“Yes, I’ve gathered that much. And?”
“And?”
That’s it. Lunging for Britta, I gripped her thighs and started to pull her toward me. She squealed in both terror and delight.
“Okay! Okay!” She laughed, but she was desperate to avoid punishment.
“It was in regards to his stupid wedding,” she panted, righting her skirt.
“What about it?”
“It’s a long story—”
“I’ve got all the time in the world.”Chapter 3Britta“You what?”
“Renshaw was pissed... you were sitting right there looking... looking your perfect self, and Roman was messaging, putting the hard word on me. I freaked, and yours was the first name that came to me.”
Hawk, for the first time ever was speechless. “And....” I started, drawing half circles on the carpet with the point of my shoe.
“And?”
“And you have to be my fiancé.”
He laughed, humored eyes wide as he waited for me to say it was all a joke.
“You said what?”
Clearing my throat, I glanced nervously out the window while fiddling with my ruby ring.
“I said... you have to be my fiancé,” I spat out the words faster than I could think them.
“See, that’s what I thought you said but considered it a mistake.”
“No mistake.”
Hawk’s eyes narrowed as he studied me long and hard, causing my cheeks to heat. I couldn’t tell if he was angry or simply entertained.
“And why do I have to be your fiancé?”
I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. “It kind of slipped out this morning when I saw him.”
“Mmm...” Hawk barely blinked.
“I was caught up in a moment. Angry that he’d just sprang the invitation on me. The way he looked at me like I was still meant to be grieving for him, and this was his olive branch.”
“And what do I get in return?”
My breath caught, and I stared wide-eyed at him, the suggestive question causing raw tension between us. Heat radiated from the inside out, a throbbing between my legs causing a delightful discomfort. Finally, I swallowed, unsure whether he was merely baiting me and whether I wanted to be stupid enough to accept it.
He’s your boss.
Your brother’s best friend.
“I—”
“Uh oh,” came a familiar voice from behind. “What’s she done now?” Slate asked, striding in, a playful smile on his face.
I, on the other hand, was not smiling. Instead, I was frozen in place, silently freaking out whether he’d heard any part of the conversation.
“You know your sister,” Hawk’s gravelly voice rumbled. “She’s always full of interesting ideas.” He smiled, yet my brother remained none the wiser of Hawk’s wicked insinuations.
“Is that so?” He sat in-between us, breaking the friction. “Party? Tonight,” he demanded.
Parties had almost become a ritual to these boys. They knew how to throw them because they’d had plenty of practice hosting them. The group of close-knit fraternity brothers, real brothers and friends, took turns in orchestrating the event. Parties usually averaged every second weekend, and while I always got an invite, I typically declined. Working with Hawk kept me busy. Too busy at times. I loved what I did, and everyone knew it.
But this week had me under the pump, and I’d already decided that the weekend was going to be used as catch-up.
But then there was my brother and his puppy-dog eyes, always ready to turn on the charm when needed. Slate may be my brother, but he’s also my best friend. I considered him to be my person. While Hawk, being older, hung out with my eldest brother. Slate and I were usually paired in games and left to hang out, while the others grew of age to do stuff we couldn’t. We were tight as siblings and still were as adults. I told him everything. Well... almost. Stories about my ex were often sugar-coated or avoided altogether, simply because Slate was not only devastated for me but ready to break Roman’s neck.
“You know your sister,” Hawk chimed in, bringing me back to the present, a playful challenge in his eyes. I raised my eyebrow at them. “She will think of some excuse not to go. She always does.”
He was right, but I was out to prove him wrong. Work was not an excuse. It was a legitimate reason.
“For your information, I have—” Slate covered my mouth with his hand preventing any further words.
“Not one excuse,” he warned. “Everyone asks about you every time you say you’re coming and then back out last minute. They’re beginning to think you don’t like them anymore. And your brothers miss you... so, therefore, you’re coming.”
Rolling my eyes, I pushed his hand away and stood, smoothing my skirt.
“Fine, I’ll come...” I finally conceded and was rewarded with gleaming smiles. “For a little bit at least,” I added. “Then I’m leaving.”
Turning, I started for the door when Hawk’s husky voice caused that familiar pang between my legs.
“She’ll come all right...”
Slate laughed but again was none the wiser with the insinuation. I, however, heard it loud and clear and almost needed the door for balance.