Page 52 of Chasing Sparks

“I’ll be back around six. Have a great day, Ash.”

Do I watch her ample assets sway out the door?

Fuck yes, I do. I’m not dead. I’m a single guy—kind of single—hell, I don’t know what I am anymore.

But for some reason, this dinner date doesn’t sit well with me at all.

Braden walks into my office uninvited and drops into the chair across from me, stretching his arms over the backrest like he owns the place. “Well? Was it a business or social call?”

I scratch my chin, frowning. “She asked me to dinner tonight to discuss some business proposition.”

“What kind of business?”

“She didn’t say.”

Braden rolls his eyes, crossing his arms. “Be careful. The woman’s fine as hell, but she’s trouble.”

“It’s a business meeting.”

“Sure, it is. Does Ori know?”

“We made plans five minutes ago.”

“Let me rephrase. Are you going to tell Ori?”

I tilt my head, resting my hands on the desk. “I don’t have to clear business meetings with Ori.”

Braden stays silent, his raised eyebrow saying everything.

“Aren’t you going to offer some brotherly advice? Maybe smack me upside the head?”

“Nope.” Braden shakes his head, staring at the far wall. “If you’re that fucking stupid, you deserve what you get.”

“I haven’t done anything.”

“Yet,” Braden adds, shooting me with a finger gun.

“Braden, Ori and I aren’t exclusive. We’re just hanging out.”

“Does she know that?”

“I made it clear the first night.”

Braden rubs the back of his neck, his expression shifting. “Well, that changes everything.”

“How so?”

“I can’t tell you how many guys come in here asking about Ori. I’ve been telling them she’s hands off, but I was mistaken. Seems she’s fair game, and that’ll make a lot of them happy.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“The next time one of them asks, I’ll let them know she’s single … because she is, right?”

I hate my brother sometimes. “Stay out of my love life.”

“We aren’t talking about your life, Ash. We’re talking about Ori. Seems if you’re on the prowl, she should be, too.”

I lean forward, my jaw tight with anger. “Don’t you say a fucking word to any of these guys. I don’t trust them around Ori.”

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