I’ve had my hands on that hair exactly two times. Once when we were five, and I yanked her ponytail for fun. She’d responded by knocking me down and kicking me in the balls.
I never pulled her hair again.
That is, until the very end of the last big Hardick event in Denver – a fancy, black tie celebration for my dad’s one hundredth published novel – I'd definitely put my hands in her hair that night.
We were drunk, bored, and the party was lasting forever. Instead of fleeing like my younger brother Penn and his girlfriend Val had, we decided to just hang on the roof and chill. Between the lights and the champagne and Jessie’s adorable constant laughter...
I got thrown off. Suddenly I wasn’t just looking at my best friend. I was looking at Jessie. Her blonde hair was blowing in the night breeze, her black dress was pushing up those perky breasts shamelessly toward my face, and the high cut of her skirt was showing me just enough pink, fleshy thigh to make me hard as hell.
She caught me staring at her and giggled, wobbling slightly on her stilettos. “Can I help you, Payden Hardick?” Her dark brown eyes were mischievous and daring me to do something.
So I did.
I grabbed her face and kissed her lips before she had a chance to say another word. Any shock she registered dissolved immediately, and she pulled me greedily against her.
Jessie’s lips were lush... full... I couldn’t believe I’d never kissed her before. I felt like such an idiot for having her so close all those years and never really having her. But every ounce of energy I put in to passionately assailing her face, she returned with fire and lust.
My hands were wound up in her hair and her hands were just beginning to tug slightly at my tux pants when Pierce, of all people, appeared on the rooftop.
He’d simply been coming to tell me that he was leaving – escaping from the torturous party, as he would put it. But when he saw us – saw what we were doing - his instant reaction had been to say, rather loudly (for Pierce), “Oh shit.”
He obviously hadn’t meant to interrupt us – how could he have known that there would be anything to interrupt – but the hazy mood that had come over me and Jessie dissipated in an embarrassed flash.
We laughed it off, which was easy to do when the both of us were still moderately inebriated. But we didn’t speak of it the next day, or any day after that. June passed, July is now here, and that kiss might as well have never happened.
Except that it did, and I’d been losing my shit over it ever since.
Today she is her usual cute self in a t-shirt and jeans. I try not to notice the way her top seductively hugs her big breasts – two cotton-covered mounds of perfection. Her ass did catch me by surprise, so I’ve already fallen victim to jean pockets stretched across her smooth, round, peach-like –
“You alright? Spacin’ out on me a little, Pay.” Jessie eyes me curiously.
What would have happened if Pierce had never popped up on that rooftop? I would have taken you behind the empty bar and fucked your brains out. That’s what.
“Pay?” Her lips are deep pink and just slightly parted.
Kiss her again. I’m going to kiss her again. I’m going to kiss her right now.
“Good morning, kids!” Preston’s obnoxious voice bursts into the room.
I have too many goddamn brothers… and they all have the worst fucking timing.
“Aren’t you at the wrong office?” I try to keep the snark and resentment out of my voice. Preston runs the main office – the business office – the all-important CEO office.
But today of all days he has to show up in the visitor’s office earlier than he usually even becomes conscious on a regular morning.
“Hey, I’m just as shocked to see you in an office at all. Thought you never left the barn.” Preston jabs back.
Preston and I get along – everybody gets along with Pres – but we’ve never been all that close. Him standing there in his crisp suit while I sport mud covered jeans and a ripped t-shirt gives a clear picture as to why.
We are just too different.
Jessie is triggered in a flash. She’s always been protective of me, which is hilarious. I am incredibly fit. I can handle myself. And this is just Preston being Preston.
“I think you should never leave rehab,” Jessie barks at him, her hands immediately on her perfect hips.
Preston rolls his eyes. “Oh, good one, Jess. Really got me right here.” He puts a hand to his chest and laughs. Jessie is basically the little sister that Preston never wanted. Their bickering is entertaining at times, but I have other things on my mind today.
“Seriously. Do you need something?” I search Preston’s face for any sign of intelligence.
“I do. I’m out of my favorite pens at the ranch office. Penn keeps a box of them behind the counter.” Preston instantly is rummaging through office supplies on the shelves. “And before anyone says it – yes, I’m taking Penn’s pens. Ha ha. A real knee slapper there.”
I exchange a look with Jessie. Pres is obnoxious when he’s being his normal, crazy self, but when he’s motivated – God help us all.
“So should I tell Penn he’s out of pens now?” Jessie inquires, raising an eyebrow.
“Not necessary.” Preston gives her a wide smile. “But you should probably order some more pens.”
“Thanks for droppin’ by Preston. Always a pleasure,” Jessie calls out after him as he struts out the door.
He gives a peace sign over his shoulder and just keeps walking.
“He’s special, that boy,” I quip, shaking my head and grinning.
“I feel like he’s been more annoying lately. Way too much energy,” Jessie straightens the random containers and boxes that Preston had disturbed.
“He’s in the zone. Or at least, he’s in a zone. Who can ever tell with Pres?” I suddenly remember that I’d come here under the guise of getting a cup of coffee, so I busy myself at the little bistro station.
“Coffee at the castle wasn’t good enough this morning?” Jessie teases in reference to the enormous Hardick mansion, giving me a grin that makes my insides twist into pretzels.
“Just thought I’d come here for a change. You’re leavin’ soon and...” I didn’t really think the sentence all the way through before I started it…
You’re leaving soon, and I’m sad as hell.
You’re leaving soon, and I don’t want you to.
You’re leaving soon, and I think we need to try that whole kiss thing again.
“It’s still a month away, Pay. Plenty of time to wreak havoc on Hardick Ranch,” she winks.
I want to wreak havoc on you. Now. Yesterday. Tomorrow.
“Yeah, yeah I know. No big deal,” I assure her, giving the weakest fake laugh in the history of... well… in the history of Payden Hardick’s fake laughter.
“I have something kind of fun for us to do anyway, if you’re game.” Jessie cocks a hip to the side and smiles mysteriously.
“Do you?” I take a few steps toward her. The room seems hazy all of a sudden, and I feel myself gearing up for...
For what?
Jessie seems to hesitate for a second – she feels it too – and then she shakes her head slightly, as if to clear the fog away.