by Misti Murphy
“Why don’t you tell us how you really feel?”
When you speak of the devil you should always be prepared for him to slide onto the empty stool beside you and order up a double straight Jack. Seriously, how does that even happen? Someone was sitting there two seconds ago, and now I’m staring into a muddy gaze that tries to suck me right in. Yeah, he should be so lucky. “I just did. You’re a dictator. I’m not sure what the tator part stands for, but the dick part is true. You’re a giant dick to work with. Giant. A little like that trouser snake is would be my guess.”
“And here I thought we were friends.” He smirks, picking up the glass that lands in front of him and saluting me with it. “It hurts that you think so little of me. Or is it big?”
“Funny.” I yank the straw from my drink and sip straight from the rim of the glass. The tartness of the strawberry vodka and sweet from the lemonade makes it far too easy to drink. I can already feel my eyeballs and I’m only halfway through my first drink. “Maybe you should show me, and I could let you know.”
Wait, what?
“I don’t think—” Casper bolts upright.
“I didn’t mean—” I drop my drink to stop him from rushing off before I can apologize. Working with him is going to be so much more awkward if he thinks I want to see his cock. Which I totally don’t. Not at all. Unless he wants to show me. For curiosity’s sake only, of course. Just so I know if my guess is right or not.
“I’m sorry. I’m not—” Pink vodka splashes us both as my glass tumbles toward the floor.
“You’re not interesting. To me. I’m holding out for the man of my—” The impact of glass smashing on wood, though lost in the noise of Mayhem, makes me jump. “Oops.”
“There’s a guy? A man?” He’s intent in his study of me.
Has he lost that hard edge that makes him look like he’s carved of stone more often than not? It makes him almost… Beautiful. I reach up to touch his face, and he freezes under my fingertips. Just about. His jaw works as he swallows, contracting and releasing. Rough stubble prickles my skin, giving me a little thrill, or maybe it’s his eyes. Rich warm pools that a girl could fall into if she was prone that way.
I’m not inclined, though, personally. His skin is so smooth where the stubble stops, his chin strong. Those lips that hold a firm line are fuller up close than I expected. Supple.
They part under my touch and his warm breath blows across my fingertips, setting nerve endings alight. “A boyfriend?”
Oh, right. “Not exactly.”
“But there’s someone?” he asks. His lips tickle my fingers, and I drop them uselessly to my side.
“Right. There is. Of course there is.” I only told Summer a week ago that I was definitely done with holding out for Sam. Except for in my fantasies. But I should lie, right? I already did, so I should follow that up with a detail that will make it believable. And it’s only a little lie. I don’t want the entire summer to be awkward. “There’s totally a guy. A drop dead gorgeous one.”
“His name’s Chris, isn’t it?” He wiggles his eyebrows in genuine amusement while he signals to Jack. Gripping my arm, he drops his head to mine. “What are you drinking?”
“Strawberry sparklers.” I don’t understand. I don’t get why he needed to bring his face so close to mine when we’ve been yelling our conversation up until this point. I can’t fathom why his warm breath and soft lips beside my ear set me to tingling, or why I want to clasp his face with my hand and move closer. Sure he’s man candy, but he’s like a WarHead, and I don’t like those. “No, his name isn’t Chris. It’s… Oh my God, Sam?”
Casper is bent toward me, which means I can see over his shoulder, and what a view it is. Summer’s brother stands at the other end of the bar. On his own, he scans the crowd, probably searching for his sister. My pulse jack rabbits as I drink him in like an ice-cold glass of water.
Casper says something, but I don’t catch it as I twist around him. “He’s here. My dream man is here.”
I make a beeline through the people around us. No one is going to stand in the way of Sam and I, now that he’s here in the flesh. Such masculine, defined flesh it is too. Such a tight gluteus maximus. I got my hands on it a couple times. Pity I didn’t have a chance to touch anything else. But this time will be different. I know it will.
“Sam,” I call out as I close in on him.
