in its bun atop her head, and she found the cause. Brandon’s hand was in her hair, messing it up more than it already was.

  She slapped at him. “Brandon, stop!”

  The tips of his fingers brushed against her nape as he dropped his hand, triggering a set of chills that ran straight to the peaks of her nipples. She jerked away from his touch, and he must have caught on to what he was doing to her, because he secretly skimmed a finger down her neck, causing her to almost jump out of her seat. So embarrassing. Why does he have this effect on me?

  “Stop!” Jordan shrieked.

  “Not so big and bad anymore, are we?” Brandon said.

  Andrew looked at Brandon and shook his head. “She’s out of your league, dude.”

  “Adrianna, ready to call it night?” Jordan asked, trying to grab Brandon’s provoking hand. As she tried to push him away, her hands met rock-hard abs. Really?

  She pressed her legs together as her panties soaked with need, and it had nothing to do with the man she was dating. Brandon was a jerk for picking on her, but her own guilt lingered for the way her body responded to him. He knew how sensitive she was to his touch, yet he still toyed with her. Out in the open. Where everyone could witness the scene. A slutty asshole, that’s what he was.

  Stephanie came up to the table and caught the last of the conversation. “You guys are calling it a night? But it’s just begun!”

  Jordan ignored her comment but hoped her presence would deter Brandon’s behavior.

  Adrianna pouted. “Honestly, I was just hoping Greg’s friend would be cuter.” She sat up straight, peeking over her shoulder to where Greg and his friend stood. “Or, maybe he’s cuter now that I’ve had a few more drinks.”

  Jordan laughed. “I think we should definitely call it a night now.”

  “Who’s the old ass now?” Brandon smirked. “Way past your bedtime, grandma.”

  “Ha!” Andrew laughed. “Up top, brother,” he said, giving Brandon a high five. “We could go all night.”

  “Sarah, put your number in my phone so next time we can hang out without this nuisance,” Jordan said, jerking her head to Brandon.

  “Easy! That’s not nice.” he sneered. “How are you getting home anyway?”

  “Greg’s driving. Now please, step aside so I can leave, because seriously, grandma or youngster, who wouldn’t go home early with a hottie like that?” Jordan goaded.

  “Oooh, damn, right below the belt,” Andrew announced.

  “You’re on my naughty list,” Brandon said, tugging on her ear.

  Warmth rushed through her, and she bit her lip and stood as she figured out what he was doing. He wanted her to think about the effect he had on her, so she wouldn’t sleep with Greg. She pushed him to the side and cleared her throat.

  “You’re despicable.”

  This was why she liked Greg. How could a man be so arrogant as to stand in front of the girl he was on a date with and flirt with someone else? Greg looked over, and she signaled him closer, wishing he wasn’t so shy. He was the only person who could ensure Brandon kept his distance, since he evidently didn’t care about overstepping with his own date.

  “It was so nice hanging out with all of you. I’m not usually like this,” Adrianna said. “Wait, I’m always like this. Whoa, oh yeah, the drinks did work . . . definitely an eight now. I suppose it’s about time I took one for the team.” She stood and hugged Brandon. “You are awesome, Brandon. Thank you.”

  “Adrianna, will you stop building his ego?” Jordan said, wrapping her arms around Greg’s waist when he approached. There was no way in hell she was hugging Brandon after the stunt he’d pulled, messing with her like that.

  “It was nice meeting you, Jordan. Have fun tonight!” Stephanie winked.

  For once, since the night started, she felt sorry for the poor girl. She hadn’t the slightest idea of what she was stepping into with Brandon.

  “Thanks. I will,” Jordan mumbled before catching a stony glint in Brandon’s eyes.

  That she hadn’t expected.

  Why had he attended the concert tonight? It’d made everything worse.

  A day before, he’d convinced himself it would be about moving on—which meant he would hang with Stephanie, who Andrew had been convinced was perfect for him. But then he’d also stepped it up a notch so he could see Jordan again, only this time with her date. This way he could check out his competition, or better yet, forget about her after he saw her with the douche who was taking her away.

  And it had been a great plan until he met Stephanie, who wasn’t at all his type, and ended the evening by watching Jordan leave with Greg, not him.

  Jordan wanted Greg, not him. Why was that so hard to swallow?

