Page 27 of Off Limits
He let the door fall shut behind him and leaned against it, arms crossed. Blood surged hot through his veins, a cocktail of heartache and rage. He felt like he was standing on the edge between the sharp sting of rejection and the violent urge to throw that dick she’d walked in with through the brewery window.
When she emerged from the stall, she gasped. “Brady. What are you doing in here?”
He swallowed hard but didn’t say anything. He couldn’t. His heart raced and his chest tightened to the point he almost couldn’t breathe. He’d better not go into another panic attack. Now wasn’t the time.
She sighed, moved to the sink and washed her hands before turning back to him.
His throat finally loosened. “What the fuck, Jane?” He fisted his hands at his sides, nails digging into his palms. The anger surged through him like venom.
Jane narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean, ‘what the fuck?’” she bit out.
“You brought a datehere—to the brewery! Parading him around with his hands on you.” His voice climbed, echoing off the tiled walls. His shoulders bunched to his ears as he caught his reflection in the mirror—flushed red, chest heaving.
He’d nearly lost it when he saw that guy’s hand at the small of her back. Made him want to find her date and snap one of his fingers.
Jane released a low, mocking laugh. Her spine stiffened, and she jabbed a finger his direction. “Mybrotheris part owner of this place. I can come here whenever I damn well want and with whomever I want.”
He took a step toward her. “You’re being childish.”
Her eyes flared. “Me? I’m being childish? You have me cornered in the women’s restroom.”
“You brought him here to rub it in my face.” He squeezed his fists even tighter.
“You’re quite the narcissist, aren’t you, Brady?” she snapped. “Everything’s about you. I brought him here to meet my brother. To enjoy the end of our date.”
“So itisa date? You’re seeing him?” He gritted his teeth. The thought of that douchebag walking her to her door—maybe even kissing her—sent a pulse of rage through him. The idea that she might invite him inside, let him touch her the way only he should ... it made him want to punch the wall, to scream until his throat burned, to bury himself in a bottle of whiskey and the first willing woman he could find. Classic him. Drown it all—pain, guilt, longing—in booze and sex. Any woman. No names. No faces. Just distraction.
“He asked me out.” She ran a hand through her silky hair. “I said yes.”
“You move quickly,” he bit out.
She let out a short laugh. “I suppose pining after you forever wouldn’t be enough, huh?”
“Don’t be a smartass.” He shifted his weight, fists still tight at his sides. Had he known that she found him attractive? Sure. But he’d always chalked it up to circumstance—him being her brother’s best friend, not something real. A fantasy. He’d seen the books she read, those dog-eared paperbacks with steamy, forbidden romances. He figured he was just a trope to her—an exciting, off-limits crush.
Yes, he knew she cared. But she’d never had a serious relationship. What if this wasn’t real for her—just curiosity?
She stepped toward him. “Move.”
“I’m not budging.” He pressed harder into the door like that might seal it and lock them both in here forever.
“What do you want from me?” She stepped back and leaned against the sink countertop, crossing her arms over her chest. She released a long, low sigh.
“How would you feel if you saw me with another woman?” He didn’t want anyone else. Just her. The truth landed heavy in his chest—unfamiliar but undeniable. Before, he chased other women to fill a void. To avoid the loneliness.
Jane’s gaze dropped to the floor. “I’ve been watching you with other women for as long as I’ve known you.” Her tone was soft, but the words sliced clean. “The parade was endless.”
He winced. God, she was right. Every holiday, every family gathering—he brought someone new. Just to keep his distance. Just to pretend. “This is different, and you know it.”
“Different how?” She looked up at him with pursed lips and narrowed eyes. “Because the tables are reversed? Because now you know how I’ve felt all these years watching other women throw themselves at you and you take what they were offering.”
“Different because before we had only imagined it. Not experienced it. Experienced us.” He edged off the door and placed his hands on his hips.
“So what is the expectation? How long until I can move on with my life?” Her gaze fell to the floor again.
“I don’t know.” He dropped his head. “I’ve never been in this situation before.”
“What situation?”
