Page 30 of One Taste
“No shit?” He laughs. “What difference does it make, honestly?”
“He’s a complete playboy from what Brielle has told me, and that’s the part I don’t like about the entire situation.”
“Why? You nervous he’s going to try hitting on you?” His tone goes all protective cop brother.
“No.” I wave my hand at him. “I can handle myself. I just don’t want to become distracted.”
“Distracted?” He waits for me to elaborate.
“Distracted by a young, good-looking guy when I have a job to do. I mean, chances are, he’s going to fucking hate me the minute I step foot in that office, but still…” My voice trails off.
“Why is he going to hate you? He’s the one who can’t keep his shit together. If anything, you’re doing him a favor. What, are you worried you’ll fall for the douchebag playboy?” He chuckles and shakes his head.
I glare at him. “That would never happen. I’m a professional. My career comes first, always. I’m not worried about falling for him. I’m worried about him making my life a miserable hell while I work there.”
“I thought you didn’t want to go in there with any preconceived notions? None of this necessarily means he’s going to be a douche. Maybe he welcomes the help?” He raises one eyebrow. “You’ll be fine, Dev. It’s just first day jitters You used to do this before every first day of school too, remember?” His smile grows wide. “You would think of all these worst-case scenarios, and I used to have to sit with you before bed to remind you it was the same kids from the year before and you were going to have another great year. You’ve always overthought everything.”
He walks toward me, embracing me in a tight hug again just like when we were younger. He used to bring me a cup of hot cocoa and sit next to me in bed as he reassured me everything was fine. I loved those nights.
“I’m happy you’re back, sissy.”
I melt into my brother’s arms, soaking in his strength and love. I’m happy to be back. Hot CEO, who may hate me, or not.
“Me too, Mark. Me too.”
Sebastian
Jax is alreadyonthecourt warming up when I arrive. It’s chilly today,a reminderthat fall is here and we won’t have much longer out here before we have touse theindoor courts.
We slap hands as I pass on my way to the bench.“What’s up?”
I pull my water from my duffle bag and drop it on the ground in front of the bench. “How did your meeting go?”
Jax dribbles and spins before shooting the ball. It slips right through the net. “Great. I was expecting a little push and pull, but theyaccepted the number he wanted and got back to business. They signed the new contract, and I was home by four yesterday.”
“Yeah?” I ask, holding my hands up for him to toss me the ball. “You should’ve called me, man. We could have gone for drinks.”
“I was kind of beat,” he says. “How was your weekend?”
How does one describe the last two days I’ve had?
“Fucked up. Fucking amazing. Then, fucked up again. Ending in, what the fuck?”
Jax cocks his head. “That sounds...interesting.”
“You could say that.”
“What was the amazing in all the shitty?”
One good thing about Madisonbeingtruthful about the whole work situation is I’d been able to keep Devin from my mind until now. “I met an amazing woman at the bar, and she was the most exquisite thing I ever tasted.”
“She impressed you?” he asks in amazement. “Damn,this should be good.She must have been a solid fifty if she impressedtheSebastian Brooks.”
Over the next ten minutes, Jax and I take turns with practice shots while I recount my night with Devin for him.
After Penn Station, I showered and took a nap, hoping to erase her memory from my thoughts, her scent from my skin, her taste from my lips. Madison interrupted my nap and then dropped the truth in my lap, giving me something more important to focus on.
Closing my eyes, my thoughts drift back to the hotel.