  In any other situation, it would be fine, because he didn’t mess around with girls who weren’t single. But Jordan was . . . different. Jordan was supposed to be his, not Greg’s, not anyone else’s.

  The ice slid forward in the glass and hit his lips as he finished his drink. He set the tumbler on the bar, waiting for the bartender’s attention.

  “Wow, you’re quite the drinker,” Stephanie observed. She licked her lips as he signaled the bartender over. “I’ll still take care of you, if you want. I really want to.”

  Her meaning wasn’t lost on him, as she’d mentioned twice now how she wanted to blow him before the night was over.

  “How do you know Andrew?” he asked.

  “I don’t—well, not really. I’ve known Sarah for a while, though. I go to her yoga classes in Newport.”

  “Well, good thing you’re beautiful,” Brandon said, mentally threatening Andrew for passing off his wingman duties to his girlfriend.

  Stephanie blushed. “Thank you. Are you from here?”

  “Yes, I’ve traveled quite a bit, but I like it here the most. It suits me. So tell me, how long have you been single?” Brandon oozed some charm her way.

  If Jordan was going to go fuck Greg, it was only fair that he enjoy his night too. His face heated in fury at the thought of Greg snuggling up with Jordan in her bed.

  For Pete’s sake, what was his problem?

  “To be honest, I just got out of a relationship,” Stephanie said, intertwining her fingers. “But let’s not talk about that. We could have some fun together.”

  Sounded like she was still hung up on the guy, trying to get over him. But she was single now. Dark liquid sloshed around the ice cubes in his glass as he lifted it to his lips. Oh shit, Jordan. Why hadn’t he thought of that before? She’d never divulged much about her ex besides what he’d said about her hair. Could she still be hung up on him? But now she seemed okay dating Greg. Had he been her rebound guy? That didn’t make sense since they hadn’t even fucked.

  Sarah and Andrew walked up to the bar.

  “I’m going to the bathroom. Wanna come with?” Sarah asked Stephanie, who perkily hopped off the barstool, leaving him to scowl at Andrew.

  “Dude, what the fuck?”

  Andrew laughed. “I’m sorry. Sarah wanted to help.”

  Brandon shook his head. “You’re a dick. And you’re permanently fired from wingman duties.”

  He turned to see that Jordan hadn’t left the bar yet, but was still standing close to the exit with Sam, Jay, Adrianna, and Greg’s buddy. Greg looped his arm around Jordan’s waist, and she leaned into his body. Then she kissed him on the mouth—naturally, like they’d done it many times. His blood boiled. What the fuck? Cringing, he calculated how long she’d been dating Greg. Was she going to sleep with him, like she’d rubbed in his face earlier?

  Wait a minute.

 
; “She’s not nervous around him,” he said, and Andrew followed his gaze.

  “Should she be? I mean, he seems like a decent dude. Wait, don’t tell me you’re trying to get her? You would have fucked by now. It’s been what? Over a month since you met her?”

  “I don’t know, dude. It’s whatever,” he said, though his mind wanted to throw a temper tantrum like he wasn’t a grown-ass man.

  Brandon’s level of productivity dramatically reduced over the next few days as he kept a low profile and avoided people, even more than he had the week before. But on his way home from kickboxing, Jordan called. He was still pissed about her dating Greg and didn’t want to talk to her, but he answered for the hell of it.

  “I’m coming over,” she announced. “Are you home?”

  Taken aback, he replied, “I’m about to be, why?”

  “I’ll tell you when I get there.” Then the line went dead.

  The gym had worn him out like he’d wanted, and he hadn’t planned on seeing anyone tonight, but he went home, took a quick shower, and threw on a pair of black sweatpants.

  When Jordan got to his house, she was wearing a white tank top, skinny jeans, her glasses, and a messy ponytail. Somehow her casual look was more sultry than when she was in her pristine work attire.

  She’s your friend, she doesn’t want you, and she’s taken, he reminded himself.

  She hesitated, eyeing his chest. “You’re not wearing a shirt.”

  “I know.” He shrugged. “I’m in my house where I barely ever wear a shirt. Does it bother you?”

  She blinked and scratched her forearm. “No.”

  It bothers her. “Fine, then what’s going on?” he asked, hoping she wasn’t here to talk about Greg. Because so help him—

  “That’s what I’m here to ask you. Can I come in?” Jordan slid by him and into the foyer.

  “By all means,” he said, following her.