by Claire Adams
My ego won out, and I moved around him with ease, pumping my legs as I climbed the hill in front of us. I made it across the street and parked in front of the restaurant as he called out to me.
"Show off." He stopped beside me a little winded. "You work out?"
"You know I do." I smiled and got off the bike, looking for a place to tie it up. "I just needed to remind you that girls are just as capable as boys."
"Good to know, but the hope in even playing like they weren't was to get you to pull in front. I wanted to see your ass in those shorts. Best part of my summer, to be honest. Come on, over here."
"You ass." I got off, chuckling at his cocky response. Whether it was true or not was irrelevant. He was ballsy enough to say it, either way.
"You love it." He bent down and tied up his side before moving to mine and tying mine up to.
"Don't flatter yourself." I brushed my hands over my hair as it danced around me thanks to the strong breeze coming off the lake.
"I'm hoping you'll flatter me instead and save me the trouble." He offered me his arm. "My lady?"
"I'm thinking there is far more to you than you let most people see." I slid my arm into his as I worked to ignore how good it felt to be close to him.
"Most people hide those parts of themselves that scream insecurity, right?" He opened the door and watched me as I walked by.
"I guess that's very true." I moved up to the hostess’ stand and asked for a table for two.
"On the patio," Brody chimed in. He pressed his fingers to my lower back as we walked through the restaurant and made our way out onto the back patio.
The sun was starting to set over the edge of the lake, and the burnt orange and crimson in the sky pulled at my desire to belong to someone, to be romantic with someone.
"It's beautiful out here." I sat down and took the menu the hostess offered.
"Hell yeah, it is." His eyes were on me, moving around my face slowly as if he'd found something of great interest.
"Stop it, or I might actually start thinking more highly of you." I smirked and glanced down at the menu.
"Please don't. I'd rather rise to the occasion of surprising you than disappointing you greatly." He leaned back and pursed his lips.
"You know, we don't have to see Ghost tonight. We can see the new thriller that just came out, or there was a scary movie.”
"Are you kidding me?" He reached for a chip from the basket that sat between us. "I fucking love that movie. It's in my top five."
"Ghost? No way. I don't believe that. It's the ultimate-”
"Chick-flick. I know." He shrugged and gave me a sexy smile. "I love those things, just don't tell anyone about it, alright?"
"Really? No way."
"Yes way. Guess what my very favorite movie is. It's not really a chick-flick, but it comes pretty close." His expression softened a little, and the cocky guy across the table from me turned into a handsome man I wanted to know.
"Dirty Dancing?" I couldn't help but chuckle after saying it.
"That's number four. Number one is Grease. God, I love that movie so much. I have three copies from wearing it out." He laughed before giving me a stern look. "You promise you'll not tell the guys? You know I'd never hear the end of that shit."
"Yeah. I promise." I reached for a chip and let out a soft sigh. He was going to win me over whether I wanted him to or not.
Chapter Seventeen
Brody
I wasn't sure she could have been any more beautiful than she was sitting across from me with the sun setting behind her. My heart was racing in my chest, so much so that a light sheen of sweat covered my hands and forehead. It was almost embarrassing.
"Alright. Tell me what your plans are now that you're out of college. What's next for you?" I sat the menu down and turned my full attention onto her. While getting her into bed would have been a great ending to the night, I was pretty sure she wasn't going to let that happen just yet. Besides, I had to discern if I was friend-zoned or if my deflating ego was making shit up. I hadn't slept with anyone in a couple of days, and it was almost shocking how much I attuned my worth to how women saw me and treated me.
"I'm actually staying here in Arizona. I'm going to work for my parents for a while and then start law school either in the fall or the spring." Her voice softened in a way that made me want to push the conversation. She was being humble or maybe was unhappy about the next steps in her life. I wanted to know which it was.
"And, you're thrilled about that? I can totally tell. Riveted, right?" I smiled as she sat back in her chair and gave me a weak smile.
"Can't we start with something easier like 'what's your favorite color?'" Her smirk was precious and drew me in. I couldn't remember sitting across from a girl and not thinking about how well her tits filled up her shirt or pondering on the color of her panties. Where I could have easily done that with Cora, I wanted a real conversation...a friendship, of sorts.
"You wouldn't want that conversation. We're not on a real date from what you said, so no pretenses. Just two new friends hanging out, right?" I offered her another out, hoping she wouldn't take it, but knowing it was the right thing to do nevertheless.
"I guess you're right about the conversation." She ignored my comment about the friend date, leaving me still standing in the dark on her feelings. The kiss a few days before had been delicious and left me thinking she was ready for a little more where we were concerned, but now, I wasn't so sure.
"So, tell me why you're not looking so happy at the idea of becoming a lawyer. That's a big deal. Loads of money, prestige."
"Yeah, and every minute of my life becomes about my career. That's not at all who I am." She shrugged and picked up her menu. "Share the fajitas with me. The smallest platter is still way too much food for me."
"Sure, whatever you want." I picked up my glass of water and glanced up as the server approached. Cora ordered for us, and I added in my beer order before turning back to her.
