A scream ripped from me as I glanced back to the TV screen and Jason popped out from under a bed, leaving my heart racing and goosebumps all over my arms and legs.
"Fuck!" Emily yelled beside me.
I laughed and glanced over to find Brody chuckling.
"Not funny." I moved to the edge of the couch and got up, taking the popcorn with me. "Anyone else want a beer?"
Several hands went up, and I counted them before I walked into the kitchen. My heart racing over the movie was almost a relief to the fact that my pulse kept spiking over Brody.
"Need some help?" The softness in his voice was out of place, and not a good thing, at all.
"Yeah. Sure." I glanced over my shoulder to watch him watching me.
"You look good tonight, by the way. I know it sounds like a come-on, and I've been trying not to tell you all night, but I figure I might as well get it over with and let the next round of berating start." He smirked as I pulled a few beers from the fridge and sat them down on the countertop next to me.
"Berating?" I took a few steps toward him as desire rolled through me. His white polo shirt looked good against his summer tan and blond hair. I should have been running from the room screaming at the thoughts that drove through me, pounding in the need to relent to him.
"Yep." He reached around me, his shoulder brushing by my breasts. "You seem to have it out for me for some odd reason."
"Not really. I'm just not interested. I've said that a few times, though." I stiffened as he moved closer.
"Something tells me that you're fighting a good fight where I'm concerned." He touched the bottom of my chin, lifting my head a little. "Why not relent? I'm not a bad guy."
"How many women have you slept with this summer so far?" I lifted my eyebrow at him, enjoying the firm press of his fingers more than I should have.
He smirked. "Back to sex, hm? Always sex with you, Cora."
"You know what I mean." I moved back, but not far. The nearness was stimulating in a way that I wasn't ready to walk away from just yet.
"No, I don't." He reached out and brushed his fingers over my hip as he took the last step between us. "And, why can't it be a summer affair filled with fun and laughter? Beers and movies? Why have you already written it off as one night in the sack and that's it? You don't think there's more to me that a night of fucking?"
I felt like shit. I was doing exactly what I'd expected him to do.
"No, I mean, yes. Ugh. Fuck. I don't know." I pushed at his chest. "And, stop crowding me. You smell too good for that."
He lifted his shirt to his nose and breathed in. "Abercrombie. My favorite."
"Yeah, mine, too," I mumbled a little breathless.
"Give me a chance. Come to the movies with me on Wednesday night. Just the two of us. Just as friends getting away for some fun." He pursed his lips.
"No." I picked up the beers and moved past him. "You're the kind of guy I fall for, Brody. It's not happening this summer. I'm a grown-ass woman now. I need to start acting like it."
The movie stopped as everyone sat up and grumbled.
I handed out beers and turned to see Brody holding the remote. "Alright. All those in favor of Cora going to the movies with me on Wednesday just as friends say aye!"
Everyone yelled “aye,” which garnished them a look from me.
"All those opposed?" Brody smiled at me as I lifted my hand.
"Nay, and I'm the only one that matters." I shrugged and tossed him a beer. "Stop making us look silly in front of our friends and come sit down."
"What movie you guys going to see?" Emily asked.
I growled at her and dropped down on the couch.
"There's a chick flick showing, I'm sure." Brody rolled his eyes and glanced down the hall. "So, which room is Cora's?"