Page 2 of Only Yours
Brian
“You know, stalking is considered a crime in all fifty states, right?” Reina’s amused voice startles me and I almost stumble on the path behind her.
Fuck.I thought I was far enough behind her that she didn’t sense my presence. I’ve been waiting for her to leave the library for the last hour. I’m really going to have to talk to my buddy Diaz about he goes undetected by the targets the Army gives him. So far, I suck at this.
I regain my balance and chuckle. “I’m not stalking, I’m just watching. There’s a big difference.” I shove my hands in my pockets. Truth is, I have become a bit of a stalker over the last week.
Shit, from the first moment I glimpsed my sister’s gorgeous roommate, I was hooked. Every time I talk to Sophie, I try to be subtle with little questions about Reina interspersed in our conversations. I must not be very good at being subtle, since Sophie has already warned me away from hitting on herroommate several times. I’ve spent this entire leave fascinated with her. It’s more than mildly embarrassing.
“So, you were just randomly walking across campus behind me as I left the library? And yesterday, you just happened to be at the on-campus coffee shop at the same time? And the day before that, it was totally coincidental that you were at the bookstore when I was?” Reina turns around and crosses her arms across her midsection. She raises an eyebrow, and I feel the tips of my ears turning red.
I don’t get embarrassed. I’m a big, bad Army guy and I never get made fun of. Um, well, until now.
I lean against the nearest tree and give an uneasy laugh. “Well, you know great minds think alike. We are obviously linked together in some cosmic way. We must be made for each other.”
Shit, did that just come out of my mouth? What happened to smooth Brian? Where is he when I need him? Be cool, Brian, just be cool.
I try to give her my most charming smile, the one that made Susie Brockington lose her panties in the back of my old Ford when we were sixteen.
Reina snorts. “Not gonna happen, Army boy. I’m not interested in dating anyone, much less my best friend’s brother.” Her face softens. “You seem like a good guy, Brian, but I’m not the girl for you. I’ve got baggage, and I’m more than you can handle.”
I push off the tree and stalk closer to where she stands. “We’ve all got baggage, sweetheart. Why don’t you give me a chance to show you that I can deal with yours?” I’m on the precipice of begging. I only have a few more days before I ship out on another overseas tour. I don’t want to leave without taking a chance. Reina is worth trying for.
She swings her long, black hair over her shoulder. “I think it’s best for Sophie and everyone involved if we keep our distance from each other. It shouldn’t be hard since you only have a few days left here.”
I keep walking towards her, trying to maintain the gaze of her dark brown eyes. “Sophie will deal with it, and I’m part of everyone involved. I definitely think we should get closer, not further apart.”
“What’s so special about me, Brian? Don’t you have a girl at every port or something like that?” She smirks. “I thought that’s what you military guys were good at. Keeping women on a string everywhere you go. Using that charming smile of yours to make women drop their panties at the sight of your uniform? This ain’tTop Gunhoney, and you’re no Maverick.”
“That’s the Navy, sweetheart, and I don’t care about anyone’s panties dropping except yours. I can’t seem to see anyone but you, even in my dreams, lately.” Ain’t that the truth? Ever since that first visit to her and Sophie’s dorm room, I haven’t been able to get her out of my head.
I took one look at her sitting cross-legged on her bed that first day and felt like I had been punched in the stomach. She simply took my breath away. High cheekbones and a regal bearing that would rival any queen. Long legs that would wrap around my waist when I finally took her. And those dark eyes of hers that haunt me from the moment I wake up to the second I go to sleep. Even then, she still finds me in my dreams. I’ve never been obsessed with anyone before. Hell, I didn’t even realize I was capable of this level of fascination with a woman.
I finally come close enough so that I can reach for her. I unfold one of her crossed arms and take her hand in mine. She watches me through narrowed eyes but doesn’t snatch her hand away like I expect her to.
I trace her fingertips with my own and then lean down to kiss her knuckle. I hear her sharp intake of breath and my heart picks up speed. She’s not as unaffected by me as she pretends to be.
I straighten and stare into her eyes. “Give me a chance, Reina. Please, pretty girl. Just one chance for me to show you how amazing we could be together.”
“You leave in a week, Brian, and we’ve known each other for about as long.” she says softly.
“That doesn’t mean I won’t be back. It doesn’t mean that we can’t have something now.”
She finally snatches her hand away and scowls. “So, in other words, a one-night stand is what you want?” She folds her arms again. “Not interested. But if you are, I’m sure there are plenty of girls on this campus who would gladly take you up on the offer.”
I groan in frustration. “No, I don’t want that. I want to get to know you, Reina. Not anyone else. I want to know your hopes and fears, and who you really are.” I reach out for a strand of her soft hair and wrap it around my finger. “You’re gorgeous, but it’s more than that. So much more.”
She huffs. “Sure, it is.”
I glance down at my feet. “Is this about that guy? Is he why you’re so hesitant about giving me a chance?” I growl.
She scrunches up her nose. “What guy? There’s no guy, even though it wouldn’t be any of your business if there were.”
I roll my eyes. “The guy in all the pictures on your wall. That guy.” The one who makes me worry while I’m away from her. Every picture is of them laughing and smiling. I’m no one to her. How can I compete with someone she can see all the time?
I look up when she throws back her head and laughs. “Amit? You’re worried about Amit? He’s my best friend. We’ve been buds since we were five. So no, it’s not because of him.”
I sigh. “How can I make you trust me then? Is there something I could do so you’ll give me a chance?”I’ll do anything, sweetheart. Just give me a chance.
