He rubbed the back of his neck, his cool and calm facade fading. “Does she hate me that much?” He stood and stomped sulkily over to the garbage. “I’m fine with her here. It’s ridiculous that she’s staying at a hotel, when you hardly see each other as it is.” The skin around his eyes bunched in a pained stare. “I’m fine. She’s the one—” He cleared his throat. “—the one who left me.”
Even though I knew he wouldn’t divulge any information, I felt the need to ask again. “What happened between you guys? I thought you were it for each other.”
He looked at me with a wounded gaze. “I thought so too, but . . . shit happens.” He chugged his beer back, tossed it in the trash, and walked out of the room. “Have fun, whatever you do tonight.”
I watched his retreat, knowing full well my sister would not give me any more info, either. She couldn’t even mention his name.
For the thousandth time, I decided to let it go. I had to keep my head in the game. Literally.
I grabbed my keys from the counter and headed out to meet Kendy. I needed a good laugh tonight. I was going to be a fake boyfriend, and I needed to make sure I was a damn good one.
***
KENDY
I tugged my black silk fitted halter dress just a little lower. It’d been a while since I’d worn it, and it was shorter than I remembered. Maybe because I was in my four-inch eff-me heels. I usually wore my three-inch gold ones.
I wanted to get noticed this time around. I wasn’t going home without a second glance. No way, Jose. That was not happening tonight. I was dressed to impress, and tonight, less meant more. Especially in this dress.
I checked my makeup one last time and touched the draping, shimmery, gold triangular necklace that hung directly in my cleavage. It was as if the necklace was directing traffic to one of my best assets.
I wasn’t expecting Sarah tonight. Brian and I had a plan, part one being I wouldn’t be sharing a cab home with him, because I’d be leaving with Dr. Hot Pants. When my phone rang, I dug into my purse for it and saw Brian’s name. My heart rate increased as I picked up on the first ring.
“Hey, I’m coming right down.” I checked myself one more time in my floor-length mirror, pursing then smacking my lips together before I jetted out the door. I was hoping, wishing, and praying that tonight would not be another waste of time.
***
BRIAN
I rested against the brick, checking out the group in front of me. Saturday nights were bumping in Kendy’s area. The amount of people out and about, all dressed up and ready go out, seemed electrified tonight. It would be tough to get a cab.
I was debating trying to get one while I waited, when saw a drop-dead bombshell stroll out the door. She was so damn gorgeous I had to do a double take. My eyes raked in all of her ensemble. Her black skintight dress accentuated every curve, and she must’ve been five-eight in her heels, which made her look like a runway model. Her hair was half up, blonde curls draping down her back.
Holy shit. Kendy had transformed from short and cute small town girl to bombshell babe.
I wasn’t the only one who noticed. Every guy’s head slowly turned, their eyes following her as she made her way toward me.
“Hey,” she said, going up on her tiptoes to give me a half hug.
As I hugged her back, I took in the intoxicating smell of her shampoo and breathed in deeper, hoping she didn’t notice. She released me too quickly, and I took a slight step back to admire the view once again.
“You look great,” I said, embarrassingly breathless.
“I know, don’t I?” She fluttered her eyelashes in an exaggerated way. “Just kidding. But seriously, we gotta go.” She reached for my hand, lacing our fingers, and led us through the crowd.
I flexed my fingers and rewrapped them, tightening my hand around hers as I pulled us in the other direction. There was no way we were going to catch a cab in this herd of people.
“This way,” I commanded.
She complied and smiled as we walked half a block and stopped in front of an apartment building, where another couple was waiting for a cab.
I couldn’t stop staring. She was strikingly beautiful, her makeup not overdone, but perfect. Her pouty lip shined with whatever lipstick she had on, almost tempting me to bite it.
She fidgeted in her dress, tapping her heels against the sidewalk. “I’m so glad you picked me up.”
“Of course.” I smirked. “Good boy and all,” I said, pulling at my shirt. “Would you expect any less?”
“Of course not.” Her laughter floated toward me.
When a cab pulled up, I opened the door to let her in and scooted in beside her, our knees touching. I leaned in as an overwhelming need to be even closer took over, like a magnet, forcing me toward her.
“The Bartlett,” I called out to the driver.
She looked my way, her turn to take in my ensemble. She cast an appreciative glance, her focus moving from my button down shirt, then to my dark jeans. “I never commented on how good you look.”
“I know, don’t I?” I repeated the line she’d thrown my way, and we both laughed.
“Brian, you start hanging out with me and you’ll turn funny.”
Was I not already?
I was about to give her a comeback for that when the cab swerved left and she fell into me. I caught her with both arms, our eyes locking. A dizzying current raced through me, a tingling sensation traveling up my arm.
She peered up at me, glanced down at my lips, and then her eyes flickered back to mine. Her breathing slowed as my fingers caressed her skin.
She shifted from my hold and released a nervous laugh. “Getting frisky already? We haven’t even hit the club.”
Car horns blaring outside redirected our focus to the back-to-back traffic ahead of us, and she angled her knees away from me. “I just wanted to go over our game plan one more time.” She clasped her hands together as her eyes danced with excitement.
“We’ve been through your ‘game plan’ five times already.” Little did she know I had a plan of my own, which included exposing this guy for the loser he truly was.
Her laughter was marvelous, catching. “Well, I just want to make sure you know what you’re doing.” When she pulled down her skirt, my gaze traveled down the length of her legs. Hell, she looked so edible.
With a painted fingernail, she lifted my chin to meet her eyes, blatantly catching me gawking. Now it was my turn to laugh.
“Up here, lover boy,” she commanded good-naturedly. “We’re going to walk in separately. First you, and then five minutes later, I’m going to stroll in and you’re going to hit on me. You’re going to come on to me so strong. Everyone in the whole entire bar will know you only want me. It’ll be dark, so we’ll need an over exaggeration of normal body language, okay?”
“Don’t worry. I got this.” My voice was totally calm, but I sensed a little nervousness in her as she wrung her hands together in her lap. A strong urge to calm her came over me. “Don’t worry,” I repeated, placing one hand on top of hers to keep her fidgeting to a minimum.
When her stiff posture didn’t let up, I scooted over and threw one hand to her other side, by the window, caging her in.
Her breath caught in her throat, and I whispered, “What’s your name, beautiful?” I meant it as a joke, to break her from her mood, but my pulse was spiking from being so close to her.
Her lips parted as her eyes flickered to my mouth again. Her scent was making my head spin.
“Your name?” I commanded, my tone husky.
Goose bumps spread on her neck. “Kendall.” Her voice was barely audible as her breathing turned shallow, her hands falling to my waist.
She bit down on her lower lip seductively, and I had an undeniable urge to claim her, to crash my mouth against hers. The air between us was charged, a gravitational pull tugging me closer, so strong that I couldn’t resist as I dropped my arms and aligned my lips with hers.