by Rayne, Piper
“What Bella said. I’m not into being a third wheel.”
“Perfect. I’ll cover the bill.” Annie steps away.
Enzo places his hand on Annie’s arm to stop her. “I’ve got it.”
“So where should we go?” Annie smiles at me.
I glance at Bella. “You agreed?” My tone is accusatory, and the scowl Bella gives in return says she’s not happy about it.
Bella looks behind her. “Is there some knockout behind me who distracted you from our conversation?”
I grin. “Jealous?”
“You wish.”
Annie’s head swivels back and forth between us as though we’re entertainment. With the amount of wine she’s drunk, she’s bound to get nauseated.
“Maybe I do.” I raise an eyebrow, challenging her.
Bella rolls her eyes.
A stream of people come by to say goodbye and thank Annie for organizing the night. Justin lingers. My assumption is that he wants to talk to me but doesn’t want to do it in front of the enemy.
I step away from everyone else. “What’s up?”
“I wanted to let you know that Mr. Throttle’s assistant messaged me this evening and wants to meet you for brunch at The Cobbler at ten thirty tomorrow.” He cringes because Throttle is moving up our meeting.
I shrug. “Okay.”
“Do you want me to text you in the morning?” He has his phone out, ready to set a reminder.
It’s taken me two years to train Justin into the assistant I need him to be, and I can sense his itch to move on. Having him has allowed me to have a social life for the past year. Not the social life of a normal twenty-eight-year-old, but I get out a lot more than I did before he was around. Pretty soon I’ll have no choice but to promote him.
“I’m not eighty and senile. I can remember.”
He eyes my pocket. “Well, I put it on the calendar.”
I purposely don’t pull out my phone to set an alarm, just to prove a point. Though I do make a mental note to do so as soon as he’s not in sight.
“Thanks, Justin.” I pat his shoulder.
Enzo’s made his way back to the group, and he and Annie are in a conversation which I’m pretty sure is Enzo asking her to reconsider the whole going out thing. She’s still giving him those eyes though, which means we’re going clubbing on a Tuesday night.
“I overheard you were going out after, so I wanted to make sure you knew in case you wanted to change your plans.”
“Thanks, buddy, but I already have a mother.”
Justin nods and runs his hand through his blond hair. “Okay, well, have fun.” His eyes shift from Bella to me—twice.
“Do you have a thing for her?” I ask, smirking.
“No!” I swear his voice changes octaves like when I was twelve.
“It’s okay if you do.” Don’t even ask me why I’m pushing this. I should let it go. Before he has a chance to answer, I shake my head to wave him off. “Thanks, Justin. Have a great night.”
“Night, Carm.”
My brother waves at Justin as I re-join our foursome.
“You know the clubs.” Annie saddles up to me. “Where should we go? I want to dance.”
“Dance?” Enzo rolls his eyes behind her, but when she looks at him, he smiles.
Seriously, he’s so fucking whipped, I’m losing respect for the guy I looked up to most of my life.
“Annie, I really think I might just go home,” Bella says.
“No.” She swings her arm through Bella’s. “Let’s just go for a bit and have some fun.”
She escorts Bella out of the bowling alley, and Enzo and I begrudgingly follow, Enzo grumbling the whole time.
“If you’re so upset, just say no,” I tell him.
Annie and Bella step out onto the streets of Manhattan, laughing.
“I like to make her happy, and she rarely gets the chance to go out and have fun. We spend the majority of our weekends in bed. Not the way you think. We’re with our laptops, talking over campaigns and working. If she wants to go dance, I’m gonna dance.”
I shake my head, not understanding at all.
He looks at his phone where I see he has the Uber app up. Must’ve called a car when I was talking with Justin. A dark sedan pulls up to the curb, and he opens the door for the ladies. They slide in and Enzo waits, because he’s going to take the front. Of course he is. This time around, Bella’s riding bitch.
He chuckles when I slam the door in his face after I get in the back seat.
“Where to, Carm?” Annie asks.
I lean forward and give the driver the name of the club and the address so he can make the change to his system. Seems Enzo put his and Annie’s place in when he ordered the car since we hadn’t decided where we were headed.
Bella glances at me when my thigh presses against hers. I have no choice. It’s a tight squeeze back here. Annie’s putting us in a bad situation. There’s tension between us, wound so tightly it might break from the smallest action.
I’m man enough to admit I don’t possess a lot of willpower when it comes to things I want. I rarely deprive myself, no matter the consequences. But this time, I can’t give in to temptation. Tonight, my hands need to remain in my pockets and not on her hips.
Our gazes lock as the cab stops in front of the club. Even I would bet against me tonight.
Chapter Nine
Bella
How do I always get myself into these situations? Dr. Newberry told me to assert myself. Not to let people convince me to do something I don’t want to or to feel bad because I say no to something. Yet here I am, stepping out of a cab with a man I think of as my enemy, his brother, and his girlfriend.
It’ll be nice to have friends at the office. That’s my excuse.
Carm, being Carm, glances at the line wrapping around the building and beelines it to the bouncer. Of course he knows him. He probably picks up a different woman every night of the week here.
