Page 69 of Deal Takers

I roll my eyes. “Nowwhat the hell are you yammering about?”

“Not only are you in loooooooove, but you’re being used for sex.”

I scowl.

“I’m not saying she doesn’t return your feelings,” she amends. “But she obviously has no shame in using you as a human dildo to avoid talking about it. I think I like this girl.”

“Thanks a lot, Charlotte. I’m really feeling the love here.”

She laughs. “Oh, don’t be such a baby, Brody. There’s an easy way to fix this, you know.”

I gesture for her to continue. “Oh, please impart your wisdom upon me.”

“You need to tell her how you feel,” she says matter-of-factly. “You need tokeep your dick in your pantsuntil you’ve hashed it out with herverbally.”

I’m sure I look as incredulous as I feel. “Are you seriouslytelling me I should withhold sex from the hottest fucking woman I’ve ever met?”

“Yep.” She adds a pop to the end of the word.

“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard,” I mutter.

“No, it’s not. You’re never going to get anywhere if she keeps distracting you with pussy. Sheknowsit’s your weakness. If you prove her wrong, she’ll beforcedto take you seriously.”

Damn it, she may have a point.

“I don’t know…”

Charlee sighs. “Look, Brody. If you can manage to hold out long enough to have a serious conversation with her, telling her exactly how you feel, at least then you’ll know where you stand. One way or the other,you’ll know, and you can move forward.”

“Yeah, maybe. I guess it’s worth a try.”

She stands up and heads for the front door. “It’sdefinitelyworth a try, little bro. I need to go run a few errands before heading to work. Let me know how it works out.”

I give her a half-assed wave. “Yeah…sure.”

“Well,hel-lo,” Charlee purrs.

My eyes snap up to find Drew towering over her in the doorway.

“Hello to you, too,” he says. “And you are?”

Oh, hell no.

Do you see that sparkle in their eyes? The way they’re subconsciously leaning into each other?That, right there, is the reason I’ve kept Charlee away from him all these years.

I jump up and give her a little shove out the door. “Just leaving. I’ll talk to you later, Charlee.”

She stares at Drew appreciatively as she walks backward down the hall. “Yeah…sure. See you later.” She winks before turning around and ducking down the stairwell.

I push Drew inside and shut the door. “What are you doing here, asshole?”

“Thatwas Charlee? As in your sister, Charlee?”

“Yep. Now answer my question.”

He widens his stance and crosses his arms over his ridiculously wide chest. “Sure. After you answer mine. Is she single? Andwhy in the hellhave I not met her before?”

“Nope.” I shake my head furiously. “Don’t even fucking think about it. I’m still scarred from her little tryst with Riley.”

---