Page 14 of Deal Takers

“What about me?” Brody gripes.

I glare at him. “Whataboutyou?”

Drew interrupts as he stands from his chair. “Adam, are you up for a friendly wager? Best two out of three?”

Adam takes my hand as the four of us walk to the billiards area. “You’re on.”

CHAPTER 9

Brody

What the fuck is happening right now? I’ve been sitting here for the past twenty minutes watching Dr. Douchebag shoot pool withmyfriends. Repeat after me, kids.Interloper. I grow more and more irritated whenever I see them laughing at something he says. I become downright hostile whenever he touches Rainey, which isa lot.

I knew her fiancé was a doctor, but I didn’t know he was the same doctor who witnessed one of the most humiliating moments of my life. The guy is practically ancient, but I’m man enough to admit that the ladies notice him.Every fucking womanin this joint has noticed him. I blame thatOceans 11guy for making the salt-and-pepper thing sexy. Now, every woman out there thinks these old dudes lookdistinguished. Excuse me for a moment while I go puke up my lunch.

How the hell am I supposed to compete with someone whosaves livesfor a living? I’m sure he can easily afford to romance the shit out of her too, considering he’s beenpracticing medicine for so long. Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re thinking—that I’m being ridiculous. That I have no right to be angry she’s with someone.Well, fuck you very much. That guy is one helluva cockblock, and I don’t like it.

As I watch him charm the pants off everyone in his orbit, I actually start to doubt my game. I’m not trying to sound arrogant, but I’veneverhad trouble getting the girl. If I wanted someone, she’d be mine with little to no effort. I don’t mind a challenge—I was actually looking forward to sparring with Rainey—but she’s not giving me much to work with here.

One thing my buddy, Drew, is good for is dishing out the dirt. No joke, the guy gossips like my grandma at the beauty salon. According to him, their engagement is new—a few months at best—and they’re in no hurry to set a date for their nuptials. That gives me hope. Most chicks I know would insist on setting a dateandreserving the place as soon as that ring was on their finger. Rainey’s lackadaisical approach tells me she has reservations, whether she realizes it or not. I know I wasn’t imagining that spark between us—I’ve never felt anything like it my entire life. I also know that I’m damn good at reading people, and that woman wants me. Ferociously. I feel like I would be doing a disservice to all mankind if I didn’t explore that. I hate the fact I have to go back to Boston for another year. I don’t like the thought of not having any influence on her life…of what might happen between her and the doc before I move back home permanently to give him some real competition.

You’re probably asking yourself why I’m so obsessed with this chick, right? Well, join the fucking club because I ask myself the same question every damn day. I barely know her. I’m aware I sound like a nut job. I can’t explain it though. She has thisje ne sais quoiquality about her, and Idon’t use fluffy French words lightly. It’s more than her looks, which to be clear, are exceptional—she’s the perfect combination of a porn star and the girl-next-door. What’s confounding is that she’s the first woman I’ve been interested in knowing on a deeper level. Usually, all I care about is whether they want it hard and dirty or slow and dirty. Reverse cowgirl or doggy-style? Face-sitting or getting licked from behind? I’m sure you get the point. I’ve had girlfriends in the past, but not a single one of them made me behave like a caveman stalker. Call me a dick if you want, but I just wasn’t that into them. Rainey is in a class all her own, and with the way Dr. Dipshit is looking at her, I’d say he knows that too.

Fuck.

I run my hand over my face and take a deep breath. I can’t keep watching the train wreck in front of me. I need to get out of here before I punch someone. I chug the remainder of my Heineken and head straight for the front doors. Right before I reach them, Drew calls my name, asking where I’m going.

I turn around to face him. “I need to head out, guys. Dinner with the folks tonight.”

He briefly gives me a concerned look and nods. “Okay, man. I’ll see you later.”

As I’m walking backward over the threshold, Rainey’s eyes lock with mine. I try schooling my features, but her expression tells me I’m not doing a very good job. When it’s clear she’s going to remain where she’s at, I flip around and make my escape as fast as possible.

CHAPTER 10

THREE YEARS AGO

Rainey

“C’mon, Lorraine,” Devyn whines. “You only turn thirty once. I’m your best friend. You have to let me plan something.”

“It’s really not a big deal,” I insist. “Adam’s going away for a medical conference that weekend, so I was planning to lay low.”

“All the more reason to have a party! You can’t be alone on your birthday.Especiallyon a milestone birthday. I promise to keep it under control—just family and a few friends. Your mom said we’re welcome to use her house since there’s so much room.”

“Devyn, my parents live two hours away. I highly doubt anyone would want to drive there and back on the same day.”

“I agree, which is why we’re staying for the weekend.”

“What?” I ask incredulously. “No. I’m not asking anyone to give up their entire weekend for me.”

“Too late…it’s already done,” she admits sheepishly.

I pull the phone away from my ear for a moment, staring at it in shock.

“Devyn, what is it, exactly, that you did?”

“Well, I didn’t doallof it,” she explains. “Your mom invited your brothers.”

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