"What's up?" Emily glanced up from chopping up lettuce as I walked past them.
I opened the door and moved out to the patio, putting my hands on my hips and clearing my throat. While I wasn't super materialistic, having some dude make out with his girl against the side of my new car was not cool.
They didn't pay me a bit of attention.
I took a few steps toward the stairs as the guy whispered something against the girl’s hair and turned to glance up at me.
"Oh, shit. I'm sorry." He backed up and lifted his hands. "This yours?"
"Yes." I lifted an eyebrow at him. He was impossibly hot with his defined abs and tanned skin. His blue eyes moved across my face like he was trying to uncover some hidden secret.
"Brody," the girl called to him, touching his arm. "Do you know her?"
"No, he doesn't." I took another step toward them, waiting at the edge of the stairs. "Perhaps you can find somewhere else to seduce this chick besides the side of my new car."
"Her new car? I thought you said-” the girl started, but he wasn't paying her a bit of attention. He was still watching me.
Stalker. Hot stalker, but still a stalker, nevertheless.
"It's not mine. I lied." He walked to the bottom of the stairs as she made an angry sound and stomped off, cursing him all the way down the road.
"I see you have a way with the ladies." I lifted my eyebrow and held the smile that wanted to lift my lips under tight control. There was no way I was actually getting involved with anyone over the summer, least of all the playboy in front of me. He had several strikes against him, the first being his golden hair.
"Brody. Nice to meet you," he extended his hand.
I glanced down at it and scoffed. "Find someone else's car to covet."
"No introduction, hmm?" He chuckled as I turned and walked back to the door. "You could at least give me your name, seeing that you just ruined my afternoon."
"My bad." I rolled my eyes, wishing I were more disgusted than curious. My stomach tightened with desire, but I ignored it, not wanting to even begin to entertain the thought of conversing with this guy.
"I'll forgive you this once." He glanced over toward the car, giving me a few moments to let my eyes run over him. "I like your wheels. I bet they ride real good."
I stopped at the door and glanced over my shoulder, hating myself for being the cocky brat I fought not to be most of my life.
"Better than anything you've ever taken for a spin, I'm sure." I walked into the house and tried to still my racing heart. Just the idea of flirting with someone so insanely hot was nerve-wracking. It was going to be a long summer, as guys like him were a dime a dozen.
"What was that all about?" Emily handed me a bowl of salad. "Dressings are on the table."
"Some idiot had a girl pinned to my car, making out with her." I grumbled and walked to the kitchen table, dropping down across from Dedra and pouring salad dressing into my bowl.
"Was he hot?" She wagged her eyebrows as I glanced up.
"He was a white chocolate man," I laughed and took a big bite of my salad. "Yeah, he was hot."
"Most of the guys out here are, but be careful." Cindy walked into the dining room and sat a few wine glasses on the table. "I learned the hard way our first week here that they aren't looking for summer romances."
"No? I'm surprised to hear that." I moved over a chair as Emily joined us.
"Summer flings, yeah, but no romance. They just want a night of grunting and then they're gone." Cindy shrugged and lifted the glass of wine nearest her to her lips, downing the whole thing.
"Whoa." I watched her. "Obviously, you have some storytelling to do."
"After a few more glasses." She filled it back up and turned to go back into the kitchen.
"Do you need help?" I called after her.
"Nope. Just enjoy yourself and rest. It's your downtime for the next few days."