“No. But I did forget to tell you something. Maybe it can wait, though.”
“Just tell me,” she sighed.
“Well…”
Her heart sped up while he paused and met her gaze with an intense one of his own.
“It’s just that I never got to show you my move. So I guess, if you’re determined not to sleep with me again, you’ll never get to see it. Kind of sucks, is all.” He frowned and released her hand, then walked through the wide glass doors without so much as giving her a second glance.
She stared after him for a long moment. He was just lying to get under her skin and into her bed. There was no way, with all that they’d done, that he hadn’t done “the move.” Assuming there even was a move to begin with.
But if he was telling the truth…
She squeezed her thighs together to quell the fresh ache. God damn him.
He thought he could make her uncomfortable all night? He thought he could make her pant after him like a lovesick puppy?
Well, if that was his plan, he had another think coming. Two could play at that game, and whether he knew it or not, he’d declared war on the grand master.
She stared at the glass doors and steeled herself for her newfound mission. She was going to take a moment and collect herself. And when she finally got in there? She was going to make him pay.
…
“Apparently we missed a memo.” He turned to his side, but apparently Serena hadn’t followed him.
That was fine. She was probably doing what he’d been doing since the first night they met. Flip-flopping. Trying to decide what to do about the problem of him.
What surprised him, though, was that the situation wasn’t as clear to her as it had become to him last night. The sex was electric, and the best part was that neither had any expectations beyond that. He’d be gone by the end of the month…so where was the harm in enjoying that time while it lasted? There had been that moment where things had gotten a little too deep, but they’d rebounded and gotten back on track. The fact was, she wasn’t anything like the nutty girls he’d been with in the past. He liked her. He wanted her. And, while it couldn’t last, and they’d have to call it quits soon, it didn’t have to be now. He’d deal with the aftermath when it came. Until then? Depriving themselves didn’t make a lick of sense.
Waiting for her to join him, he stared around and tried to avoid eye contact with any of the people surrounding him. In a crowd this big, it should have been easy enough, but since Serena was taking her sweet time, he’d have to be extra careful.
“You came!” A female voice said behind him, and he flinched for a second before realizing it was Q.
When he spotted her, he wasn’t so sure he’d been right in assuming her identity. She barely looked like herself with a giant star painted over half of her face. But once he saw her smile and those loose brown braids, he knew for sure that he was staring at his sister.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Was this shindig planned with a boss?” he asked.
She gestured around the massive space. “All my handiwork. It’s an eighties theme.” She pointed at her face. “You dig?”
He should have known that this was the sort of thing only Q could dream up. The gym of his old high school was transformed into the sort of bandstand that only really existed in movies about the eighties. Neon lights and colors abounded, and women in full-body spandex circled the crowd on roller skates while carrying trays of neon green drinks.
When one of the waitresses finally rolled past, he picked up two cups and handed one to his sister. “You definitely have a talent.”
“Why thank you. Now where’s your lady love?” Her face twisted into a knowing smile, and he fought the urge to give her a noogie like he had when they were kids. She knew the scoop, but he was fully aware that she was holding out hope that this farce would become a reality.
“What did you say about a lady love?” Serena sounded beside him, and he tried his best not to seem affected by her presence. Instead, he handed her a drink, and she took it with a coy grin. Gone were the baffled eyes, pink cheeks, and fluttery hands. Ballsy, sexy Serena was back, and she’d clearly rethought her strategy pertaining to him.
Very interesting.
“My sister was asking where you were. Q, meet Serena. Serena, meet Q.” He gestured between the women and they shook hands.
“Nice to actually meet you, officially. I saw you at the auction but didn’t get a chance to say hello before this guy dragged me out of there.” She jerked a thumb in his direction. “I’ve heard so much about you,” Serena said.
“Is that so?” Q eyed him and then focused on Serena again. “Well, I’m very pleased to meet you, too. Let’s get to know each other better at a table, huh?” Q sliced through the crowd, and they followed behind, Serena taking the lead.
This time he didn’t worry about recognizing the faces around him. He didn’t even bother to look. The sole of his attention was on Serena’s form as she walked, her ass swaying like a cartoon vixen.
Her skirt was so small and tight that he hadn’t been able to look at her for most of the ride over. If he’d so much as dared, he would have pulled the car over the second he saw her and convinced her to change her mind if only so that he could catch another glimpse of what was underneath that tiny skirt. If he hadn’t known better, he would have thought she was teasing him on purpose. Even now, his cock twitched at the thought of having her all to himself.
Q sat at one of the small cocktail tables along the cinder-block wall. He hadn’t noticed, but apparently the two women had been chatting as they’d moved through the crowd, and now they were each in a fit of laughter.
It should have been a nice sight, but it was chilling to see them with their heads together. The mischievous grin on Serena’s face did nothing to help matters, either.
“I’d like to offer a toast.” He raised his glass and the ladies followed his lead. “To the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen.” He pinned Serena with a stare and clicked his glass with hers. “And to a wonderful night together.”
Rather than responding to the thinly veiled pass, Serena sipped her drink, but she couldn’t hide the blush on her cheeks. Point one, Bryan.
