Chapter Eleven
It’s a few hours later when Mallory and I walk through the restaurant doors, but there’s something hanging in the air that I can’t put my finger on. Mallory wasn’t her usual talkative self throughout most of the day after our run-in with those guys on the beach, which is concerning, and that’s why I’m going to ask her about it once we get to a table.
There’s a large crowd of people waiting in the entrance, forcing me and Mallory to squeeze through the bodies to get inside.“Hi!” One of the hostesses behind the counter says, giving us a small wave in greeting along with a bright and welcoming smile. “How many for you tonight?”
Mallory nudges my shoulder with a frown and shakes her head. “Maybe we should try to go somewhere else,” she mutters.
I clear my throat and flash the hostess my best smile. “How long is your wait at the moment?”
She looks at the brightened screen in front of her, then up to me with a less enthusiastic smile. “About forty-five minutes to an hour.”
My stomach rumbles loudly, nearly able to be heard over the loud voices surrounding us, and I rest a hand over the noise as if it will block it out. I shake my head and nod curtly to her. “Thank you, but we will try heading somewhere else for the night.” She doesn’t bother objecting, simply turns her attention to the next group of people waiting in line while Mallory and I head back through the double doors.
While I stop in the middle of the sidewalk to try to figure out where we are going to go now, Mallory walks ahead of me in silence and comes to a stop beside the rental car we brought here. I sigh and walk up to her slowly. “Okay, Mal, what is it?”
She glances at me with her eyebrows scrunched together, trying to claim innocence, but I can see the irritation hidden in her gaze. “What are you talking about?”
“I know something is going on,” I mutter while placing my hands on my hips. “You’ve been quieter than normal, so tell me what’s up.” The fact that she doesn’t feel comfortable talking to me about whatever it is makes my stomach churn.
Since when did we get to a point where we couldn’t confide in one another?
Mallory shrugs. “Nothing really, just weird how Brent acted with you earlier today.”
“That’s what this is about?” I ask, followed by a loud snort that doesn’t sound at all ladylike. “He was helping us out with those guys, there’s nothing more to it than that.” I’m not going to admit to her that seeing him get all protective and alpha male on me was a huge turn-on.
There was something incredibly sexy and raw about the emotions going through Brent that made me want more of him – much more than I’ve gotten since we started this thing.
“You’re probably right, but that doesn’t mean I won’t worry about you.”
“What do you mean?”
Mallory scoffs and waves me away from her, forcing me back a couple steps to create distance between the two of us. “Jules, he doesn’t care about the same things as you do. He’s only going to get your hopes up and I don’t want to see that.”
Her comment on the situation has my veins boiling and I cross my arms in front of me with a frown. “You do realize I’m capable of handling myself, right? Even if he did have intentions towards me, I’m a big girl.”
“Jules, it’s just not who you are. Brent is the type to screw them and leave them, and that’s just not you. Hell, you can barely go on a single date let alone jump into someone’s bed for a one night stand.”
I clench my jaw tightly at her last words, my head screaming at me to tell her exactly how wrong she is, but my heart wins over and keeps me silent. The moment I spill everything to Mallory I can’t imagine her response will be much better than it is now, and that’s without knowing about the deal I made with Brent.
“Thanks,” I mutter with a shake of my head, adding a scoff at the end. “Really appreciate the honesty, Mal.” I shouldn’t be surprised that she has to bring up my luck with dates, but I had truly hoped for once she would let it go.
She clamps her mouth shut and sighs, rubbing her forehead like this conversation is draining her, then says, “You know I don’t mean anything rude by it, Jules.”
I throw my hands in the air and chuckle. “Do I, though, Mal?” She blinks at my outburst, her eyes darting the area surrounding us, but I don’t care who can overhear the fight right now. I’m sick of her constantly bringing up my love life, or lack thereof, and it’s about time I be more open. “It’s every single day that you mention how sweet and innocent I am or that I’ll end up getting hurt by guys I find attractive because they don’t fit the mold you assume I want. That you make jokes based on the stories I tell of my dates.”
“Jules,” she chokes while reaching a hand out to me, her eyes shining back at me with unshed tears.
There’s no way I’m letting her emotions stop me from getting these feelings out. “No, Mal, you don’t get to do this. Will you ever see me as anything other than the friend who can’t seem to date anyone to save her life, or will those comments be a constant for the rest of our friendship?”
Mallory narrows her eyes. “I’m just trying to look out for you, Jules. It’s the fact you aren’t comfortable with dating, and there’s nothing wrong with that. That’s why I wanted you to have fun on this trip. Let loose and get yourself out there. You’re awfully defensive over something that isn’t happening, though, care to explain why?” she asks with her arms crossed in front of her chest.”
