Page 40 of Chasing After You
11
Dorian
It was Wednesday before I knew it, and after impatiently counting down the hours, it was finally time for our date.
Well, he probably didn’t consider it a date, but that was fine. He was already uncomfortable with my presence, so I didn’t need to make it any worse by revealing my true intentions.
Intentions that included seducing my brother.
With all the stepbrother romances on the market these days, I had to wonder if he had ever read any and asked himself what it would be like to be in one. Doubtful. Josh wasn’t exactly the romantic fiction type.
I arrived just as Josh was locking the doors to his coffee shop. He turned his head at the sound of my footsteps, a bright smile lighting up his face as he saw me walking towards him.
“Hey!” he called out, turning back to the door for a second to tug on the handle, checking that it’d been locked.
“Hey,” I replied, softer than his greeting but no less intense. My gaze swept over him slowly, shamelessly drinking up the details of him—the way his jeans hugged his hips, the mouthwatering swell of his biceps under the sleeves of his fitted tee, the warm, casual glow of his skin. He was flushed from a long day on his feet, his hair a little messy, like he’d run his hands through it in frustration a dozen times.
It was perfect. Delicious.
He turned back around just as I was reaching him. “Sorry,” he said with a breathy laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Got caught up with some extra cleaning. I always feel weird leaving the place too fast, like I’m forgetting something.”
“That’s one of the things I always liked about you,” I said smoothly, letting my eyes linger on his. “You care about everything you touch.”
Josh’s expression faltered slightly. He looked down, cheeks turning the faintest pink, then cleared his throat and started walking toward the sidewalk. “So, uh… You wanted to hang out. Did you have something in mind?”
“Nothing too complicated,” I said, falling into step beside him. “There’s a place a few blocks away that stays open late. Rooftop patio. Burgers. I thought you might like it.”
He arched a brow, amused. “Since when do you go out for burgers?”
“Since I found out my brother likes them,” I replied, gaze flicking toward him to catch the subtle twitch of his lips.
He rolled his eyes. “You’re seriously laying it on thick.”
“I’ve waited eight years to see you again. I’m not going to pretend I don’t want to make an impression.”
Josh’s steps faltered slightly. He looked at me sideways, his hand raising to tug at his earlobe nervously. “You already madean impression. With the wholewatching me sleep from the streetthing.”
“Touché,” I murmured. “But I meant a different kind.”
We walked in silence for a bit. I let it linger, let him stew in it, hoping he’d look at me. He didn’t. His eyes stayed ahead, fixed on the sidewalk, like he couldn’t risk meeting mine too often.
The rooftop bar was pretty quiet when we arrived—soft music playing, a few scattered tables occupied by couples and groups, with ambient fairy lights strung overhead. I let Josh choose where we sat. He picked a small table near the corner of the patio, away from the rest.
“I don’t drink much,” he warned as I ordered us both something mild, nothing that would dull his senses too much. He fiddled with the hem of his shirt as I spoke with the bartender. It was heady when he submitted to me in these small ways. I loved the juxtaposition between his large, muscular frame and his gentle personality.
“I know,” I said as I carried our drinks over to the table he’d chosen.
He laughed, reluctantly, following behind me. “God. Just how much do you know about me?”
“Never enough.” I leaned forward, resting my arms on the table.
His smile dimmed. His eyes dropped to the condensation on his glass. “Dorian…”
I tilted my head, waiting.
“You’re… a lot.”
“I am,” I agreed without apology.