I watch him talk to the bouncer, his back to me, and can’t help but notice that Carm’s jeans mold to his ass perfectly.
My belly dips as if I just tipped over a hill on a rollercoaster. What will happen behind those closed doors? Will this club become the location of a memory I’ll regret forever? Because when Carm’s strong arms and solid chest were pressed against me after I scored a strike, for a moment, I wondered what if he wasn’t a high-end broker and I wasn’t the FSBO girl? What if we just happened to meet at a coffee shop? Would I have allowed him to take me home and give me a night I’m sure I’d never forget?
“Let’s go.” Carm waits near the bouncer.
Annie and Enzo head in with me trailing behind.
“You’re on a first-name basis, I presume?” I snipe as I pass him.
“A thank you would be nice.”
“Thanks,” I say over my shoulder, and we step into the dark club with pounding dance music.
Annie and Enzo head straight to the bar. I’m about to follow when Carm grabs my elbow and pulls me to the side. A big body runs into me from behind, and I lose my footing on my heels, falling into Carm’s chest. His hands grip my upper arms before I end up in a pile at his feet. Which he’d probably like.
“Thanks,” I mumble, humbled by the fact that he saved me from embarrassment.
“Can we call this off for tonight?” he asks.
“Call what off?”
“The fact we dislike each other. I don’t really want to be here, and I’m fairly sure you don’t either, so why don’t we just make the most of it?” He holds my gaze, and I find it hard to look away.
I nod because he’s right. We’re going to be stuck together all night. Might as well try to make it not completely miserable.
“Good. Now what can I get you to drink?” He places his hand on the small of my back, guiding me toward the bar.
“I can get my own—”
“What can I get you to drink, Bella?” His words are contrite, as though he’s exasperated with me.
He nods. “Done.”
I hang back with Annie while Carm squeezes in next to Enzo. The two brothers have a demanding presence with their height and good looks, and it doesn’t take them long to be served.
“Want to go out there?” Annie asks.
I glance down at her because I have a few inches on her, especially in my heels. I haven’t known her long, but I haven’t gotten this vibe from her during office hours.
“Come on. I’ve got a booth.” Carm hands me a drink, and our fingers brush against each other’s.
Nothing. No zing. Good.
But then his hand finds my lower back again and electricity flows through my body.
“So what’s the word about the Hamptons, Carm? Enzo said you were setting us up.” Annie slides into the booth. I half expected her to be on the dance floor already.
“You’ve given me an impossible task. You should’ve told me months ago.” He sips his drink, leaning back in the circular booth overlooking the dance floor. It’s set back enough that we can have a conversation.
“I know, but you know you’re my favorite, right?” Annie bats her eyes.
Carm stares blankly at her. “You told Blanca she was your favorite Mancini sibling,” he deadpans.
“Ah, but you’re my favorite brother.” She winks.
“Excuse me?” Enzo asks.
Annie laughs, falling into his chest. “Not including you.” She tugs on his hand. “Dance with me,” she says with an alluring smile.
He sips his Old-Fashioned and nods, then she drags him out of the booth. Carm and I watch them disappear in the throes of the crowded dance floor.
Who knew all this was happening on a Tuesday night?
“She wants to summer in the Hamptons, huh?” Carm and I can at least talk about real estate. It’s what we both know.
“Yeah. Impossible, right?”
I nod. “My friend wants to as well. I searched some rentals, but all that’s left are the bigger houses. My friend is all about sharing, but I’m not so sure.”
His eyes widen. “You’d spend your weekends in the Hamptons?”
I sip my drink, distracting myself from answering for a moment. He’ll just think what he already does—that I’m a slacker. That all I do is take people’s money and put their home up on MLS and do nothing else. That I’m not a real broker. I know that’s half the reason he doesn’t like me. He sees me as a sellout.
I shrug. “My friend made a convincing argument.”
“I always told myself I’d get big enough one day and I could do it.”
“You’re still young. There’s time.”
He takes a sip of his drink, his gaze darting to the dance floor. “It’s just—” He looks back my way, a question obviously on the tip of his tongue. He waits a moment before he asks. “Why did you get out of the game?”
My stomach sinks. The last person I’d ever want to have this discussion with is him. So I use the same excuse I tell everyone. “I didn’t enjoy it. The constant prospecting for new clients, the long hours, having to be available at a moment’s notice if an offer came in. My life was just about work.”
He nods before I can finish. He understands. I knew he would.
“I like the money too much.” His ego-filled smile shoots in my direction.
I did too. He thinks it’s easy money going FSBO, but it’s not. Sure, the clients mostly come to me, but there are no huge windfalls when a deal comes together. But it does have its benefits…
“No comeback?” he asks, pushing his half-empty glass into the middle of the table.
“Nope. I get it.”
He nods. “Do you think they’d notice if we snuck out?”
Annie and Enzo are on the edge of the dance floor, and she’s definitely feeling the alcohol.
“I didn’t see her drinking that much at the bowling alley.” I take a small sip of my drink, aware that I need to keep my wits about me with this man.
“She’s a lightweight, but I’m still not sure why she’s drunk as much as she has. She and Enzo are so focused on growing their new ad company, they work all the damn time. I don’t understand why she wanted the meet-and-greet in the first place.”
