Page 1 of Her Brother's Best Friend

1

Cass

It’s the bottom of the ninth, and the Giants are down by one run. At least that’s what the commentator on the television says right before the bar goes wild with shouts and angry yelling.

Joe, my blind date for the night, thank you very much, Veronica, is shouting over all the other voices, and I stick my fingers in my ears to keep him from bursting my eardrums.

I’ve never understood men’s fascination with sports. I mean, it’s one thing to actually be at the game and cheering on the team, but to be on a date in a seedy bar acting like an ass over action on a stupid screen is a waste of energy in my book.

The batter strikes out for the second time, and I’m ready to grab my bag and sneak out on this horrible date when I see him. The bar is dark and thick with men in Giants gear, and he has a hat on that shadows most of his face, but I know that body as well as I know my own name.

Two tables over, Luke Donovan is sitting with a group of guys I somewhat recognize from my brother’s bike shop. His eyes are transfixed on the screen, just like every other guy in the bar.

Luke smiles, and I’m instantly ten again, and he’s walking into my life for the first time. Though, now he has much more ink and a body that fills out his jeans and stretches his blue Giants shirt to the max.

“Shit. Hit the fucking ball, you idiot.”

Joe shouts and slams his fist on the table, sending most of the burger I didn’t eat dancing off my plate. Veronica told me her brother-in-law as passionate, but this takes aggression to a whole new level. I push my food back on my plate and concentrate on not stealing another peek at Luke. Yeah, that doesn’t go as planned either.

The batter gets a foul ball, and Joe shakes the whole table with his foot. The water in my glass swishes, and I move it away from the edge just in time to notice Luke isn’t at his seat anymore.

Maybe he left. That would be better than him catching me on a date with this jerk. Luke and my brother, Kyle, have been friends since Kyle brought him home from school one day and announced Luke, at sixteen, had just been adopted by the couple next door. Now they own a bike shop together, and I’ve made a vow to never set foot in the place for fear of running into--

“Cassy?”

I look up from my drink into steel grey eyes and a smile that still awakens every butterfly in my belly.

“I didn’t know you were a fan. You should have brought Kyle out with you.”

“I’m...not,” I say quietly. If Joe takes his attention off the TV and hears I’m not crazy for the team he’s dedicated his life too, I’m not sure I want to know what will happen next.

“Oh,” Luke glances at Joe then back to me. “Lucky guy then.” For a second, his mouth contorts in a half frown half-smile combo that makes my lady bits tingle. Then he puts a hand on my shoulder, and I can’t breathe, though somehow I can still smell him and...oh...God...he smells amazing. A heady mix of motor oil and peppermint and something I can’t describe, but it’s all Luke, and it’s all familiar.

“I haven’t seen you around the shop in ages.”

“Kyle doesn’t like me there,” I lie. Kyle could care less if his little sister hung around, but I can’t be that close to Luke. Not after what he did to me.

“Well, you should come around more often. Like the old days. The place was a lot more fun when you worked there.”

I want to respond with something witty, but my heart and brain are battling it out over the exact words to use, I play it safe and nod. I’m a deer in headlights, only the light is Luke, and I could only wish he was hunting me.

“I guess I better go. I open the shop on Saturdays so your brother can attend some of the bike shows in the area.” He smiles that panty-melting smile of his and waves on his way to the front door.

My cheeks are hot, and my heart is in my throat. For my sixteenth birthday, Luke decided he didn’t have enough money to buy me anything nice, so he gave me my first kiss instead. Then he told me it meant nothing, and he took it back.

I’ve never been able to look at him without blushing and feeling shame since.

I guess while I was occupied in painful memories, the batter struck out because the bar explodes, and Joe picks up the basket of peanuts on the table and throws them on the ground.

I’ve never seen rage like this in a man. It’s terrifying.

“Fucking loser team. I don’t know why I waste my time,” Joe spits out and jumps off his stool. “We’re getting the hell out of here. I need to blow off some steam.”

Joe grabs my arm and yanks hard. His fingers dig into my skin, and he’s hurting me. I’m forced to stand, but the second my feet hit the floor, I plant them. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

The hair on my neck stands at the way Joe scowls at me. He’s a big guy, and if he wanted to, he could pull me off my feet easy. My gut twists. I know how this ends. If he gets me outside, there’s no stopping him from whatever he wants to do next.

“Are you fucking serious right now? I bought you dinner. Now it’s time to go.”

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