“You’re stalking me now.” I was annoyed. In my contract, I had never once said that he could just do whatever he pleased.

“I heard the food here was good. Especially the spaghetti.”

“Bryant, let’s go eat. I am starving.” Stepping out of his car was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. She was five ten, had long blond hair resembling spun gold, the most flawless skin, and these amazing ice-blue eyes. Instantly, I felt the air go out of me and defeat set in. I knew someone like Bryant couldn’t really be interested in someone like me. Looking at the woman on his arm, I was reminded again that he was out of my league. The blonde looked like she had stepped out of the pages of Vogue.

“Well, enjoy your lunch.” I ran off as fast as I could, the tears burning my eyes. I shouldn’t care. I shouldn't feel anything, but I did and I hated myself for it. Bryant Sommers had managed to get under my skin, and I was stupid enough to leave my heart unprotected. When I got to my car, my hands were shaking so badly that I dropped my keys right into a puddle. I was about to get them when a hand grabbed me from behind. I turned around, and there was Bryant.

“Where are you—” He stopped mid-sentence. I wasn’t able to hold my tears at bay. They came cascading down my face. I must have looked horrible.

“Holly, what’s wrong? Why are you crying? Did you get the envelope? Was that not enough?”

“Is that all this is for you? A transaction? I told you before, I am not a damn prostitute. I have never been with someone in my entire life. Sure, I kissed a guy or two, but that was it. No man has ever touched me, and I allowed you to. I feel humiliated. Just let me leave, Bryant.” He crouched down and retrieved my keys from the puddle at my feet. He passed them to me, and for a moment, I saw regret in his eyes. Just as quickly as it appeared, it was replaced by defiance.

“You actually think you mean nothing to me? You think, out of any restaurant in the city, I would buy out this diner just because? Holly, I wanted to spend time with you.”

“Then why bring that Amazonian here?” I glanced at the entrance to the diner, where the blond girl looked at us with some sort of sadness in her eyes. “Listen, Bryant, just go back to your date. She is more your speed anyway.”

“What is that supposed to mean? More my speed?”

“Look at her. She is stunning. Look at you. You are so attractive, it hurts to look at you. I just don’t belong in this picture.”

Bryant grabbed me and turned me around to face him. His gaze bored into mine, and he looked angry, an emotion I had not seen on his face until that moment.

“You are like the sun. For your information, I bought out the restaurant because I wanted to see you, and you told me you were too busy. The woman over there is Rachel. If you are going to be in my life as much as I would like you to be, then you two need to know each other.”

“Is this some sort of open relationship thing? I am not interested in being a unicorn. I don’t share, and I am not into women.”

“Unicorn, huh?” A smile began to form on his face, and then he roared with laughter.

“Sweet Holly. I have never been with a woman in my damn life. Now that I’ve found you, I am not about to share you with anyone. You’re mine. Now, as for that girl over there… Come meet my little sister, Rachel.”

Little sister. Bryant wanted me to meet his sister. All my hurt and anger evaporated, and once again, I was hopeful.

Bryant

I grabbed Holly’s hand and took her back to the entrance of the restaurant. Holding her hand felt like the most natural thing in the whole wide world. I’d made Trevor book the whole damn place because there was no way I wasn’t seeing her today. I also knew I wanted her to meet Rachel. So I called, paid ten thousand to the owner, and closed the place down. I left specific instructions he was not to let Holly Thompson know about the arrangement. I wanted to surprise her. I wanted her to feel special.

“Rachel, this is Holly. Holly, this is my kid sister, Rachel. I thought it would be nice for the three of us to grab lunch today.” Rachel wrapped her arms around Holly, and to my pleasure, Holly hugged her back.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you. Bryant has been going on and on about you. He has never mentioned a girl to me, ever. For the longest time, I thought he was too focused on his career, but I guess he was just waiting for you.”

I nudged my sister with my elbow to make her shut up. I loved Rachel more than life itself, but sometimes she just wouldn’t stop talking. Holly linked her arm with Rachel’s, and they began walking in front of me.

“Now, Rachel, since your brother knows so much about me, I am hoping you can level the playing field and tell me a little something about him.” Rachel looked at me with a mischievous smile on her face. She stuck her tongue out at me and turned to Holly.

“I would love to.”

