Wild Forces: A Friends to Lovers Romance (O-Town Book 2) by Karen Renee (inspirational novels .txt) 📗

skin and the bags under his eyes, but not me. Working nights and taking day classes, I’d seen bags under my own eyes plenty.

Thing was, I didn’t know why he wasn’t sleeping. It didn’t make sense.

“What was with the old school shit earlier, Sullivan? I watched three groups of women leave during that song.”

I exhaled slowly to keep my temper in check. “Believe it or not, you had a number of older patrons tonight. One of them insisted I play L.L. Cool J. for his wife’s birthday. You want some man and his woman bitching about not hearing what they want after your sky-high cover charge? That’s not good for your business.”

His eyes narrowed for a second and he nodded.

“Fine. I’ll keep that in mind. Now what was going on with you and Miss Daughtry?”

Him calling her ‘Miss Daughtry’ set my teeth on edge.

“She’s my neighbor and I know this isn’t the scene for her.”

His brows furrowed. “What scene would that be?”

I grinned. “I mean, she’s not a party girl. Besides, she was wearing office clothes. You give your bouncers instructions on who to let in and who to turn away. She didn’t fit that look at all. Which also isn’t too good for business.”

“Don’t tell me what’s good for business, Sullivan,” he bit out.

I expected to get a rise out of him, but ‘business’ wasn’t what I thought would do it. Maybe he wasn’t attracted to Cassie.

Good.

Shit.

That shouldn’t matter to me.

I suppressed a sigh.

“You can go now. Don’t be late next week.”

My lips pressed together since I hadn’t been late tonight, but I nodded anyway.

GRABBING THE EGGS, I growled and slammed the fridge shut. The clinking sound of beer bottles satisfied me.

“Good Lord. I’d ask who pissed in your Wheaties, but I don’t think I want to know,” Cecilia said from the dinette table.

I glowered at her and she smiled. Christ, but she was made for Brock.

“Did you not sleep in the past twelve hours since you got home?”

I pulled out a skillet and set it on the stove with a clatter before I faced her again. “How do you know I’ve been home for twelve hours?”

“Your brother communicates.”

I fought another growl because she was right. If you were in Brock’s sphere, he told you everything.

For some strange reason, I did the opposite. Maybe Cecilia had it right when she said I would have been in the NSA. I didn’t tell anybody anything they didn’t absolutely have to know.

I shook my head and opened the carton of eggs. “You want a fried egg?”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Cecilia grin. “Thanks, but no. Brock should be here soon and we’re going to a new sushi place.”

I lifted my chin up at her.

“Though, if you make bacon, I’ll take a rasher.”

My teeth clenched since bacon reminded me of Cassie, and her lush ass bent over an oven door.

“Geez, Gabe. I didn’t mean to piss you off... more.”

“I’m not pissed,” I sighed.

She shook her head. “You’re lying, but I’ll leave you alone.”

11Gets You Like Nobody Else Does

Cassie

LIVING ALONE HAD NOT appealed to me before. Now, though, I loved it because nobody was here to call me out for moping around.

Last night, Gabe had stood so close to me. Him invading my space like that gave me a thrill I hadn’t had in years. Then he had to sneer at what I wore.

I thought I looked cute. It wasn’t club attire, but my silk blouse was sexy in a modest way.

I heaved a sigh. “Why do you even give a damn, Cass?”

Okay, there was the downside to living alone. I talked to myself all the time now. When Kaylee lived here, I kept that urge in check.

My cell rang, the display showing my Dad’s picture.

“Hey, Dad.”

“Hey, honey. How did your presentation go?”

A wan smile curled my lips. “All right. I’m just glad it’s done.”

“I’ll be you are.”

“I’m glad you called. Um, why don’t you trust Ryan?”

He sighed. “I wanted you to go in with an open mind.”

“I know, Dad. But right away he had my instincts on alert.”

Dad paused. “How so, Cass?”

I sighed. I should’ve held off before telling Dad anything.

“Cassandra Ivy, I asked you a question.”

Tension filled my neck hearing his stern use of my first and middle names. “Yes, but it’s too soon for me to say, Dad.”

“Did he make you uncomfortable?”

“Not like you mean.” At least not yet. I continued, “He just seems too slick, but that doesn’t make someone a bad businessperson.”

“Okay,” he said, sounding far too relieved.

“You suspect him of sexual harassment?”

Dad sighed. “Not... no, I don’t.”

Somehow, I knew Dad wanted to say ‘not yet,’ or ‘not exactly.’

I grinned. “Because he’s so adamant about his no-fraternization policy?” I asked facetiously.

“He went over that with you?”

“It got mentioned. Plus, time got away from me last night. I went to the restroom and came out only to run into my friend Gabe.”

“And Ryan saw this?”

“More like he saw the middle of it. Gabe cornered me because... I don’t really know why, except he was surprised to see me there in office clothes.”

“You’ve known Gabe a long time,” Dad commented in a tone I’d heard before.

“It’s not like that, Dad.” I said, eager to cut off this line of conversation.

He hummed in a conciliatory way. Then, “Yet, Ryan saw you both—”

“And reminded me of his policy.” I plopped on my couch. “So, is there something specific you want me to look for?”

“For now, just get the lay of the land. But you’re right. Ryan has something going on. I hope it’s new business owner anxiety. Like I always say, though, hope isn’t a business plan.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“You take care, honey. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

I set my cell on the arm of the couch, and a small knock came from the door.

“It’s like Grand Central Station ‘round here,” I muttered.

Through the peephole, I saw Kaylee.

I smiled and opened the door. “Hey, there! How are you?”

“I’m okay. I’ve been meaning to call you.