Page 9 of Before We Were Us

“She did once,” he states with a confident smirk I want nothing more than to wipe from his face. “She’ll warm up to me again.”

The idea of him touching her doesn’t sit well with me. As if I have any right to feel possessive over a woman I’ve only met twice. But it doesn’t stop me from feeling that way. Not wanting to have this conversation with him, or with anyone for that matter I turn around and walk away, leaving the asshole standing there alone. He remains where he is, staring at the woman that has gotten beneath my skin, without actually doing a damn thing.

six

. . .

Brynnlee

“We’ve got everything cleaned up.” I spin around to find Detective Steele standing behind me. Immediately my pulse quickens. It seems unfair that one man gets all he’s got wrapped up in one package. Tall, broad shoulders, expanding chest. Strong arms that appear as if they may burst the seams of his shirt at any moment. A taut shirt that does nothing to hide the rippled physique. An urge to run my palm along the ridges hits me, exploring every single dip and curve.

Not to mention his eyes have such an alluring look about them. They have a I could do very wicked things to you if you’d let me kind of look, and that mouth, I bet he knows just how to use it to inflict some serious damage on a woman. Plus he’s a detective, which is hot, mysterious even as he carries this crazy brooding look about him. He’s exactly the kind of man that makes me weep. I love a strong, confident man. The kind of guy who pins you to the wall, makes your knees grow weak, and leaves you always wanting more.

“Ms. Webster?”

“Huh, what?” Holy frickin’ hell, pull yourself together, Brynn.

A trace of a smile tugs at his lips. “We’ve got everything cleaned up, collecting all that we need for now, but we do ask that the floor remains closed off until we can?—”

“Done,” I assure him. “I’ve already blocked out the entire floor so even if the staff forget, nothing on that floor will be available until I remove the block.”

“I’ll be sure to let you know when our team assures me they’ve got no further use for the block. And we will try to make it as quick as possible. I know with each day you are losing money.”

“Someone died,” I say, feeling my chest grow tight as I think of the poor girl and what she may have gone through. “I can assure you that a week or two of money lost is nothing compared to her life. Her choices don’t give anyone the right to hurt her.”

He stares at me, his eyes shifting to my lips and slowly back up to meet my eyes once more. “Do you have a card?”

I’d given one to the officer before and then I’m reminded that Wes took it, which means he probably still has it. That will be something I will have to handle later. Instead I reach into my back pocket and pull out another. Passing it to him, his fingers glide over mine and I try not to react. But damn it, everything about this man is sexy.

“I’ll be in touch,” he states as he takes a step back and holds my stare. “This is the second time we’ve run into one another. Maybe the third will be under better circumstances and I’ll be able to ask you to join me for a cup of coffee, or maybe dinner.” He drags his tongue over his lower lip. “Seems kind of selfish to do it now after the day we’ve just had.”

He doesn’t wait for me to respond, but instead backs away before turning around and walking toward the front door.

I wait and watch thinking he’ll turn around and I’ll get one last glance of those gorgeous eyes, but sadly he continues on and disappears out the door.

“If you don’t get you some of that, then I can’t be held responsible for my impulsive behaviors.” Taylor lets out a low whistle. “I mean seriously, how does one single man get blessed with all of that goodness. Seems to me God played favorites and said I will make this man God like and give him a splash of everything.”

I smile at her words, because honestly I’d just been thinking pretty much the same thing.

“Do you know how hard it was not to rub up on him earlier? Knowing the perfect creature was mere inches away and my body went into hussy mode. I was seconds away from dry humping him, until he brought up the fact that he was the one that bought you the drink the other night. You didn’t tell me he was such a hunk.”

I nod, agreeing with her assessment. “He didn’t use some cheesy pickup line either. Though I am pretty sure he was fishing when he said my boyfriend had good taste in whiskey.”

“What boyfriend?”

“Exactly,” I say with a smile. “It was his way of asking me if I had one without coming out and actually asking me. He noticed my drink when I went up to order and he was drinking it too.”

“You have to admit, that is creative.”

“Maybe.” I shrug. “But the creative ones seem to always be the ones hiding something.”

“What? Because Wes and Nolan both were douches you think all guys are?”

In my history, every guy I’ve managed to get involved with has cheated.

She bumps shoulders with me. “Say he is, you could at least get a good ride or two out of him.”

“Taylor,” I say with a laugh.

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