Page 11 of Bad Boys After Dark - Brett
“Brett, what’s going on?” she asked quietly.
Brett winked, guiding her around the perimeter of the crowd, until he found a gap and then he moved behind her, holding her by the shoulders as he steered her toward the front of the group. She peered around a gray-haired man and gasped at the sight of Kurt Remington standing at a podium reading from one of his books.
She spun around, feeling light-headed. “It’s Kurt Remington!” she whispered excitedly. “You brought me to see Kurt Remington!”
A collective “Shh” brought her hand over her mouth. She dropped her hand and mouthed, Thank you, to Brett.
His smile radiated all the way up to his eyes, softening his rough edges and making him even more handsome, but it was the genuine nature of the smile that captivated her. Gone was the player mask that threw sparks and seemed to always be planning his next move. He gently turned her by the hips so she was facing Kurt, but she looked over her shoulder at Brett, wanting to savor the sight of this side of him, for fear she might never get another glimpse.
He wrapped his arms around her from behind and whispered, “Surprise, Sexy Sophie.”
Brett’s voice didn’t carry its usual illicitness of sexual promiscuity he used when trying to railroad her into the bedroom. She didn’t step away, because suddenly everything felt different, as it had last night when they were dancing. She tried to concentrate on Kurt as he eloquently conveyed the emotions of his characters, but she was having trouble reconciling the man who had tracked her down and surprised her with this incredible event with the one who made nonstop sexual innuendos.
Brett held her during the entire reading, making it tough for her to let go of the hope that maybe there truly was another side of him. His touch was warm and comfortable, as if they had been a couple forever, and he wasn’t groping or whispering propositions. Was this the man she saw lingering beneath the lust in his eyes? She told herself not to pick it apart, just to enjoy the moment, because this Brett, this thoughtful, not-on-a-sexual-mission man, would have long ago won her over.
After the reading, as the crowd applauded, Sophie turned to thank Brett and found him gazing at her entrancingly. Neither one said a word, and the magnetism of the moment amplified. He took both her hands in his, and she readied for the kiss she’d missed out on last night. She didn’t care that they were in the middle of a bookstore, or that it would be a kiss from a man who might be incapable of ever giving her more. She wanted that kiss, and this time she wasn’t going to spend the night wondering why she didn’t get it. She went up on her toes as he pushed a hand beneath her hair, drawing her forward. Spearmint and the unique scent of Brett coalesced, and she closed her eyes. Someone brushed against her shoulder, and her eyes flew open as she stumbled sideways. In the blink of an eye, Brett’s gaze turned sharp and threatening, as impressive as it was intimidating.
“Hey,” Brett snapped at the offender as he caught Sophie around the waist and held her against him.
“Sorry,” the guy said, and joined the line of people waiting to meet Kurt.
She turned back to Brett, hating that their connection had been interrupted, but she was too nervous to try to find her way back to it. She waved awkwardly toward the line and said, “We should…Would you mind if I got an autograph?”
“That’s why we’re here.” Brett’s gaze flicked to the guy again as they stepped into line. His jaw was clenched, and his gaze moved over the room as if he expected there to be trouble at any minute. That aggression, and his sexual bravado, were part of what set him apart from any other man.
Sophie realized with surprise that she was as attracted to those parts of him as she was to the side that had brought her here tonight.
Kurt took the time to chat with each and every person who had come out to see him. He spoke quietly, as if he were more comfortable reading in character than absorbing the attention of fans. The pictures in the back of his books didn’t do him justice. His blue eyes were set off by thick dark hair and refined features. He was handsome, as the women in front of them were remarking, but he didn’t hold a candle to Brett. She stole another glance at Brett. The sharpness she’d seen had softened. He smiled and brushed his fingers over hers. It was such a gentle touch, it took her off guard, and her pulse quickened again.