He turns to my voice, searching until he spots me. Recognition blazes in those bright eyes. I crash into him, my palms soaking up the heat of an impressive set of pecs through a blue button down shirt. And abs. My good Lord, so many abs. I get a little flustered, or maybe it’s brain freeze from the way I’m ogling him. It’s just he’s so perfect. He’s the kind of man I used to dream of when playing with Barbie and Ken in my grandma’s attic. Except Sam actually has equipment, which is super-duper important.
“Mandy. It’s good to see you again.” His hands grip my waist and I almost lose all semblance of cool. They set off butterflies in my belly. Holding me at arm’s length, he catches me with his blue-eyed gaze that makes my belly flip, and asks, “Do you know where Summer is?”
“I’m not sure. She was dancing.” I run my fingers over his bicep where the sleeve is cuffed. So much man meat. “We should dance. I bet you’d be fabulous at it. Especially dirty dancing. We could take off our clothes and—”
“Here’s your drink.” Casper pushes a tall glass of pink liquid between Sam and I. Both brows are pulled tight, and his jaw is clenched worse than a sphincter with a constipation issue.
“Why are you following me?”
“You didn’t grab your drink.” He shrugs and pushes a hand into his pocket. “Plus, I didn’t think it was right to let you go off with some stranger.”
“Oh, right. Well, he’s not a stranger. He’s Sam. And we didn’t go off. We’re at Mayhem.”
“This is Sam?” Casper glares at him. “Is this the guy?”
“And you are?” Sam eyes Casper warily.
A deliciously mischievous shiver runs down my spine as they size each other up. Or at least that’s what I think they’re doing. Shoulders pull back, both men fully at attention and taking stock of the other without moving a muscle. A girl can dream about two guys fighting over her, can’t she? Even though Cas is just being his usual uncharming self.
“Casper.” A hand is thrust in my direction, only to be caught up by another strong masculine hand in front of me. “I’m Mandy’s boss.”
“You’re a school principal?” Sam asks.
“I’m volunteering for the season,” I say. “In the kitchen at Bennington Ranch.”
“Where Summer works?” Sam looks at me askance over my shoulder.
“That’s right.” I nod.
“And you’re head chef?” Sam turns to Casper.
“Very good, man. You can put two and two together,” Casper grouches.
“Don’t mind him,” I tell Sam. “He’s always crotchety.”
Except for earlier when he allowed me to touch his face. I press my fingertips to my own lips. He definitely wasn’t grumpy then. He was nice, practically sweet.
“Am not.” Casper folds his arms across his chest and rocks back on his feet.
“You should hear him in the kitchen. It’s fuck this and fuck that, and damn, you’re stupid.” I pull a face at him. Honestly, he hasn’t been awful since we had the conversation about my parents, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let it go.
Sam smirks and blows a burst of air out his nose. “Normal kitchen shit, then?”
“Yeah.” Casper cocks his head to the side. “Travelled around a bit these last few years, cooking wherever I landed. You’re in the industry too?”
“I run a restaurant in L.A. Maybe you’ve heard of it. Josef’s.”
“I’ve heard of it,” Casper admits, then raises a solitary brow at me. “So your man’s a chef?”
“Smart, aren’t I?” I grin at him.
“Who lives in Los Angeles and couldn’t
manage to teach you to cook?”
“For now.” Although I could make my home in L.A. It might even be nice to live in the City of Angels. But I have Summer, so I bet I could talk Sam around once I have my hooks in him. I just need a plan this time.
“Mandy and I aren’t together.” Sam shakes his head as if amused. “She’s just friends with my kid sister.”
“Ouch. We’re a little more friendly than that.” I’m not worried about it. Given more than a couple weeks I could totally change his mind.
“My mistake.” Casper stares me down, every inch of his face becoming like granite. “I don’t know where I got that impression from.”
“Me either.” I only told him Sam was my dream man. I didn’t say anything about having caught him yet. I’m an optimistic realist. It’s only a matter of time before Sam realizes he wants me, and when he does I’ll be available.