And the wins just kept coming. For a solid hour, they hung around the table and talked about Q and her business. About what high school had been like. About everything.
It was a strange sort of thing to watch his sister and Serena. After their difficult childhood, Q had abandonment issues, and while she was outgoing, she’d never been one to get close too quickly, but with Serena the friendship seemed almost instantaneous. Within the first hour, the women were already starting to finish each other’s sentences.
In fact, the fates were so in his favor that even the fake girlfriend thing was working like a charm. Girls who had previously latched onto him at events like this tried to inch toward them, but Serena was quick to shut them down, playing her part to the hilt. Probably more than technically necessary, but he wasn’t complaining. It was all going perfectly.
And then Piper showed up.
“Well look who’s here! Hey Bryan, hey Q! Sabrina,” she added, shooting an icy look in his date’s direction.
“Now Piper, don’t be such a witch, you know that’s not her name,” his sister said, leaning closer to Serena and baring her teeth at his ex.
Damn. And things had been going so well.
“How was the apple pie, Bryan?” she asked, pointedly ignoring Q and pinning her too-bright gaze on him.
“You’d have to ask the raccoons,” Serena said with an apologetic shrug. “He was so stuffed from eating all my pie, we had to throw yours away.”
Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say. One second, Piper was faking nice and the next, she was tugging her earrings off and lunging for Serena. He stepped between them, and Q held Piper back as she screamed at Serena over her shoulder.
“You scrawny little bitch! You think you can hold on to him any better th
an I did?”
“Listen here, you crazy ho,” Q hissed. “If you fuck up my party, I’m going to wring your little neck, you hear me? Now either walk away and find some friend who can talk you down or I’m calling the cops.”
Nostrils flared, and she seemed like she was going to argue, but one look at the dead serious expression on his sister’s face and Piper took a step back. “Yeah. Okay.”
“No more trouble tonight. I mean it,” Q warned.
Piper shot one long, last look in his direction before turning on her heel and stalking away.
“That never gets old,” Q said with an eye roll. “Sorry, Serena. You okay?”
“Yeah, we’ve danced this dance a couple times. Tell you the truth, I’m getting kinda used to it.”
Q smirked. “See that? You guys would make a great couple. Maybe you should try—”
“Hey, would you look at that,” he cut in. So much for Q to the rescue. The easy, relaxed vibe at the table was long gone, and now with every word out of his sister’s mouth, Serena’s face grew more panic-stricken. He had some serious backpedaling to do, and the only way to solve things was to get away from the touchy-feely and back toward the…touchy.
Before Piper had ruined everything, it had been going great. Serena was clearly intent on punishing him for his confidence about the way their evening would end. There was a lot of leg crossing and brushing against his shin in the process, or she would lean forward just the slightest bit too far, letting him know that tonight’s lacy bra was a midnight blue that matched her corset-style top.
He wasn’t sure if she planned on following through, but he was going to do everything in his power to see her naked again. Now that Piper had set him back to square one, and Q had started flapping her mouth, he had his work cut out for him.
“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?” He stroked Serena’s hand from across the table, running the pads of his fingers along her delicate knuckles.
“Isn’t this your song?”
“Olivia Newton John’s ‘Physical’ is your song?” Q raised her eyebrows.
“Yeah.” He held out a hand to Serena. “Serena loves oldies. Want to dance? Q, I hope you don’t mind.” His sister shrugged and Serena eyed him warily as she took his hand in hers.
Once they were in the middle of the floor, his hands were on her hips. He pulled her close.
“This isn’t a slow song,” she said and tried to pull back, but he kept her there and whispered into her ear.
“So let’s dance fast.” He swayed against her and pulled back just enough to watch her cheeks flame. He knew she could feel the heat of his desire pressing into her, but she made no move to back away again. Instead, she ground against him more, almost urging him on.
He had no idea what the tempo or song was. Hell, they could have been playing the theme from Jaws for all he cared. Serena’s gaze was locked on his, her lips slightly parted, and she didn’t tell him to stop as his hands slid lower, over the curve of her ass, and they danced on.
He pressed his face against her hair again, whispering, “I know what you were doing. Before Piper came over.”
“Do you?” She pulled away and eyed him. “Why don’t you tell me, then?”
“You’re trying to torture me.” He spun her around and then dipped her. Just as he’d hoped, the move had caught her by surprise. She stared up at him, breath caught, and he planted a kiss on her parted lips.
“I’m sorry to tell you it’s not working.” He pulled her back to standing, but this time she didn’t miss a beat.
“Oh, but I think it is,” she responded, grinding against him as if to prove her point.
“It’s true that I want you,” he said. “But the problem is, you want me just as bad. So you’re torturing both of us, and I’m not sure why.”
She forced a laugh, but it was hollow, and her eyes were wide.
Slowly, he ran his fingers down her back and whispered into her ear. “Are you trying to tell me that if I ripped your panties off right now, you wouldn’t be wet for me?”
Her silence was answer enough.