"So why are you going to law school, and what do you want to do with your life if not that?" I sat back, trying to remember the last time I had a real conversation with a woman. I couldn't place it. Not even with my mom or sister. It was odd. Had I really grown that shallow?
"It's my mom and dad's dream for me to work in a firm like they do. It's actually their firm that they want me to work in." She licked at her lips, and my eyes moved down to focus on them again as she finished talking. I missed the whole last part of her response thanks to the memory of our kiss rolling over me.
She chuckled, and I came to.
"What?" I asked before reaching up and taking my beer from the server.
"You're not listening anymore, are you?" Her eyebrow lifted as she gave me a cocky grin.
"Yeah, I am." I pressed the beer to my lips as her smile lifted to her eyes, captivating me.
"No, you're not. You ass. You faded off into a daydream." She pressed her arms to the table and lifted her eyebrow at me. Her position had her dark hair brushing over her exposed, sun-kissed shoulders and left her cleavage on full view. My mouth started to water.
"I did, you're right. I was reliving that kiss the other night. It's been a long time since I've panted over a three second make out session." I smiled, hoping to catch her off-guard.
"Was it three seconds? Felt like forever." She shrugged and diverted her eyes from me as she picked up another chip. "You're turn. What are you doing after this summer?"
"I don't know." I ran my fingers through my hair, struggling with the truth versus what I figured she would want to hear. Just friends, right? "I want to be a coach, but the time and energy involved in that is massive. I figure there aren't too many women in the world that would be interested in marrying a man who followed his heart into a low-paying, time-demanding job."
"I'm thinking there are a few that would. You just need to find one that supports you and your dreams." She tilted her head a little to the side, studying me.
"Are you that kind of gi
rl, Cora?" I picked up another chip, watching various expressions run across her face. I was teasing her more than trying to dissect her, but I'd let her take the conversation wherever she wanted to. I was just glad to be there with her.
"I don't know. I think I would be. I'm more the type of person that wants everyone around me to find success more than I want to find it myself." She moved back as the fajitas were delivered. "Wow, that was fast."
"This place is the best. Clay and I sneak up here from time to time and grab one of those big-as-your-face burritos. Daniel would counsel us for an hour over the amount of salt and cholesterol on those things."
She laughed and picked up the tortillas, offering me one. "Seems like a great group of friends you have."
"It is." I started to put my fajita together as I snuck glances at her. "We've been friends for a long time, me and Clay since we were in elementary school. He's a great guy. I'm glad him and Emily hit it off. He's been in a bit of a dry spell lately."
"Is he planning on going anywhere after the summer?" She dipped her spoon into the sour cream, dropped the white cream on her plate and slid the spoon into her mouth.
My body tightened painfully, leaving me fully aware that of all the woman I'd been around in the last few months, she was by far the one I wanted to explore the most. Fuck.
"No, he's going to stay here." I licked the cheese off my fingers as I tried not to get my dinner all over my shirt. "How about Emily?"
"She's staying here, too. She'll be taking her master’s and then doctorate at Arizona State." She took a big bite of her fajita and closed her eyes, moaning loudly. The sound of her finding pleasure shot an arrow of desire through the center of me. I wanted to hear it again and again.
"Good. Then maybe we'll be in each other's lives for a long time." I took a big bite, wanting to moan loudly myself, but holding it in. The food was delicious, but the company was much better than anything I'd experienced in a long time.
"Brody?" A loud whiny voice called me from the moment. I turned to see Dina standing a few feet from us, a smile on her beautiful face. Her long dark hair was hanging around her shoulders, leaving her to look like an exotic princess of sorts.
"Hey, Dina." I stood up, thinking it might be best to walk over to her rather than have her come and introduce herself to Cora. With my luck, she'd mention the blow job in front of my newest obsession and send me back to square one.
"You look amazing." She smiled and reached out, brushing her hands over my chest as I stopped in front of her.
"You, too. Life treating you well?" I carefully took her hands and pulled them from me, trying to be nonchalant about it.
"It's been good, but I've missed you. Three days and nothing? Was I not good enough?" She gave me a knowing look. The bitch was every man's wet dream. She was good enough for most, but she wasn't the girl for me.
"Don't be silly. I'll call you soon. I'm having dinner with a friend tonight, though. Take care, okay?" I winked and turned, walking back to the table as she called out to me.
"No taking her to the lookout, okay? That's our place." A sexy smile lifted her lips.
I cringed as I dropped back down in my chair and waved at her. "Yep."
Cora laughed and shook her head. "Your hormones know no bounds, do they? You're just the typical frat boy type."
Her words didn't match her tone, so defending myself didn't seem necessary.
"Frat boy type? And what does that mean, exactly?" I winked at her and shoved the rest of my fajita into my mouth.
"Hot. Cocky. Sleeps around. Doesn't really care much about commitment." She picked up her drink and pressed the straw to her lips as she watched me closely.
God, she so fucking hot.
"Thanks for the compliment?" I wiped my mouth on my napkin and then worked to make myself another fajita. "I'm not so sure I agree with the last part of your statement. I've never been in a committed relationship, so the first one I actually agree to, I'll let you know if I care enough to remain committed."
