Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
Charlee
Drew Summers in a T-shirt and jeans is a beautiful thing, but Drew Summers in a suit? Downright sinful. I’ve been shamelessly flirting with him all night, and consequently, he’s been finding reasons to move farther and farther away from me. I can’t figure him out. I know he feels the attraction between us. It’s kind of hard—pun intended—for a guy that big to completely hide the boner he’s always sporting around me, no matter how subtle he attempts to be. But despite this, he freaks anytime I get physically close to him. Between you and me, I’ve made a game out of it—the more he avoids me, the more I intentionally fuck with him. Like right now, as I play with the little gold chain on my neck, my fingertips perilously close to my cleavage. Like a moth to a flame, his eyes automatically trace the motion. After lingering for a few seconds, his guilty eyes flicker to mine so I lick my lips and smirk in response. I can’t be certain from across the room, but I’m pretty sure he just groaned.
“Knock it the fuck off, Charlotte,” growls my brother, Brody, as he sidles up next to me.
I side-eye him. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Quit flirting with Drew.”
I scoff. “I can flirt with whomever I want, B. Don’t forget who’s the older sibling in this relationship.”
“I don’t give a shit. There’s no way in hell I’m going to stand by like a little bitch and watch you hook up with one of my friends. First Riley, now Drew? I swear to God you do this just to fuck with me.”
Now I roll my eyes. He’s referring to the one time years ago when I kissed his friend after a few too many beers. Coincidentally, we’re celebrating that same friend’s engagement tonight. Despite the fact Riley could easily be a successful model, we have zero chemistry. Kissing him was about as hot as I’d imagine smooching my brother would be. I shudder at the thought.
“Newsflash. My sex life has nothing to do with you. If I want to pursue Drew, I will.”
Brody glares at me. “He’s a dog.”
“He’s your best friend,” I remind him.
“Exactly.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “Which means I know him better than anyone. He’s not a commitment kind of guy.”
“Who said I’m looking for a commitment? Maybe I just want to fuck.”
Okay, so maybe I’m screwing with little bro here, too. He makes it too easy sometimes.
“Quit being an asshole,” he gripes. “You’re wasting your time anyway. He’d never do that to me.”
I quirk an eyebrow. “Is that a challenge?”
Brody’s nostrils flare, and his knuckles clench. “I swear to Christ, if you?—”
“Brody, can I borrow you for a minute?” his girlfriend, Rainey, interrupts. “You don’t mind, do you, Charlee?”
“Not at all.” I wink, silently thanking her for saving me from his overprotective bullshit.
The tension in his body immediately dissipates when she leans into him and whispers in his ear. As much as my brother is grating on my nerves right now, it’s nice seeing him like this. Prior to Rainey, he was the very definition of a playboy. She turned his world upside down, and he couldn’t be happier about it. Those two are living proof that the right partner can bring out the best version of yourself.
I wait until they’re out of sight before making my move. Drew is sitting at the bar across the room with his back turned, so he doesn’t notice me until I take a seat on the stool next to him.
I trail my finger along his thick forearm. “Feel like buying me a drink?”
I don’t miss the way his beefy muscles flex as I touch him. He’s taken off his suit jacket, so they’re definitely more noticeable through his pale green dress shirt.
He clears his throat as he turns toward me. “Sure. What are you having?”
“How about an old-fashioned?”
He nods and places my order with the bartender.
Drew’s eyes twinkle in amusement as I grab the glass in front of him and take a sip. “So, Drew, why are you hanging out all by your lonesome?”
He takes the whiskey back from me as the barkeep delivers my order. “Just felt like getting a drink.”
I smirk as I gesture to the private room behind us, where the engagement party is being held. “The drinks are free in there.”
“Maybe I wanted some air.”
I nod in mock agreement. “That makes sense…if there was an open door or window anywhere close.”
He chuckles. “What are you getting at, Charlee?”
I smile. “Why are you constantly running away from me, Drew?”
“What?” he chokes out. “I don’t run away from you.”
“Um…yeah, I’m gonna call bullshit on that.” I gesture between our bodies. “Why are you fighting this?”
“Fighting what ?”
“How much you want to bang me.” I wink.
He chokes on the sip he was taking and spits the amber liquid back into the glass. “What makes you think that?”
I cross my legs, allowing the tip of my stiletto to accidentally graze his shin. “Besides the fact that you perpetually have a boner around me?” I pointedly eye his crotch.
He follows my gaze, smirking as he discreetly adjusts said boner. “How do you know that?”
“Really?” I challenge. “So that third leg of yours is always rock hard, just because ? That must get awfully uncomfortable.”
He laughs. “No, I meant how do you know I’m hard for you ?”
“Because your dick jumps whenever you look at my boobs.”
“Because they’re boobs ,” he argues.
I squeeze said boobs with my arms, pressing them together. “Don’t pretend you wouldn’t love to suck on them, Drew. Lick them. Slide your dick between them. Not just any boobs. My boobs.”
He does this weird half-laugh, half-groan thing. “Jesus Christ, you and Brody are definitely related.”
“Quit trying to change the subject,” I scold. “Back to my boobs and all the things you’d like to do with them.”
He gulps as he stares at the cleavage on display. “Maybe I’m more of an ass man.”
Oh, so he’s going to play it like that, huh? Time to up the ante.
I jump off the stool and grab his arm. “Well, lucky for you, my ass is fantastic. C’mon, let’s go.”
He stands but resists when I try pulling him forward. “Go where?”
“I saw a small patio near the hallway to the bathrooms. You said you needed fresh air, didn’t you?”
He eyes me skeptically. “Why do I get the feeling you have ulterior motives?”
I shrug. “Because I do.”
His eyes flash with desire, and this time, he willingly allows me to lead him across the restaurant.