CHAPTER 4
CONNER
“I’m sorry… I hope you have a better day.” Keisha’s sweet voice was ingrained in his mind. Conner could think of nothing else but the infuriating woman. She was a conundrum.
One minute, she was ranting and raving, and the next her voice turned sweet almost shy. Conner wasn’t sure if she was some kind of crazy person, or hell he wasn’t sure what she was.
However, he was starting to think that he was the crazy one, because from the moment he saw her little shimmy dance until she walked away defeated from their little accident, he wanted her. After his ex-girlfriend, he hadn’t wanted to deal with any woman, but there was no doubt that he wanted her.
He never felt such a pull towards a woman before. It could’ve been her sassy mouth or even the sweet demeanor she had, Conner wasn’t sure what it was about her. And that was reason enough for him to want to pursue her.
If only I got more than her first name. And if you weren’t such an ass both times she talked to you. He vowed to himself that if he ever saw her again, he would do everything in his power to redeem himself with her.
However, right now, he had to keep his mind focused because today was the day of the party. So maybe the distraction of the festivities would keep him from thinking of the gorgeous spitfire. But the memories of her continuously danced at the edge of his mind. The thickness of her thighs when she crouched down to gather her spilt groceries, the jiggle of her round ass when she danced, the brightness of her brown eyes, her cupid bow shaped lips, and even the little dimple in her chin.
Shit… I’m supposed to be distracting myself. Conner sighed deeply, and shifted in his seat trying to relieve the uncomfortable hard-on that popped up thanks to his wandering thoughts.
“What are you in here breathing so loud about?” Carson walked into the office taking Conner out of his thoughts.
My cousin is finally good for something… distractions.
“Nothing, did you pick up the cookies for this afternoon?”
“No, they won’t be ready until ten.” Carson looked at his watch. “I’ll go in a little while to get them. No worries, I got this.”
“Yeah, okay. But if you don’t supply the only dessert for our employees, and they revolt, I’m throwing your big ass under the bus.” Conner chuckled.
“Listen, you don’t have to tell me. Our employees may be gym rats, but everyone likes a treat every once in a while.” Carson chuckled.
“Yeah, but are they really going to be a treat if they are ‘healthy’ cookies?” Conner eyed his cousin. He was still unconvinced that these cookies were as good as his cousin claimed. He initially wanted to just get regular sweets, but knowing his staff that would’ve caused more than a few raised eyebrows.
“I promise these cookies are legit.” Carson leaned over and rubbed his hands together like a supervillain in a comic book.
“I don’t even want to know what’s going on in that diabolic brain of yours,” Conner stated, shaking his head.
“How bout’ a little wager…” Carson responded.
“Not just no, but hell no.” Conner shook his head more vehemently.
“Come on cousin… where’s your sense of adventure?”
“It disappeared when I gained common sense,” Conner replied with a smirk. Carson was always getting him to do something foolish when they were younger. All he had to do was make a bet, and like an idiot Conner fell for the trap.
“For old time’s sake. You used to be fun.”
“I used to be young and dumb and full of cu…” Conner was cut-off by the raise of Carson’s large hand.
“There’s no need to finish that crude ass statement,” Carson’s face was screwed into a frown but a smile danced on the edge of his lips. “If the cookies are good, then you owe me a favor.”
“What kind of favor?” Conner asked, giving in to his cousin’s nonsense.
“A favor of my choosing, but nothing too outlandish. We’re adults now.” Carson’s smile was downright devious, but Conner had to admit that his cousin’s favors usually ended with a fun time and one helluva story.
“Alright, but if I deem your favor too risky, I reserve the right to decline. And you ask me to do something else.”
“Yes, yes… that will do just fine.” Carson’s grin grew larger and Conner was already beginning to regret his acquiescence.
****
A few hours later, the gym staff, upper management, as well as a few investors of Get Fit were all having a stellar time. The food was delicious, and everyone loved the cookies. Even Conner had to admit that they were the best damn “healthy” cookies he had ever tasted. He was actually shocked to find out they were low fat. Before he knew it, he had eaten several of the goodies.
Conner was making his rounds, and shaking hands and making small talk with some investors. When he went to grab another cookie, he noticed the smug look on his cousin’s face. He knew then and there that Carson would be cashing in his favor. It didn’t matter Conner was an adult, and he wouldn’t do anything he didn’t want to. Hell, he had never done anything he didn’t want to do, even as a kid when Carson bet him.
Conner was the kind of man that did what needed to be done. He took no prisoners, and made no apologies. He was known to be a hardass in business, but he had learned from the time he was young, if someone couldn’t hold you down, then they were holding you back. And oftentimes, you had to let those people go without looking back.
Speaking of not looking back… “What the hell is she doing here?” Conner spoke through gritted teeth.
“Aww hell. I don’t know how she even knew about today. Do you want me to take care of her?” Carson asked, looking concerned.
“Naw man, I got it,” Conner responded.
“Don’t lose your shit, and make a scene. We have investors here.” Carson looked around at the gym full of people.
“I said I got it.” Conner sauntered toward the woman that he swore wouldn’t grace his presence again.
The woman was beautiful; Conner could admit that the attraction he had for her wasn’t unfounded, but the malevolent being that hid just beneath the surface was a definite turnoff.
“What are you doing here, Brooke?” Conner questioned in a low voice.
Brooke flipped her long blonde hair over her tan shoulder, and batted her long lashes. “I came to congratulate you on your new gym, sweetheart.”
Conner stared at the woman in disbelief. She must’ve hit her head and lost all of her damn mind. Or maybe the bleach she used to dye her hair had seeped into her brain. In either case, the two of them certainly weren’t using terms of endearments, and the last time he saw Brooke, Conner kicked her out of his house with a “Do Not Return” slip, so the audacity of his ex-girlfriend to show up nearly six months later was beyond his reasoning.
“I don’t know what you’re doing here, and I don’t care. Leave.” Conner wasn’t the type to mix words. Unless he’s trying to talk to a sweet and sassy husky voiced goddess.
Brooke’s green eyes went ice cold, but her beautiful face remained smiling. “I thought you had enough time to get over whatever your problem was.”
“I’m not doing this here. Leave.” Conner discreetly waved his hand to alert security. He would have her ass escorted out so fast her head would spin.
“Fine. I was trying to surprise you, but I guess you need more time. I can’t believe you’re acting like this.”
Conner just shook his head. The woman was delusional at best, but he didn’t have time for her dramatics, especially on such an important day.
Conner stared at his ex, the hard-set of his face giving no room for argument as he waited for her to leave.
“Fine.” Brooke huffed again. “I’ll contact Gloria and set-up a proper meeting, so that we can have an appropriate conversation about us.”
Conner felt his anger at Brooke’s audacity begin to boil. He was his own man, and he didn’t owe anyone a damn thing. However, his ex-girlfriend thought the world owed her everything. She was a spoiled princess with too much time on her hands. And after six blissful months, it looked like Conner would once again have to rid his life of Brooke Clarke.