Inside the restaurant, the owner was waiting for us, and his eyes turned into saucers when he saw Holly.

“Holly, what are you doing here?”

“Hey, Roy. Mr. Sommers is a friend of mine and has asked I join him for lunch. I hope that’s okay?” Of course, it was fucking okay. I paid a lot of money to make it okay. It pissed me off how timid and unsure she sounded when talking to this guy. She shouldn’t be this scared or vulnerable. She had me now. She didn’t need to worry.

“It’s okay because I paid for it to be. Isn’t that right, Roy?” My voice was firm. I wanted Roy to know I was a man people didn’t say no to.

“Yes, of course, Holly. I need to thank you for the amazing day we’re having.” Roy winked at Holly, and she smiled. I hated that she smiled at him. I hated that he dared to flirt with her.

“Now I know why he asked for spaghetti. Someone is trying to impress you, Holly.” Roy then turned to me, a friendly smile on his face.

“She is special. You hurt her, and no amount of money will keep me from breaking your legs.” Rachel began to giggle, and Roy gave her a wink.

“Now, if you work with a hunk like that, what in the Lord’s name are you doing with my brother?” Rachel asked.

“I heard that, you know. The point of this lunch was to make me, your brother, look good.” I shot my sister a look to let her know to tread lightly. They both ignored me and continued on, thick as thieves already.

“Roy? I have known him for many years. When I left home, he got his dad to give me a job at the diner. When his father died a few years back, he took over. He has been really good to me and to Sophie.”

“How old were you when you left home?” I asked. She was so young, and yet she talked as if she had been on her own forever.

“I was seventeen. As soon as I finished high school, my dad kicked me out. He did the same with my sister. My mom wasn’t any help—she was too drunk to even notice if we were there or not. My sister is three years older, so she had been gone for a while. At first, I would get letters, but then they stopped. I hadn’t heard from her in years until she showed up on my doorstep a little over four years ago with a sixteen-month-old baby in her arms. She was strung out, and the baby looked filthy. I never felt like I had a real family, not one that put me first and took care of me. I took one look at Sophie, and I didn’t want that for her. I took her in, and a year later, we signed adoption papers and Sophie became one hundred percent mine. It is a decision I wouldn’t change for the world. She is my life.” As Holly talked about her family, I realized we had similar backgrounds. The only difference being I had money growing up, and she didn’t. Her story made me admire her even more. It made me want to give her things, make life easier for her. Christmas was coming. Holly had been nice; maybe Santa would be extra good to her.

“How come when I Google Bryant, nothing comes up about you, Rachel?”

She’d Googled me.

“Who is a stalker now?” I smirked.

“I Google all my employers. A girl can’t be too careful in this day and age.”

“Bryant is really overprotective. He is fourteen years older, and when our parents died, I was just fourteen. Since we had no other relatives, it’s just been the two of us, and Bryant has been more like a father. He has been there for every significant moment in my life. I can see why my brother has taken an interest in you. You seem like a very caring person. Most of the women who surround hockey players aren’t as sweet as you. Well, that’s what he tells me anyway.” Holly smiled at Rachel, and I felt the room come alive. Holly had this way of making me feel like there was hope in the world.

“They don’t make them like Holly here, that is for sure.”

Holly

Lunch was amazing. I loved meeting Rachel. She was nicer than she was beautiful, if that was even possible. If Bryant raised her, then he must be much more than he seemed. Rachel made me want to get to know him better. Not just sexually but emotionally. The more she talked about him, the more I realized those moments of kindness that had come through so far were indeed the basis of the man.

“You sure you can’t come over tonight? Bring Sophie. We can all have a nice dinner.”

“Sophie and I volunteer every year at the food bank. They barely get any volunteers. It’s a tradition, and those are important to me.”

“Let me help, then.”

“You want to come by the food bank and sort food?” I looked down at his clothing. His shoes alone probably cost more than my rent.

“Yes. Let me organize it. I will bring reinforcements.”

I got into the car, and he leaned over and buckled me in. He placed a chaste kiss on my lips. “I would fuck you right here in the car and make you beg for more, but my sister is kind of watching. Tonight will be all about helping others, but tomorrow, I am going to fuck you sideways. See you later, beautiful.” And with that, Bryant Sommers walked away, leaving me feeling light-headed.