“You’re a grown woman. I’m a grown man. So why do we have to stop? Nobody is going to get hurt.” He caught her earlobe between his teeth and she arched into him. “That is, unless you ask very, very nicely.”
She shivered against him, and he wondered, not for the first time, what they were still doing there. He’d come like Q had asked, but his obligation was fulfilled now, and all he wanted to do was spend a little more time alone with the woman in his arms.
“What do you say we get out of here?” he asked softly.
To his everlasting relief, she nodded without hesitation. “Okay. Let me run to the ladies’ room, and I’ll meet you by the exit.”
She pulled back and gave him a searing look that made him think about following her, but Q would kill him if he didn’t at least say good-bye.
He watched Serena go, unable to drag his gaze away. She was a catch. No question. If he was a different guy, or it was a different time in his life, maybe…
Nope. The whole reason they’d hit it off in the first place was because neither of them wanted anything serious. No point in screwing up a good thing with wishes and regrets. They’d at least have tonight, and maybe even until he had to leave, if he had any say in the matter. Then, after that, it would be a clean break. It was best for both of them.
But damn, was he going to miss her.
Chapter Eight
Serena fussed with her hair in the mirror, but no matter how she rearranged it, it seemed hell-bent on remaining a total mess. Then again, what was the use of putting time into pinning everything in place only to have Bryan tousle her again in his bed tonight?
Because she was definitely not done with him. In fact, she couldn’t wait to finish what he’d so cleverly started out on the dance floor.
A sweet, seductive heat coiled around her spine at the thought, and she rummaged through her purse in search of her pouty pink lip gloss. He was right. There was no reason to be afraid. She needed to stop letting her fear control her every move.
She liked Bryan.
A lot. So why was she trying to fool herself and him into thinking she didn’t? Maybe spending more time with him would wind up biting her in the ass. Maybe she’d be even sadder when he left, but for now? She was going to soak up every second with him and let the chips fall where they may.
She might have to keep her feelings to herself to keep from scaring him away, but she was good at that. Especially since she’d only have to do it until he had to go back. A day that seemed to be coming at warp speed now.
Resolute, she turned to go, heels clicking softly on the floor as she made her way to the ladies’ room door. So softly, in fact, that if they’d been any louder, she might not have heard the quiet sniffle that sounded as she reached for the doorknob.
Normally she would let it go. Not that she was soulless or anything, but if she locked herself in a stall alone to cry, she sure as hell wouldn’t want a stranger bugging her.
And still, something stirred in her at the next pitiful snuffle and made her turn around.
“Um, is someone in here? Can I help?”
There was no answer for a long moment, but then the stall on the far side of the room creaked open and out walked Piper, black mascara streaming down her miserable face. No matter what she might have felt for the woman before, or how bitchy she’d been since day one, all that was crushed by the weight of her pity. There was no denying the anguish that lined her every feature.
Piper didn’t say anything, just rested her palms on either side of the ceramic basin, but Serena didn’t prompt her. She stood, her hip pressed against the concrete wall, and waited quietly to hear what Piper so clearly needed to say to her.
At last, the other woman mumbled something that sounded like, “I knew it was you.”
“Sorry?”
“I knew it was you when you came in here. With the”—she nodded toward Serena�
��s ice-pick-thin stilettos—”heels and everything. Nobody dresses like that in real life. How can you even walk in those?”
So much for olive branches. Hold them out in this town and people just use them to torch you. “Well, this has been real, but I think I’m going to bounce—”
“No, wait, that’s not what I meant.” Piper rested her head against the wide mirror before finally turning to stare Serena in the eye. “What I meant was that when I saw you for the first time, I knew that he would like you. You’re so pretty. And of course you like him back. Who wouldn’t? He’s got this charm about him, you know?”
Serena nodded, though she still backed toward the door. She wanted to help the woman, but there was no telling if she was really coming to terms with things or if she was on the edge of some Single White Female shit, and if that was the case, then Serena was going to make damn sure she was at least near an exit.
“I know it’s…I know I’ve been…” Piper coughed and shook her head. “I can’t do this. I can’t be around him. I saw him drooling all over you on the dance floor, but you’ll see one day, when he’s sick of you. How it feels to be cast aside. I know you think he loves you, but I thought that too once.”
Serena lifted a hand. “Say no more. Message received.”
And it had been. Not only now, but in the million times she’d heard it before tonight. When her mother had said it through tears to au pairs and then over the phone to “business liaisons.” Or when her father had whispered it threateningly to pool boys and tennis instructors. Or when they both silently thought it to themselves when they lived their long, loveless lives.
So what was the difference?
They’d gotten caught up, just like Piper had, just like Serena was now. They’d all forgotten that this infatuation bullshit was fleeting, a spark of a chemical reaction that triggered total insanity in everyone it infected.
But maybe that wasn’t fair, either. Piper’s relationship had ended years ago. And Serena’s parents might never have had a good relationship at all. It seemed like they’d just spent their time collecting tally marks on a never-ending scoreboard. What if, with the right guy, she could do it better?
Dirty Deal (A Perfectly Matched Novel) (Entangled Brazen) Page 10
