Page 9 of Fluke
“It was good to see you, Jess,” I say.
He pushes away from the table and says goodbye to Kerissa. Then he walks over to me.
My heart thumps as he bends, lowering his lips to my ear. “Pip?”
I hum, staring straight ahead and trying to ignore the heat of his breath on my skin.
“I’ll let you call me daddy if you want,” he whispers.
A surprised laugh sputters from me as I turn to swat at him. He laughs, darting out of the way before my hand contacts his shoulder.
“Bye,” he says, walking backward.
“Bye.”
He gives me a little wave, then turns, opens the door, and leaves.
“What the hell was that?” Kerissa asks.
I stare at the door and grin.
That was trouble if I don’t watch it.
Sexy, dirty, six-foot-three trouble all wrapped up in a sinful package.
3
JESS
“Imagine the worst thing in the world that could happen to you.”
My youngest brother, Banks, closes his eyes. He rests the back of his head on my couch, his forehead wrinkling as if he’s deep in thought—something I’m certain he’s incapable of, but whatever.
“Okay,” he says. “Got it.”
“That’s how I feel when I think about letting you move in.”
His eyes pop open, and his jaw hits the floor. “That’s … really hurtful, Jess.”
“Oh,please.”
He grabs the remote off the coffee table and turns down the volume on the television.
I never should’ve let him in my house tonight. I knew better. But my mind was on Pippa as I climbed out of the truck, and my defenses were down just enough to leave me vulnerable.
It’s as if Banks senses my weakness. I swear the guy could be across the planet and still know when there’s an opening for him to manipulate. I don’t get it. I’m also kind of jealous of his abilities, but I have no idea how he does it.
“You act like you don’t even like me,” he says from across the living room. Moonlight streams through the window beside him.
“I do?” I hum, bringing a beer bottle to my lips. “That’s interesting.”
“You like me,” he says as if he’s trying to convince both of us. “I’ll even go out on a limb and say we’ve bonded over the past couple of weeks—really cementing our new two-man wolf pack—”
I choke on my drink, spraying bits of alcohol through the air like tiny pieces of surprise confetti.
“What?” Banks turns his palms toward the ceiling innocently. “What did I say?”
“Did you just say ourtwo-man wolf pack?” I clear my throat, blinking back tears. “Is that what I heard?”