“Everyone needs to let off some steam once in a while.” I smile, watching her grind her ass into Enzo. His hands are on her hips, but he doesn’t seem too into the act—other than watching her movements.
“He fell hard for her,” Carm says more to himself than to me, I think.
“What do you mean?”
He looks at me and shakes his head. “Nothing. It’s just my brother seemed to be happily single one minute and ready for the altar the next. It’s insane to think how fast life can change.”
My breath catches. He has no idea. Has nothing life-changing ever happened to him? I push back the dark thoughts trying to cloud my mind.
“Are you a closet romantic?” I ask, wondering where his comments are coming from.
He makes a sound that says I’m crazy. “I’m too selfish to be into monogamy.”
Annie and Enzo disappear toward the bar, while Carm and I are barely sipping our drinks at this point.
“Figures.”
“What?” he asks. “I don’t have to be ashamed for feeling that way. I don’t promise breakfasts and dinner dates and flowers. If I pick you up in a club and go back to your place, you should know I’m not sticking around for cuddle time and breakfast in bed.”
I roll my eyes. Just when I thought he was a halfway decent guy. “You’re unbelievable.”
“Come on. You’ve never had a one-night stand?”
“Why would I ever tell you that?” I bring my drink back to my lips.
“Because we’re here when we’d rather be in bed and we might as well get to know one another.” He sips his drink while his gaze remains steady on me over the rim of his glass, waiting for an answer.
“Do you want to play Never Have I Ever or something?” I set my drink on the table and cross my arms.
He shrugs. “Sure. I’m always game for anything.”
“You’re so juvenile. I’m going to say my goodbyes.” I move to slide out of the opposite side of the booth, but Annie and Enzo approach at that exact moment.
Annie’s not looking very good. Enzo is practically holding her up. Carm slides out of the booth to help with what he can.
“We’re out. Party girl is sleepy,” Enzo says.
“Did she get sick?” I ask.
Her pasty complexion screams that if she hasn’t, she’s going to.
“Not yet.” Enzo shakes his head.
“Want help?” Carm asks.
I would’ve pegged him for the kind of guy to point fingers and laugh at someone who’s had too many, but he only seems concerned about his brother’s girlfriend.
“Nah. I got her.” Enzo sweeps her up and over his shoulder. “Thank God you’re wearing pants,” he murmurs.
Her hair falls down over her head. I think she might be out cold. She doesn’t move at all as Enzo makes his way through the crowd.
“Guess we’re off the hook now.” I slide out of the booth.
“Wanna share a cab?” Carm asks.
I’d normally say no, but I’d rather not get into a cab by myself at eleven at night. “Sure, but no more talk about one-night stands.”
He laughs. “What do I have to do to loosen you up a little?” He waits for me to go first, following right behind me.
When we reach the street, he flags down a cab and I slide in first. I give the driver my address and we sit in silence while the car makes its way through Manhattan.
“I think we should keep this truce going,” Carm says out of nowhere.
“I don’t hate you. I think you hate me.”
He shifts in his seat to face me. “Just don’t steal my clients and we’re cool.”
“I told you it wasn’t intentional.”
“But it happened.” His eyebrows raise.
“You can’
t call a truce and then say I’m a liar.”
The cab driver chuckles. My gaze shoots to the rearview mirror and we share a look.
“Fine. You didn’t steal him. But maybe next time you tell people you can’t service them.”
“Service them? I’m not a call girl. And I’m not going to turn down business.”
The cab driver pulls over to the curb of my condo building, and I move to slide out my side because Carm isn’t opening the door to let me out.
He pushes his hand through his hair. “Sorry.”
“Are you trying to be nice tonight and it’s just not working?”
His attitude has been back and forth all night. One moment he’s cool and the next he’s hot under the collar.
“No. It’s just…” He blows out a breath. “Annie said earlier I was a douche, and I’m not, so I’m trying to show you I’m not. I’m not even sure why I give a shit, but I do.” He runs his fingers through his hair again, his eyes cast down. He opens the door and steps out. “I’ll be right back,” he tells the cabbie through the passenger window.
“I don’t need you to walk me,” I say, although I like having him with me. It makes me feel safe.
“Listen, I may like variety in my sexual encounters, but I’m a gentleman, and even though I love to hate you, I don’t want anything to happen to you.” He steps into the small foyer of my condo building.
“Thank you.” I open the main door and step into the lobby where the overflowing mailboxes are.
“Do you want me to walk you up?” he asks, holding the glass door.
“No. I got it from here.” My mace is in my purse. I’ll pull that out once he leaves.
“Okay then. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He rocks back on his heels but doesn’t leave.
“Is there something else?”
He hems and haws for a moment, then his hands come out of his pockets. I’ve noticed this evening that he uses them to communicate. “It’s just… I’m not an asshole, and for some reason it bothers me that you think I am. I enjoyed talking to you tonight. I don’t want the animosity between us to stand.”
I nod. “Okay. We’ll be civil to one another when our paths cross.” I turn to head farther into the building but turn and face him again. “And I don’t think you’re an asshole by the way.”
