Page 82 of Deal Takers

Her blush deepens. “It’s new. Devyn strongly suggested I buy it when we were at the mall last weekend.”

“Remind me to thank her later.”

“Yeah, I’ll do that…after I throat punch her. I suspect she wasn’t quite being honest with me about why she wanted me to get the dress.”

“Oh, yeah? What did she tell you?”

“Well, she claimed this would be my…uh, getting back on the horse dress.” She bites down on the pad of her thumb—it’s her go-to move whenever she’s uncomfortable with something.

“‘Getting back on the horse’…what does that mean?”

I totally know what it means, but I want to hear her say it.

She looks away. “You know…move on. Meet someone new. This is the first time I’ve been out since…well, you know. She said moping wasn’t accomplishing anything, and if I didn’t at leasttryto be happy again, it was never going to happen.”

I love Devyn like a sister, but I sort of hate her right now, too. Unless she and Drew had planned this setup before their shopping trip. If that’s the case, I might love Devynmore than my actual sister. The only way Rainey could possibly be hotter right now is if she took the dress off. It still doesn’t change the fact she agreed to wear it to a meat market like this though.

“Not to be a dick, but this isn’t the kind of place where you go looking for a relationship,” I say, a little more caustically than I intended to. “Coming here says you’re looking for a quick fuck.”

Christ, the thought of any man getting his hands on her body makes me want to Hulk out.

HUUULK SMAAASH!

I’m shaken out of my Marvel reverie when Rainey clears her throat and glares at me.

“Is that why you’re here, Brody?” she counters. “Looking for a ‘quick fuck?’”

“I’m here with Drew. He claimed he needed a wingman to hook up with one of the bartenders. Clearly, that was just a ruse. Or maybe a happy coincidence.”

She sighs. “Well, if it still matters, I wouldn’t have gone through with it. The only reason I’m here is because Devyn wouldn’t give up. I was planning on having a drink or two, then faking a headache so I could go home and binge on Netflix.”

Hell, yeah, it still matters. I keep that thought to myself for now though.

“This whole setup thing may be my fault,” I admit. “I haven’t been the easiest person to be around lately. They’re probably sick of dealing with me.”

Her red lips turn up in the corners. “I’ve been a bit difficult lately, too. And when I say difficult, I mean bitchy.”

I laugh. Rainey’s never one to mince words.

She smiles. “I missed this.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Missed what?”

“Talking to you. Looking at you. Laughing with you. Hell, I’ve missed everything about you, Brody.”

I don’t say anything…I just gaze into those chestnut eyes of hers. Funny thing is, neither one of us seems bothered by the silence. It’s comfortable. That’s a good thing, right?

After a minute or so, I finally speak. “I’ve missed you, too, sweetheart.”

She swallows hard. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.” I nod.

“Are you seeing anyone?” Rainey chews on her bottom lip, waiting for my response.

“Not unless you count my right hand. That’s been seeing a lot of action. So much so, sometimes Lefty needs to pinch-hit.”

Her laughter is musical. “Oh my god, Brody, only you would bring up masturbation at a time like this.”

---