Page 52 of Mad Rivals
I chuckle. God, she’s pretty. I flash her one more smirk before I turn to head out of the bathroom, but her words stop me.
“Oh, one more thing,” she says. I turn back around, and she’s the one smirking at me this time. “Your breath smells like my pussy, so you may want to hunt downa stick of gum.”
I can’t help but bark out a laugh at that. I shake my head as I raise a brow. “Oh, hell no. I’m not getting rid of the aftertaste of the most delicious thing I ate tonight.”
Her cheeks flush, and I flip the lock on the door.
I turn back toward her. “See you out there.”
I head out, and the hallway is clear. I’ve been to this place lots of times for various events, and I knew these restrooms would be vacant since usually they’re used during weddings for the bridal party. It wasn’t the sexiest place to hook up with a girl, but when you’re desperate, well, you take what you can get.
I spot Ford just outside the ballroom as I approach, and I stop to talk to him. His brow raises at me as I approach. “Where have you been?” he asks.
Ford is the traditionalist of the Bradley boys, and I don’t think he’d understand me betraying the family name with a competitor.
That’s how they’ll see it. Everyone in my family will see Kennedy Van Buren as the competition. I just see her as a beautiful, intelligent woman who both challenges and captivates me, and those are two traits I haven’t found in a woman in a long time. Maybe ever.
There’s a connection I can’t deny, and I need some time to explore it before I say a single goddamn word to anybody about it—Ford included. I don’t really talk to my brothers about my conquests, anyway. Maybe Dex, since he’s the closest to me in age and we’ve discussed this sort of thing in the past, but he’s busy living his life in Vegas right now.
“Around,” I say, dodging the question. “You?”
“I’m ready to call it. You want to share a car?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Can’t. Dad expects me to stay until the bitter end. Or at least until I can close another deal or two.”
“What’s it like having all that pressure to carry on the legacy?” he asks.
“Exhausting,” I admit.
He chuckles. “I can imagine. Dad’s never been easy on any of us, least of all you.”
“I’m pretty sure he’s doing whatever he can to make sure I have the life he wanted for himself,” I say dryly, but I also think it’s true. After finding out he played football and couldn’t continue because of an injury, he did whatever he could to give us opportunities, and now handing over the family business without regard to whether or not I actually want it—it sort of feels like what I just said to Ford is actually true.
“What doyouwant, bro?” he asks.
I twist my lips and bite the inside of my cheek as Kennedy’s face flashes through my mind. Then her ass. Then that sweet pussy.
Fuck.
I’m in a boatload of trouble.
I blow out a breath. “Another beer,” I finally say.
He nods. “Enjoy. I’m out.”
“Did you tell Mom and Dad you’re leaving?”
He shakes his head. “Nope. Bye.”
“Traitor,” I mutter toward his retreating figure, and he just laughs as he walks out the front door.
I spot Kennedy walking into the ballroom, and she’s poised and even more beautiful than before with a glow in her cheeks, her head held high with confidence and conviction.
“You ought to stop looking at her like that,” a voice behind me says, and I spin around to face my father. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you had a thing for the Van Buren girl.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I say.
“I hope that’s all it is. Because trust me when I tell you that she’s the wrong person to get mixed up with.” He raises his brows pointedly, and I’m not sure exactly what he means. I want to believe it’s because we have to work side-by-side with them on the SCS project, but it feels like maybe it goes deeper than that. Maybe it goes deeper than either of us realized.
