16. Sara #2
“Pretty good.” He tugs at my ponytail. “Although Aiden’s scaring people away. Maybe I should keep you by my side. You’re pretty and you smell like fall.”His voice is pure affection.
Forcing my eyes open, I tip my face up to take him in, eager for a glimpse of the smile I know he’s wearing, and am greeted with a kiss to my forehead.
It’sinnocent. Something I’m sure he’s done before.
But this time it feels like more than just a friendly kiss.
The rumble in his chest makes it feel possessive.
That thought has me scanning the room for Seb. But as far as I can tell, he isn’t here.
I shake off the thought. Brooks is just a friendly guy, and like I said, he’s probably kissed my forehead a dozen times or more since we met. That move wasn’t out of the ordinary.
For the next three hours, we work the lines of people and play with dogs of all ages.
When my phone vibrates in my pocket and I pull it out to find my mother’s name flashing on the screen, I sneak outside to take the call.
Unfortunately, service is terrible, so when I answer, I get nothing but silence.
I immediately call her back, but it goes straight to voicemail.
Slumped against the brick building, I curse my stupid phone service.
“Come on, Livy. It’s Friday. You know what that means,” Beckett says as he and Liv walk out of the building, hand in hand, with Deogi trotting along beside them, tail wagging and tongue lolling out of his mouth.
I raise my hand, ready to call out to them, but snap my mouth shut when Liv says, “You’re not putting it in the butt tonight, Mr. Langfield.”
Holy fuck . I really wish I’d made a damn noise the second they stepped outside. Holding my breath, I press back against the bricks and will myself to become one with the wall. I even close my eyes. If I can’t see them, then they won’t see me, right?
“You know what you calling me Mr. Langfield does,” he purrs.
He fucking purrs. I swear.
Ermygod.
When I hear the sound of a car door opening, I let out the breath burning my lungs, hopeful that I’m in the clear. Except before I can open my eyes, a heavy weight settles over my shoulders.
“Can the two of you stop talking about butt stuff? You’re freaking out the head of my PR team.”
Cringing, I pry one eye open and peer up. Gavin is giddy as he grins down at me.
Groaning, I whack him in the stomach with the back of my hand. He makes a loud humph , but an instant later, he falls into a fit of laughter.
“Don’t worry. They were already in the car when I yelled that.” He straightens and smooths out his suit jacket. “But seriously, can they get a room?”
I drop my head back against the brick, ignoring the way it tugs at my hair, and blow out a breath.
How do these things keep happening to me?
First I’m poked in the eye by Brooks’s cock, and then I make a scene at the bar.
Now I’ve accidentally become a voyeur while a married couple talk dirty to one another.
The Langfields are going to think I’m a pervert with really weird fetishes.
Like really weird.
The door beside us opens again, and this time Brooks and Aiden appear.
“Want to do something for dinner?” Aiden is asking as they step out onto the sidewalk.
“No, I have plans.” Brooks’s face lights up when he spots us, but in an instant, his jaw goes rigid and his eyes narrow on where Gavin’s arm is still draped over me.
Oblivious to his brother’s sudden shift in mood, Aiden continues, “I’ll just hang at your place, then.”
Brooks stomps our way, his expression getting harder with every step he takes. “Don’t you have somewhere you can go?” he asks Aiden, his tone gruffer than I thought he was capable of.
Beside me, my boss shakes with laughter, then steps away.“God, you’re so easy to rile up.” He slides his hands into his pockets and rocks back on his heels. “Aiden, why don’t we leave the lovebirds to themselves? You can have dinner with me.”
Brooks slides a palm down his face. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I can’t in good conscience let him go with you. The man fucking reeks.”
Aiden glares at Brooks and stomps his foot like a little boy.
Gavin laughs, moving closer to his baby brother. “So go home and shower, you idiot.”
“Jill kicked me out.”The poor guy hangs his head, and my heart aches. It’s rare to see the silliest of the Langfield brothers anything but chipper.
Gavin holds up his hands and quickly changes direction, backing up toward the street.
“I’m not touching that with a ten-foot pole.
Aiden,” he commands, pointing a finger, “break up with Jill. She sucks.” Then he turns his attention our way.
“Brooks, I swear I wasn’t hitting on your woman.
Sara, great job today. No more butt stuff, okay? ”
With a wink at me, he spins on his heel and practically skips down the block, probably reveling in the knowledge that he just kicked up a full-blown shitstorm.
“Butt stuff?” Aiden hisses.
“Dude, read the room and go the fuck away,” Brooks snaps in a way I rarely witness. The man is always so easygoing, but apparently his vast well of patience has run temporarily dry.
“I swear I didn’t offer to have anal sex with your brother.”
It takes everything in me not to smack myself when those words are the ones my brain has chosen to spit out.
And from the scowl he shoots me, he doesn’t appreciate them either.
“Or any kind of sex,” I explain, because obviously that elaboration is so much better. “Not even oral.”
“Oh my God,” Aiden mumbles, dropping his head into one hand. “Stop while you’re ahead.”
I really, really should. The smelly man is right.
But the blank stare on Brooks’s face is freaking me the fuck out, and when I’m freaked out, I can’t control the words that spew from my lips.
“Not that I’m opposed to butt stuff. It’s just—I wouldn’t do that with your brother.
Obviously. ” I let out an exasperated breath, trying to convey how ridiculous that would be.
Brooks only blinks. Shit.
Aiden at least has the courtesy to grumble. “Any chance you can teach me how to use the washing machine?”
I bite my lip and look between the two men. “Um, sure.”
“We’re busy,” Brooks grits out. “Stop making plans with my brothers.”
With an awkward laugh, I grasp his wrist and tug. “I never made plans to do butt stuff with Gavin. I swear it.”
Brooks slides a palm down his face and groans. “Please stop saying butt stuff.”
“It’s a totally normal thing to do, Brooks.”
Shoulders slumping, he peeks at me from between his fingers, but he doesn’t respond.
I hold up my hands. “Fine. No more butt stuff. Aiden, meet me in the laundry room in thirty minutes.”