"No way, really?" Her eyes grew a little wide. "You've never had a girlfriend?"
"Maybe when I was a kid, but not since." I shrugged. "I've never found a woman that wanted anything more than a few nights in the sheets. I don't have dates or conversations like this. Girls are far more whorish than guys, and I'm not kidding. You've seemed to convince yourself otherwise. I've seen it from this angle, and I'm telling you that half the reason I am the way I am is because of being treated like a tool by too many women."
"Wow." She sat back and crossed her arms over her chest. "Are you being serious right now or shitting me?"
"I'm being serious." I took another big bite of my dinner, chewing slowly and letting her digest the idea that maybe she'd turned me into a villain without considering the why. She didn't say another word, but picked at her food while I finished mine.
I paid the check and stood up, extending my hand to her. "You ready for this horrible, god-awful chick flick that you're dragging me to?"
She laughed. "I am, and I'm sorry again. Maybe I was wrong about you."
"No, I think you were right, but there's always more to the story." I started to release her hand, but she intertwined her fingers with mine and moved through the restaurant that way. A silly warmth pumped through me, and by the time we got outside, I was ready to pull her close and offer her another make-out session.
"I don't need to see the movie. You didn't buy tickets yet, did you?" She turned to me, pulling our hands behind her and forcing me to stand close to her as she glanced up at me.
"No, I didn't, but the night is young. I'd rather us see the movie than take you home and not see you at all." I licked at my lips, nervous as fuck. What was wrong with me?
"We don't have to go home. Besides, I owe you a good date, seeing that I've been nothing but a bitch since we met." She stepped forward, pressing her breasts against my chest.
I reached up and touched the side of her face, memorizing the way she watched me. "You don't owe me shit. I'm still that same guy, Cora. Don't make me into something I'm not."
She smiled and pulled back, releasing my hand. "Never. Let's go walk on the beach and dig more into this softer side of you. I almost like it."
"No, you don't," I laughed and followed her around the building and down toward the sand. Three large bonfires raged around various parts of the lake, and she moved toward the closest one and beckoned me to come with her. My eyes moved over her body as need rolled through me. How easy it would have been to tug her back and tell her it was time to go back to her place or mine. To undress her slowly and taste every inch of her before fucking her until she begged me to stop, but that's what she expected. She'd labeled me as that guy.
Where I was pretty damn sure I wasn't in the friend-zone, I was still worried about the idea of being tested and coming up short where she was concerned.
Several guitar players belted out an old Billy Joel song as people danced around in the sand and laughed, having a good time.
"Come dance with me." She turned and tucked her hair behind her ear before extending her hand to me.
I gripped it and tugged her toward me, wrapping my other arm around her tightly and leaning down to press my mouth to her ear.
"What are you doing? You know this isn't going to end well. We're supposed to see a movie, give each other grief in the midst of our sexually charged relationship, and go our separate ways, dreaming about fucking each other and yet pretending that we didn't." I tightened my grip on her.
She groaned softly and slid her hands under my t-shirt along my back. "Is that how it's supposed to work? You go back to being a jerk and me a bitch, and the story ends there?"
I moved back as she glanced up at me, but I made sure not to break contact with her as we swayed to the music. "I think that's the best scenario for us, don't you? We have a long summer of seeing each other. No need to fuck it up just yet."
"Fuck it up?" Her smile faded a little as she stopped moving. "Is that what you think
a night together would do?"
"Do you want a night together? Cause I can give you that." I licked at my lips as my heart started to race.
What the fuck was I doing? I was unwinding the calm between us and driving us back to her being defensive and me being back on the chase. It had been three days. Three days and she was softening. I wanted her to open up to me, but for some reason, it felt like sex would be the end of things, not the beginning. Was I refusing sex with her? No fucking way.
"A night?" She moved back another step and wrapped her arms around herself. Hurt brushed across her features, but she seemed to be working to hide it from me. "Anyway, I guess the ambiance and the music made me think... You know what, never mind. It was stupid."
She turned and I reached for her, but she wasn't having any of it, anymore. I walked behind her until we made it to the restaurant and stopped beside the bikes.
"I think I'm going to walk. Thanks for dinner. It was great." She gave me a half wave and turned, walking across the street without waiting on a reply from me at all.
"What the fuck just happened?" I pressed my hands to my face and let out a low growl before walking back out on the sandy shore of the lake and sighing loudly.
How the hell had we gone from having a great dinner to her leaving before I even got a kiss in or learned anything more about her?
Had she wanted sex? Just sex? Was she like every other woman around here?
"Fuck this life," I mumbled and stared out at the water, unsure of what to do, but too mentally fried to figure it out.
Chapter Eighteen
Three Days Later
Brody
I pressed my arms to the railing on the deck and turned my head to give Clay a look. He'd been after me to talk about what happened between me and Cora since Wednesday, but I didn't have anything to say.
"Dude, I fucked up. Okay? Lay the fuck off of me over it. I'm not telling you again." I stood up and pushed my chest out a little, warning him that I was done talking and ready to hand out an ass-whooping to the next idiot that brought her up.
