before he entered my dreams. I know that I shouldn’t give my heart away so quickly, so easily. But I think I already have.
Chapter Sixteen
Jada
“How can you stand putting up with traffic like that on a daily basis?” I enter Brian’s apartment, throwing my bags on his hardwood floor.
“What, the Schuylkill? Honey, you gotta suck it up if you’re gonna handle all that Philly has to offer.” Brian puts his hands on my shoulders, ushering me forward. “You’re getting too used to the boondocks. It’s about time you freed yourself from my brother’s evil influence.”
“Well, you can relax because I’m only here for the night.” I could swear his face drops when I turn around to meet his eyes, but I don’t want to read into the implications of that. “Besides, I can’t wait to root through this dive of yours for some clues.”
“Hey, what are you calling a dive?” Brian’s expression lightens and he grins as I take in the ninety-inch flat screen TV and black leather sofa. “Keep your ransacking to a minimum because I don’t know when she’s coming to haul away her shit. We can’t tip her off that we were snooping through her things.” He lets go of my shoulders and I instantly miss the warmth of his hands. I shudder, trying to shake off the feeling. This is Brian, not Adam. Wrong O’Malley brother, stupid hormones. It scares me how easily my body responds to his touch, even if my heart doesn’t. I can’t let myself get confused. I have to stay focused. I’m here to do a job, not have angry revenge sex with Adam’s brother, no matter how hot and crazy it might be.
“So where should we start?” I’m already wandering down the hall when he calls me back.
“Jada, we just completed a ten-hour drive. Can’t it wait until tomorrow?” He yawns as if to emphasize how tired he is. But I’m on edge; I want to get moving on this.
“Fine, go to sleep. No one’s stopping you.” I shrug my shoulders moodily, and he groans, slipping off his shoes before heading into the kitchen. “Brian, all I need you to do is point me in the right direction,” I insist as he reaches into the fridge and pops open a can of Red Bull before handing it to me. He lines up three more on the counter in front of him and begins downing them one by one. “Brian, stop! You’re going to give yourself a heart attack.”
He wipes his lips with the back of his arm, and for some reason I can’t stop staring at his mouth. “What? They’re the small cans. I’ve done this before. How else do you expect me to stay awake?”
“I told you. Go to bed.” I immediately regret my choice of words.
“Oh, baby. I love hearing you order me around. Yell at me again, only this time slap my ass while you’re doing it.” Brian takes a step closer and I playfully push him away.
“Back off. You know what I meant,” I respond sarcastically, trying to block out the sensation of his chest heaving beneath my fingertips.
“You’re such a tease, Jada Martin. No wonder you drove my brother insane.” He shakes his head as if he can’t figure me out.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Okay, now I’m pissed.
“You like to lead guys on but you never follow through, do you?” I don’t like the way he’s appraising me.
“Sorry to disappoint, but I’m not some little slut like…” I’m about to say Kelly’s name, but he turns on the faucet to rinse out the cans, effectively drowning out my voice.
“I’m not saying you should be someone you’re not, but I think you should stop holding yourself back from the things you want to do.” He doesn’t look at me while he’s talking, and the magnitude of what he’s implying unnerves me more than I care to admit.
“What things?” I know I’m not going to like what he’s about to say, but my curiosity wins out.
“I don’t know. Maybe like making a move on a guy or something along those lines. I never saw a girl as tightly wound as you are.” He moves to face me
Chapter Sixteen
Jada
“How can you stand putting up with traffic like that on a daily basis?” I enter Brian’s apartment, throwing my bags on his hardwood floor.
“What, the Schuylkill? Honey, you gotta suck it up if you’re gonna handle all that Philly has to offer.” Brian puts his hands on my shoulders, ushering me forward. “You’re getting too used to the boondocks. It’s about time you freed yourself from my brother’s evil influence.”
“Well, you can relax because I’m only here for the night.” I could swear his face drops when I turn around to meet his eyes, but I don’t want to read into the implications of that. “Besides, I can’t wait to root through this dive of yours for some clues.”
“Hey, what are you calling a dive?” Brian’s expression lightens and he grins as I take in the ninety-inch flat screen TV and black leather sofa. “Keep your ransacking to a minimum because I don’t know when she’s coming to haul away her shit. We can’t tip her off that we were snooping through her things.” He lets go of my shoulders and I instantly miss the warmth of his hands. I shudder, trying to shake off the feeling. This is Brian, not Adam. Wrong O’Malley brother, stupid hormones. It scares me how easily my body responds to his touch, even if my heart doesn’t. I can’t let myself get confused. I have to stay focused. I’m here to do a job, not have angry revenge sex with Adam’s brother, no matter how hot and crazy it might be.
“So where should we start?” I’m already wandering down the hall when he calls me back.
“Jada, we just completed a ten-hour drive. Can’t it wait until tomorrow?” He yawns as if to emphasize how tired he is. But I’m on edge; I want to get moving on this.
“Fine, go to sleep. No one’s stopping you.” I shrug my shoulders moodily, and he groans, slipping off his shoes before heading into the kitchen. “Brian, all I need you to do is point me in the right direction,” I insist as he reaches into the fridge and pops open a can of Red Bull before handing it to me. He lines up three more on the counter in front of him and begins downing them one by one. “Brian, stop! You’re going to give yourself a heart attack.”
He wipes his lips with the back of his arm, and for some reason I can’t stop staring at his mouth. “What? They’re the small cans. I’ve done this before. How else do you expect me to stay awake?”
“I told you. Go to bed.” I immediately regret my choice of words.
“Oh, baby. I love hearing you order me around. Yell at me again, only this time slap my ass while you’re doing it.” Brian takes a step closer and I playfully push him away.
“Back off. You know what I meant,” I respond sarcastically, trying to block out the sensation of his chest heaving beneath my fingertips.
“You’re such a tease, Jada Martin. No wonder you drove my brother insane.” He shakes his head as if he can’t figure me out.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Okay, now I’m pissed.
“You like to lead guys on but you never follow through, do you?” I don’t like the way he’s appraising me.
“Sorry to disappoint, but I’m not some little slut like…” I’m about to say Kelly’s name, but he turns on the faucet to rinse out the cans, effectively drowning out my voice.
“I’m not saying you should be someone you’re not, but I think you should stop holding yourself back from the things you want to do.” He doesn’t look at me while he’s talking, and the magnitude of what he’s implying unnerves me more than I care to admit.
“What things?” I know I’m not going to like what he’s about to say, but my curiosity wins out.
“I don’t know. Maybe like making a move on a guy or something along those lines. I never saw a girl as tightly wound as you are.” He moves to face me
Similar Books