“All right.” Casper, points a thumb over his shoulder as he walks backwards. “I’m going to head back to the ranch. See you Monday?”
“Yep.” I cling to Sam’s bicep and give him my full attention. I have no idea what Casper’s problem is, why he’s so anti-social and moody most of the time, and other times almost… genuinely nice. But I don’t have time to try to understand him. I have to give my undivided attention to Sam if I have any hope of landing him. “So how long are you in town, Sam?”
Chapter Four
SAM
“Oh man, this is perfect. I’ve been fanging for some salty, cheesy goodness.” Mandy pulls a piece of steaming hot pizza from one of the boxes between us and lifts it until the tip of the triangle dangles above her mouth. Greasy, elastic mozzarella hangs in a string from the tip and she opens her mouth and darts her pink tongue out to catch it before taking a proper bite.
I clear my throat, push my damp palms down the legs of my jeans under the diner style table and pretend I didn’t imagine the dirtier version of what she just did. Summer’s friend is one strange girl. Hot and forward and incorrigible. Completely not my type. The first time we met she told me that she was going to name her vibrator after me, and that my dick could be in her if I wanted it to be.
I haven’t been able to forget it, though I’ve given it my best shot. I’ve tried with multiple women, practically got engaged to the last one. All except the ring that Claudia’s expecting when I go back after opening this new restaurant for her father.
I should probably have a conversation with her one day soon about why I won’t be extending our relationship. I recently realized Claudia was more into my housemate than me, and I didn’t particularly mind. Our relationship was never going to be based on a crazy passionate type of love, but we had a decent enough base. Especially since it solidified my relationship with Josef and swayed his decisions when it came to my suggestions for his business. Marrying his daughter would have been worthwhile.
Even if it isn’t Claudia, I still should settle down with someone nearer my own age, with the same values and life experience.
Mandy’s only a girl, almost the same age as my sister, one who sees the world through a lens the same pink as her lips. Sometimes I still feel a little ick about Summer dating two older guys—because apparently one isn’t enough. Being attracted to someone so much younger than me makes me shift uncomfortably in my seat. And now I’m going to have to try harder to ignore her since we’re going to actually see each other, and she’s already working her bizarrely arousing flirtations on me.
“You got in early,” Dylan says, slinging an arm around my sister’s shoulder and giving me a grin that’s almost as cheesy as the pizza in his hand.
“Found out we were starting the fit out ahead of schedule.” I take a slug of my Coke and lean back on the leather bench seat. “I need to be here to make sure they do it to Josef’s specifications. My boss is pedantic when it comes to his restaurants.”
“What are we talking about?” Mandy asks around a mouthful of pizza.
“Oops. Did I not tell you?” Summer gives Mandy a guilty look while Dylan and Gabe, Summer’s two fiancés, grimace at each other over her head. “Sam’s boss is opening a restaurant in Reverence.”
“You’re going to be living here?” Eyes bugging out of her head, she taps the table with one pink fingertip. “In the same town as me?”
“You had one job, Sum.” I shake my head at my little sister who only shrugs. She knew what Mandy’s reaction to me being in town would be, and I’d hoped a conversation between the two of them might have made it clear to the tenacious girl that there was no point in flirting with me. Perhaps saved me from having to let her down gently myself. A lifetime on the fringes of my sister and her friends’ lives has made it clear that sometimes it’s best not to get involved at all.
Gabe leans around her to snag a slice of the pie. “If it helps we’ve been keeping Summer preoccupied.”
“I don’t want to know.”
“No, not like that.” Summer reaches across the table to smack my bicep. “They’ve been coming up with new flavors. I get to taste test.”
“I knew you couldn’t stay away from me.” Mandy purrs, slipping closer, her hand finding my leg, making me jump. “I just had to meditate on your sexy ass in my bed enough times to make it happen.”
