PIERCE
Normally I don’t buy into the idea of fate or kismet, or any of that other bullshit. But even I can recognize how unreal this continued running into each other has become. Inside of a few weeks, I’ve gone from a couple of chance meetings to these highly unlikely collisions.
Rian looks like a deer caught in headlights. A very beautiful, somewhat angry deer, with wide, panicked eyes. She’s wearing a very conservative, ultrafeminine dress that’s probably meant to make her blend into the background. She’s highly unsuccessful. Especially in contrast with her sister’s overly loud, extra beachy outfit. The absence of color puts the focus on her face. Her sandy brown hair falls in loose waves around her shoulders, curling at the ends. I had my hands in that hair last night. It’s soft, and it smelled like the ocean and some citrusy, fresh shampoo.
She takes a halting step away from me, and her hand flutters up to her throat. The same throat my lips were on, the one my palm was curved around. Her tongue darts out, wetting her bottom lip on a quick exhale.
It’s obvious she wants to bolt, and I suppose I can understand why. Our rather unconventional introduction seems to be pushing far outside the realm of anything considered normal.
“I’m so confused,” Rian says. “What’s happening right now? Is this some kind of prank?” She looks to her sister. “Are you responsible for this?”
Marley shakes her head. “I’m as stunned as you are.”
Rian rubs her temples. “So let me get this straight. You two are brothers and you own this place together?”
“No, this is my place, but Pierce is crashing here for the summer,” Lawson replies with a smile. “However, we co-own the property we’ve taken off the market.”
“What about the place we’re currently staying, sixty-nine? Do you both own that too?” Marley asks.
“Correct.”
“May I please use your bathroom?” The color has drained from Rian’s face, which concerns me.
I point down the hall. “There’s a powder room around the corner.”
“Thanks.” Rian grabs Marley by the wrist and hauls her away.
They both disappear inside and the door slams shut, followed by the low whir of the ceiling fan.
“So that’s your hot fuck from last night, huh?”
I’d like to slap the grin off Lawson’s face. “Keep your voice down, asshole.”
“Calm your tits. They’re not listening to us.” He motions to the closed bathroom door, which does little to muffle the high-pitched, yet hushed tones coming from the other side. “This is a very interesting turn of events.”
“It sure is.”
“Marley’s the one who hit your car, right?”
“Yeah.”
Lawson strokes his beard. “You know, we could make this work to our advantage.”
“Whatever you’re scheming, you can stop now.”
He splays his hands on the counter. “Just hear me out. We could get them to lower their commission on the other property, and if you’re sleeping with the twin, I bet we’ll get great insider information. You rock starred that shit last night, right? Or wait, did you pull a fuck and chuck? Is that why she’s freaking out? Did you bail in the middle of the night or something?”
“I didn’t pull a fuck and chuck.” I don’t tell him that she was the one who kicked me out.
“Huh, well, she seems pretty sketched out about you being here. Why’s that?”
I shrug. “I don’t know her well enough to answer that question.”
“I’m gonna go try and listen through the wall.” He moves around the island, toward the bedroom connected to the bathroom.
I follow along behind him. There’s no way I’m letting him eavesdrop, so I knock on the bathroom door. “Everything okay in there?”
Lawson gives me his what-the-fuck look to which I arch a brow. The door swings open and Marley steps out of the bathroom. Rian’s hand shoots out and she grabs me by my tie, pulling me into the small space. She throws the lock, leans against the door, and crosses her arms over her chest.
The panic is gone. In its place is wary mistrust. “You need to explain this.”
“Okay.” I lean against the vanity and mirror her pose. “What exactly would you like me to explain?”
“Did you know?”
“Know what?” I’m antagonizing her. I know exactly what she’s asking me: Did I know she was connected to our property, and that she was supposed to sell our flip?
She uncrosses her arms and stalks over, jabbing her finger into my chest. “Don’t play with me, Pierce.”
