Page 39 of Bossy Ex's Brother

She looked confused, her face already flushed, eyes aglow with desire. She stood in place for a few more seconds. Then, she shook her head as though to clear it and coughed.

“Alright,” she said. “I’m done. They’re gone, and the club’s not opening tonight, so I’m heading home for the day.”

I nodded, my throat tight with lust as I watched her leave. I shut my eyes, breathing in and out to allow the feeling raging through me to calm down.

It took a few minutes for my mind to clear, and that was when I realized how late it was. The sky was darkening rapidly, and it might be completely night-time by the time Jane was halfway into her thirty-minute walk home. I didn’t want her walking alone in the dark. Did she even take an Uber? I usually had Brandon drive her home at the end of her shift—she absolutely refused to get on my bike—but since he wasn’t here, Jane might choose to walk today to save money instead of getting an Uber.

I should probably follow her.

I went outside, got on my bike, and started down the street to follow the path she usually took home.

As it turned out, I was right about the walking thing. I saw her figure in the distance, striding leisurely. Stubborn brat. I paused at the top of the hill, wondering how to convince her to stop doing that, thinking maybe I should scare her a little bit.

But then someone else did it for me. A familiar-looking motorcycle sped up toward her, startling her into jumping back.

Alarm had me gunning my bike to destroy the asshole, but then the rider took off his helmet, and I froze.

Lorenzo.

FIFTEEN

JANE

I was lost in thought when I heard the distant roaring of a motorcycle.

At the time, I was thinking about the almost-kiss with Luca, the one which he’d stepped back from. Another kiss that never happened. Disappointment still rippled through me, even though it was stupid, and I shouldn’t even want to kiss him in the first place.

Previously, we’d been stopped by Brandon, which was even more embarrassing. I didn’t want him to think I was sleeping with the boss to get extra favors, but I knew that was what he was likely thinking, even though he hadn’t said anything about it. And I should be dissuading Brandon from that notion by maintaining a professional relationship with Luca and nothing else.

But instead, I’d done a stupid thing and almost kissed Luca again.

This time, he’d been the one to step back, which only added to my mortification.

I knew it wasn’t because he didn’t want me. I noticed the way he’d stared at me, his gaze hot and heady, like he’d consume me if given a chance. Awareness had prickled through my wholebody, along with the urge to kiss him. My emotions were always turned upside down when it came to him. I’d gone in there to scold him for being rude to his guests and ended up wanting to make out with him instead.

I didn’t know how he did it, how he drove me crazy with simultaneous lust and anger. It was like the two became the same feeling when I was in front of him. I could want to kill him one moment and want to kiss him the next. It was starting to give me whiplash.

I was lost in thought when I became aware of a motorcycle rumbling closer and close until it stopped right next to me.

I instantly started, frowning at the driver, confused. He was dressed in all black with a leather jacket accentuating his wide shoulders. He swung his long, lean legs over the bike and reached for his helmet, taking it off.

My jaw practically fell to the floor.

“Lorenzo?”

My ex-boyfriend was the rider of the bicycle, brushing his long dark hair out of his eyes as he stepped off. He looked the same and different all at once. He still held much of his boyish charm, and the way his hair flopped a little over his eyes was familiar. But he’d filled out over the years. The guy I had dated was a slender man, maybe a little nerdy looking. This man stood more confidently, moved fluidly, and even with his clothes, I could see that he now had lean muscles packed on his body.

On the other hand, he still had that gentle smile when he murmured, “Janey.”

He came forward and drew me into his arms, and I noted he still had that subtle scent of persimmon too.

I was too stunned to hug him back.

I always imagined what I would do if I ever saw Lorenzo again. He left one day without warning, with only a text that said, “I’m sorry.” It was after an argument we had. He askedme to skip town and go somewhere with him, and I told him that I couldn’t because I had way too many responsibilities to even entertain the idea. The next day, he was gone without me, leaving me with just that text. I didn’t see or hear from him again. It was my first ever heartbreak, and I was so mad at him that it was all I could think of for months. So I thought if he ever reappeared, I would be furious and demand an explanation.

But instead, I was now overwhelmed with relief that he was okay. For a while there, after the initial anger subsided, I thought that something had happened to him. But now, seeing him looking healthy and all, I was relieved.

And, I noted as I pulled back from him, I wasn’t in love with him anymore.

---