NOW I KNOW WHAT GUS was talking about. Wanting to keep her away from the night crowd.
This girl is fucking stunning. Like bring-you-to-your-knees fucking gorgeous.
She’s on the short side. I’m about a foot taller than her, so that puts her at five four. She has slender curves but is stacked like you wouldn’t fucking believe. Natural, big tits and an ass that is just calling my name. Round globes forming the sexiest fucking heart-shaped ass I’ve ever seen. With long, honey-brown hair that hangs in waves down her back complimenting her flawless olive skin.
Making her seem like she’s glowing.
Like she’s a goddamn angel.
And when she finally looks up and directly at me, as if she can feel my eyes running all over her, it’s like my fucking world stops spinning. Pale green eyes widen slightly, and her lush, pouty lips part on what must be a quiet gasp.
Fuck. Me.
I don’t know what the hell is happening. But my heart is racing, my pulse thrumming, and the need to protect and own rushes hot through my body.
Vulnerability and innocence mix with her sensual good looks, causing a reaction in me I’ve never felt before. This unknown possessiveness and immediate jealousy of any other man even looking at her threatens to steal all the air from my lungs.
But it ain’t just her stunningly good looks that have me taking pause. It’s something more. Something deeper. It may seem cliché as all hell, but it’s like my soul knows her. Like it’s calling out to her.
Goddamn, but she’s got me fucking twisted.
As my eyes continue to take in her unrivaled beauty, she blushes a beautiful shade of pink before rushing off to another table.
“You’re drooling, big brother” is murmured to my side.
“Can you blame me?” I reply. In fucking awe.
“Well reel it in. I don’t need you scaring her off when she just got here.”
“Plan on doing a lot to her, but scaring her off isn’t one of them.”
Saylor scoffs. “Real smooth.”
I shrug. “The damn truth.”
“Something tells me your usual charm and game won’t work on this one. Plus, I like her. I never like your other floozies.” She points out.
This is true. She makes her dislike of each girl I take home known loud and clear. Doesn’t matter if they’re in earshot or not. She prefers if they are.
“She’s also…different. More reserved and quiet. I can tell she’s holding onto something, maybe even running from it.”
I look over to Saylor then. “She say something to you?” My interest piqued.
Wanting to know all I can about this girl. Good or bad. Feeling like I need to protect her if need be. The urge foreign but so strong it can’t be ignored.
“No,” she replies as she wipes down a couple mugs. “Just the way she carries herself. How she came in here yesterday looking two seconds away from breaking down. Like life hasn’t been easy for her.”
Something heavy settles on my chest at hearing that. Something dark and familiar.
My protective instincts rise even more.
I get lost in thought as Saylor goes back to working behind the bar.
Then Kennedy walks by me again. Eyes downcast, trying to block me out, and I can’t take it a second longer. Not with her hips swinging and her ass swaying just so. And the vulnerability rolling off of her in waves calling out to me to protect.
Possess.
Own.
Sure as shit have never felt anything like this before.
On her way back to the bar to pick up an order Saylor’s filling for her, I can’t keep my mouth shut despite the hard glare Say’s throwing my way as she pours and mixes drinks. Knowing exactly where I’m at right now from the look on my face.
She’s seen me work my game day after night for years. She just doesn’t know I’m about to play the game of my fucking life.
I know it.
“Hey there, gorgeous. You must be new in town.”
Saylor rolls her eyes at my lame-ass attempt at small talk while Kennedy ignores me. Looking down, at Saylor, anywhere but at me.
So I try again.
“Would recognize a beautiful face like yours anywhere. So you must be.”
I see her eyelids close and her chest move on her inhale. Like she’s centering herself before she finally turns my way. Giving me the attention I’ve been craving from her.
“Did you need something?” Her words detached and disinterested.
But it doesn’t matter, because her voice hits me like a sledgehammer. The impact ‘bout near knocking me on my ass. The soft quality and angelic tone lay over me like a thick blanket.
Warm and comforting.
And her eyes. Soft and bright. The color of moss.
Goddamn, this girl has got me twisted.
“Just you, angel.” I lay my charm down thick. Hoping to reel her in.
Because I have to have her. Don’t know why. But I need to. The urge so strong it’s about to take me under.
Unamused green eyes stare back at me. My smirk falls from my face.
“Lines like that usually work?” she asks. Calling me out.
“With you? Absolutely not. Just truth.”
She scoffs. “No? Considering more than half the females in this bar are either eyeing you up or glaring you down, I’d say it’s a line. One you’ve used one time or a hundred.”
Shaking her head, she doesn’t speak or acknowledge me further. Just looks back to Saylor as if begging her to hurry up.
Well shit. That’s sure as fuck something I’m not used to. Getting shot down with such little interest.
I’ll be damned if it doesn’t make my need for her ratchet up another dozen notches.
Shaking her head, she doesn’t answer or acknowledge me further. Just looks back to Saylor as if begging her to hurry up.
“Kennedy, right?” Her shoulders tense at hearing me say her name. Surprised, I’m sure, that I know it. But Saylor is my sister, after all.
I hear Saylor’s voice but don’t turn to look at her. Can’t take my eyes off of Kennedy. “This here’s Rhett. My older brother,” she says in way of explanation of how I know her name.
When Kennedy doesn’t react further, I lean in closer from my stool at the bar. “Can you look at me, angel?” Needing to see her beautiful face.
She breathes deep again, before turning those pale green eyes on me once more. She doesn’t speak, just looks at me. Knocking the wind from my lungs and a beat from my heart.
“There she is,” I say through a smile and lean closer still. Not giving a fuck that I’m sitting in a crowded bar with my sister standing right there, listening to every word and witnessing my every move.
As I lean in, I run a finger down her cheek, the skin like the softest satin.
She flinches slightly in shock at my touch before settling on a sigh, pale eyes closing at the contact.
“Gotta say you’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever laid my eyes on.” True awe evident in my voice. Because it’s the absolute fucking truth.
Her eyes pop open at that, and then as quickly as she seemed to calm, she shakes her head and spins from me. Completely disregarding me now.
“Thanks, Saylor.” Her voice seems unsteady, her body shaken. Her hands have a death grip on the serving tray she’s carrying over to one of her tables.
“Good going, Casanova.”
I look over to Saylor before my eyes track back to Kennedy, my brows bunched in confusion. My chest tight with the sting of rejection.
Something I’m not used to.
And it damn near almost kills me because I want her so bad I can’t see straight.
“Told you your usual charm wouldn’t work.” Saylor gloats.
Seems so.
I shrug it off, trying to act nonchalant. Like I don’t give a shit.
When in reality I want to pitch a fit and demand her attention.
Yeah, she’s already got me resorting to acting like a damn child wanting to tantrum.
Goddamn.
Without a word to my smug-as-shit little sister, I grab the beer she’s placed in front of me and spin my back to the bar as I bring it to my lips, taking a pull as my eyes seek her out. When they land on honey-brown hair, my chest pulls tight and my heart triple beats.
Then my mind starts racing, planning, hoping. Because this girl’s got me twisted and fallen and done after just one look.
One simple touch.
Ain’t no turning back now.