Her eyes are fiery, hot with unwarranted and misplaced anger, but behind that wicked front is hunger and longing, and a little bit of fear. I get it. I feel it echoing around in my cells. Pushing this woman’s buttons turns me on in ways that defy logic and rationality. “I enjoyed playing with you last night.”
Her jaw clenches and she exhales through her nose. Her cheeks heat, a burst of pink against her creamy, peachy skin.
“Did you enjoy being played with?” I nod, more to myself than her. “I think you did.”
“You are unbelievable. Did you convince your brother to take the house off the market? Is this because I didn’t invite you to stay the night?”
I bark out a laugh. “Seriously? You think my ego is that easily bruised?” I lean down so I’m only inches away from her face. Close enough to see the green flecks in her amber eyes. Close enough to watch her pupils dilate and feel the warmth of her breath pass over my lips. “I know why you sent me home, and it has nothing to do with not wanting me in your bed all night long.”
She blinks a few times as if she’s been slapped. Her expression shutters. Oh yes, I’m familiar with this kind of emotional guarding. I do it all the time. But there’s something different about her, about this connection we share. I’m not willing to back down entirely, but I’ll back off for now. I straighten, giving her the space she seems to need.
“To answer your question, no, I didn’t know. I’m as shocked to see you this morning as you are to see me. I thought you were an accountant.”
“I never said I was an accountant, just that I’m good with numbers.” Rian paces the small space. “How is this even happening?”
“Maybe it’s kismet.” I grin at her incredulous expression and lift a shoulder in a slight shrug. “You have to admit, it’s pretty wild.”
“It’s crazypants is what it is.” She stops her pacing and props her hand on her hips. “Okay, so here’s how this is going to go: What happened between us last night isn’t going to have any bearing on the deal we’re making today.” She purses her lips and points a finger in my face. “And just because I came more than once, doesn’t negate the fact that you and your brother are pulling a house off the market hours before an open house.”
“I can get on board with that. Does this mean that once this deal is done, we’re going to celebrate with more orgasms?” I wink.
“You’re incorrigible.” She flips the lock on the door. Before she can open it, I flatten my palm against it and lean in, crowding her. She tenses. “What’re you doing?”
That’s a good question. I’m not actually sure. I’m being an asshole again, maybe because that seems to be the version of me she responds to the best, which begs the question, what the hell happened to make her so jaded and angry? So I antagonize her, just to see how far I can push. “You sure you’re calm enough to be rational out there?”
“I’m perfectly calm,” she says to the door. The tremor in her voice gives away her lie.
“You’re sure about that?”
“Yes.”
“As long as you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.”
I duck down and whisper in her ear, “Say that when you’re looking at me.”
She spins, hair whipping me in the face. We’re nose to nose. Her expression in no way reflects her rigid stance. She’s the picture of serenity as her eyes meet mine and stay locked there in the gentlest of challenges. They say go ahead and fuck with me; see who wins. They say keep pushing my buttons.
“I’m perfectly calm. Are you?” Her voice is jazz-club smoky.
“Not even a little bit.”
Her brow furrows in confusion.
“I need to tell you something.” I’m too close for her to be comfortable, but I don’t want to leave the bubble of her space. I feel that same pull, the one I felt when I confronted her in the grocery store. The same pull that had me messaging and calling her the week that followed. The very feeling that was missing when I watched her sister scratch my car.
“What’s that?” Her voice is all breathy and soft.
“I really love this dress on you.”
She smooths her hands over her hips. “Oh.”
“I thought you should know.”
We stare at each other for what seems like forever, both of us leaning closer until the tips of our noses touch. We jump at the rapping on the other side of the door. “You two coming out anytime in the next millennium?” It’s her sister.
I push away and Rian shakes her head, but she’s still smiling as she puts her hand on the doorknob and twists. Looking over her shoulder, she says, “Business is still business.”