Perhaps letting her down gently isn’t the way to go. She reminds me a little of a blonde Jessica Rabbit, in the state that a rubber mallet would probably be a more useful way to get through to her. I grab her hand and drop it on her lap. “Josef’s opening a second restaurant here on my recommendation. I’m hoping to split my time between L.A and Reverence so that I can spend more time near my sister. I’m not looking to settle down here.”
Or at all. But especially not with a girl in her twenties who I can’t possibly have anything in common with, beside my sister. There’s no way that would end well.
“No need to be grumpy,” Summer tells me.
Mandy studies me, her brows drawn up under pale bangs. Green eyes, framed with dense lashes, are serious with thought and hazy from alcohol. “Then again, you’re even sexier when you’re grumpy.”
“Christ.” I shake my head. “You’re one weird chick. Are there no men your own age in this damn town?”
“Yes, but they don’t interest me.” Mandy shrugs. “Hard to look at another guy when you’ve already gotten up close to your dream man.”
“Dream man?” I twist in my seat to face her. “Look, Mandy, you don’t even know me. You don’t know anything about me.”
For a second she stares at me like she’s uncertain how to respond, then she touches my hand and smiles wide. “But I want to.”
She is the most frustrating woman I’ve come across. Well, there’s my mother, Sasha, but that’s in a completely different way. No, Mandy makes me want to yell with how frustrated she makes me, and in the same breath I’ve wanted to take her up on her offer from the first time we met. Which would be the worst idea and only make her more difficult to deal with.
I climb out of my seat. “Let’s just stick to you being my kid sister’s friend.”
“Sam?” Summer calls after me as I walk out of the pizza joint.
I give her a two finger wave over my shoulder, and try not to let the physical evidence of my frustration be noticeable. I thought seeing Mandy again would be strange. It had the potential to be awkward. What I didn’t expect was to end up with a serious erection.
***
“So this is your place?” Mandy struts across the dining room floor to where I’m propped at the far end in one of the large arch windows set back in the concrete wall. The sun’s streaming through the glass behind me, hot and almost burning through my shirt.
“What are you doing here?” I read over the lines for the advertisement I’m working on and place my iPad on the windowsill before jumping to my feet. I don’t understand this girl at all. Last night I told her in no uncertain terms that I wasn’t going to entertain her fantasy about us. Hell, I was downright blunt about it, and yet she walks right into my restaurant
like we’re friends. “I wasn’t expecting you.”
“I was curious.” She bites her lip as she moves slowly, turning in a circle to take in everything. The unstained wood floors, the plastic sheeting hanging from the rafters between the dining room and the kitchen that is yet to be fitted, the thick dust that covers almost every surface.
I brush a hand over the seat of my suit pants. Doesn’t matter how gray they are, the dust will still show up. She doesn’t say anything as she continues her examination. After about five minutes her quietness begins to grate on my nerves. I check my watch, and then I check it again. Why doesn’t she say what she’s thinking? I’ve met her twice and she’s always been upfront. She must hate the place. “What do you think?”
“It’s really pretty,” she says. Her voice is quiet, barely more than a whisper, but it echoes as loud as her heels do in the open space.
“I wouldn’t call it pretty, myself.” I shove my hands in my pockets and stride across the room to where she stands, staring at those plastic curtains. “But it’s going to come together nicely.”
“I can’t believe you’re doing this so you can spend more time with your sister.” She smiles at me as we stand side by side. “Summer is so lucky.”
“I don’t know about that.” I shrug. I’m not entirely sure she makes the best life choices. Dating two men? Dating men who are both a decade older than her? It’s a little bit ridiculous. People can see that, which is why they’re still subject to gossip, now, a year later.
“I do.” Mandy turns to me. “From what Summer’s told me about you, I know how much you care about her and look out for her. If you weren’t going to end up in my bed, I would wish you were my brother.”
“Look,” I say, rolling up my sleeves and snapping the buttons together so hard that one breaks off and bounces along the floor. “I told you last night that I don’t see you as more than my sister’s friend. Is that so hard to understand?”
“Of course not, silly.” She shakes her head, her hair flowing around her face like a silvery halo. “But I also know it’s not true.”