I shake my head and rub at my temples, then sigh… “I don’t mean to be so rude, Mal. I’m sorry for getting worked up, but it’s all the time, and I hate the way your comments sometimes make me feel. Can we be done with the conversation? Maybe save it for when I’ve had a chance to calm down?” I’d love nothing more than to drive away from her and leave her alone in the parking lot, but that’s not an option when both of our names are on the rental agreement. “I’m not really feeling up for food anymore. You can drop me off at the resort entrance, though, and do whatever you want.”
She silently slips into the passenger seat, me following behind her, and I drive the short distance to the front entrance, fuming at her words. If only she knew what me and her brother were doing behind closed doors, how heated his eyes get when he sees me, and it’s taking everything inside of me not to blurt all of it out.
Nothing good would come of it, though.
While I get out, about to head toward the entrance, Mallory grabs my wrist and pulls me to stop with a frown on her face. “I don’t mean to make you feel bad, Jules. I’m only looking out for you, but I’ll try to tone the jokes and comments down if it makes you uncomfortable.”
“Thank you,” I say. “And I’m really sorry for blowing up back there. You know I love you like a sister.” She nods, the smile on her face a little brighter, and I give her a reassuring squeeze in response.
Mallory slides into the driver’s seat while I walk through the large glass double doors ahead, and the tires squeal loudly as she speeds away from the curb. I only shake my head, then turn back and head through the large glass double doors. My phone pings from my purse, and I curse at myself as I fumble for the device while continuing to walk toward the elevators.
That same random number from the night before flashes on the screen, wondering what I’m up to. My anger gets the best of me before I can think clearly about my response. I could’ve simply texted back to let the person know they had the wrong number, but instead, I told them I’m having a really bad day and don’t feel like dealing with people who can’t type numbers in right.
A couple of guys standing in front of me head into the elevator, their hands shooting out to let me slip through before the doors close, and I give them a small smile in thanks before turning my attention to the bright red numbers.
One of them stares at me for a long moment and I rub a hand over my arm, the nerves starting to take over. He cocks his head to the side, his friends cackling next to him, and asks, “You don’t look so good, you okay?” The question is a surprise since I have no clue who he is, and I blink at him as I try to come to terms with his politeness.
I shake from the daze I’ve found myself in, look toward the numbers that are still a few floors away from mine, and look back at him with a small smile. “I’m fine, thanks.”
He blinks, obviously not used to a woman rejecting him, and stumbles back a step. “You sure?”
I nod silently, and before I can make the mistake of oversharing with a complete stranger, the elevator opens onto my floor, and I rush out with arms crossed over my chest.
“Julia.”
The voice has me tripping over my own feet and I nearly fall flat on my face, if it weren’t for the strong arms that catch me before that can happen. “B-Brent, hi,” I say breathlessly, then cock my head to the side with a frown. “What are you doing here?”
He smiles at me and waits until I’m flat on my feet before taking a few steps back from me. “I texted you, thought you might like the company tonight.”
“You texted?” I grab my phone and scroll through it with a frown. “I don’t have anything from you.”
Brent nods. “Uh, yeah, my manager had me come here with a new phone after everything that’s been going on,” he says. “You probably don’t have it.”
“Did you text me, like, five minutes ago?”
“Mhm.”
“Oh,” I say, my cheeks heating because I was rude with my response. “Sorry, it’s just been a rough night.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“Considering it involves your sister, I’d rather not,” I mumble, then step toward our suite with shaky hands. Brent notices and places his fingers gently around my wrist, halting me from unlocking our door. Then I look up at him. “I’m just sick of it, you know? She doesn’t see more than the woman who sucks at dating and doesn’t believe I could get someone like you.”
He’s silent for a moment, and I shake my head, embarrassed that I spilled that part out. I shake away from his touch and fumble to unlock my door, then finally step through the opening to leave him in the hall by himself. The door doesn’t shut, though, and I feel his warmth envelope me right before he grips my hips and spins me around to face him.
“What do you think, Buttercup? Can you get someone like me?” He asks, his tongue trailing over the slope of my neck seductively, and I let out a ragged breath. When I don’t answer, he looks up at me and smiles. “Because I’m here now, imagining what you would look like if those flimsy clothes were on the floor instead of covering your flawless skin, and I’d suggest my sister is wrong. You can get whoever you want, and it’s only if the person you go for understands your nerves and finds a way to get through them.”
Oh God.
“He touched you,”
“Who?” I moan, barely able to follow him when he’s overloading my other senses with his touch.
“That asshole by the pool. He touched you.” Brent growls low in his throat, pressing his lips against my arm until he comes to a stop at the wrist that still aches from that guy. “I didn’t like that, Julia. Do you want to know why?”
I hum, desperate to understand why he acted the way he did today, and he waits until his eyes are on me before saying, “Because you deserve better than that.” Could he mean someone like himself, or am I projecting my wayward thoughts into his response?
The admission has me leaning forward and slamming my lips against his with nothing but hunger. I need him to chase this ache away and give me what I truly want, and I’m determined to get it right now, even if it ends in disaster.