“What the fuck does that mean?”
“That’s Tristan Summers, the true definition of a sweet, southern belle. But even if she didn’t have a boyfriend, you’d never have a chance in hell pretty boy.”
“And why is that?”
“Forever the bachelor,” he says pointedly. “She’s the marrying type, not to mention the two guys she’s with are her older brothers and will no doubt mangle your pretty face if you hurt her.”
“So, you know them?”
“No, not really, I just know of them. Being a townie and all, I hear everything.”
“Ben, Sebastian.” Aimee’s voice sounds from behind us and I turn to face her. “This is my boyfriend, Jaxson Summers, that I was just telling you about. Jaxson, these are my best guy friends from high school, Benjamin Moore and Sebastian Abbott.”
I extend my hand to shake his. “Nice to meet you and thank you for your service.”
“Likewise, and thank you,” he says before moving on to shake Ben’s hand.
Aimee bounces back and forth on her feet excitedly. “Evan, Tristan come here. Come meet my friends.”
I glance over to see Tristan with a look of dread on her face. I can only assume she doesn’t want her brothers knowing we’ve met before and that we’ve kissed. I’ll play it cool with her tonight, but I do know one thing is sure. I won’t be fucking getting her out of my system anytime soon, even with some random chick. She’s the one I want, and I’ll do anything to get her. Even if it means playing dirty with my estranged half-brother.
Chapter Ten
Tristan
Evan has to practically drag me over to where Aimee and Jaxson are standing. This can’t be happening! I told Sebastian just an hour ago that we should keep our distance, now I’m standing here staring into his intense brown eyes.
“Evan and Tristan, these are my high school friends, Benjamin Moore and Sebastian Abbott,” Aimee introduces us.
“Pleasure to meet you both.” I shake Ben’s hand and then reluctantly shake Sebastian’s, silently praying he doesn’t make it known that we know each other.
“It’s nice to meet you as well, Tristan.” My name rolls off his tongue like it’s his sweetest taste of sin causing a heat to flood over my body. Fuck. Me.
I quickly excuse myself and make a beeline for the restrooms. Slipping inside, I close and lock the door behind me before leaning against it, trying to catch my breath. A few moments later there’s a light tap on the door.
“Just a minute.”
“Tristan, its Aimee. Let me in.”
Flipping the lock, I open the door to let her in before relocking it. The lock is the only thing that guarantees me distance from Sebastian. I turn around to face Aimee, her perfectly threaded brow raised in question.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Which one is it? The ruggedly handsome townie or the GQ model?”
I try to play dumb. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Aimee puts her hands on her hips. “I’m not blind, Tristan, and neither are your brothers. Though, lucky for you they haven’t caught on yet because you know they’d have a damn aneurysm.”
I blow out a breath, closing my eyes and letting my head fall back against the wall behind me. “Sebastian.” I open one eye to peek at her as she shakes her head. “I know!” I say, exasperated. “I have a boyfriend! Laz and I are happy… Well, I think we are. Anyway, that’s beside the point. Sebastian is infuriating and arrogant and…. And…”
“Obscenely sexy?” she says.
“Yes! And I literally just told him like one hour ago that we should keep our distance. Then I walk in here and he’s sitting at the damn bar.”
“Wait… What? Explain.”
“Well, I met him on my lunch break a few days ago and haven’t been able to forget about him since. He called me a ridiculous nickname and flirted, then walked away like nothing had happened. He then showed me around the gorgeous office building my boss is wanting to buy, flirting with me the entire time and then he kissed me. My car broke down, and he came to the rescue showing me a different side of him. I’m a mess Aimee, and with Laz. I can’t feel this way about another man, I just can’t. Some words of wisdom would be great right about now.”
She stands there staring at me. Then throws up her hands with a shrug saying, “I got nothing.”
I roll my eyes. “Thanks for the help.”
“I gotta get back to work. Stay in here a few minutes, get yourself together, and then come back out.”
“Okay. Thanks, Aimee.” I give her a quick hug before she lets herself out to go back to work.
I take a few deep, cleansing breaths before checking my makeup and coaching myself in the mirror. “You can do this. You and Laz are just going through a rough patch and will work it out. It isn’t worth throwing away for a guy that doesn’t even live here.”
Opening the door, I step into the hallway only to find all my inhibitions and self-coaching go out the window. Sebastian is leaning against the wall, one foot propped up on the wall. His sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, hands in his pockets and when he looks up at me from his phone, his expression is as conflicted as I feel.
I try to walk past him, but he reaches out a hand to stop me.
“Wait, are you okay?” he asks his voice soft.
“No, I’m not alright. I asked you for space and now you’re here.”
“I didn’t know you were going to be here tonight. I was coming for a drink with an old friend. I swear I didn’t know.”
I cast a glimpse at my brothers and Jaxson waves me over. He obviously hasn’t seen Sebastian standing beside me.
“I need to get over there before they suspect anything.” Sebastian grabs my arm, pulling me towards the bar, and I can’t help but notice there are only two empty seats left. And I have to sit next to Sebastian. Could my night get any worse? Reluctantly, I sit down and with a shaky hand, I pick up my drink. Why am I so nervous? Am I scared that my brothers will pick up on the fact that I’ve met Sebastian before tonight and guess we kissed? I mean they would probably think it’s great as they don’t like Lazaro anyway, but this is reckless. I barely know Sebastian. Yet, I can’t stop thinking about him.
Suddenly, an elbow slides into my view, as he leans down and whispers, “How’s the car?”
“Drivable and thank you for all your help too.”
“You’re welcome, sugar tits.”
I inhale. “Please don’t call me that here.”
“Scared someone might hear, beautiful?”
I flick my gaze to his and find his expression soft as I get lost in his eyes. “The wrong person might hear it and get the wrong idea.”
He smirks. “So, you don’t mind me calling you that then?” I feel my face flush with heat as I pick up my drink and take a sip, hoping to hide it from him. It doesn’t work because he says, “If that’s how you look blushing, I wonder what you’d look like after a good fucking.”
“And who says it’ll be you giving it to me?” I ask. This is the wine talking.