I inhaled through my nose, eyes holding Jax in his place. “Excuse me?” I grated through my clenched jaw.
“You heard me! I’m not a dog.”
“I’m aware. You’re a West, which means you need to stop playing little-kid games and prove to this family that you have the drive it takes to someday run a business—no matter what type it is.”
“I wanted to work for you, but if you’re going to pawn me off on some nobody, then I’ll take my chances with Dad. And like you said, Lawrence will come around eventually, and when he does, I know he’ll find me a better job than as someone’s bitch.” He turned on his heel and stormed to the door.$
“Jackson!” I called out. He stopped in his tracks, but didn’t bother to look back. “I expect that suit dry cleaned and returned to my closet by Monday morning.”
He said nothing, his anger evident in the clenched fists at his sides as he exited the room, slamming the door behind him. I sat back in my chair, wondering when I’d become my father. My goal was to give Jax a reality check. He needed to know that he couldn’t just stroll in and expect people to respect him because of his name. He needed to work for it, just as Lawrence and I had. That work was the reason we were able to step out from our father’s shadow early in business. We worked hard to make the right connections and earn the respect of the right people. Because of that, we were able to join forces and open our own company where we oversaw multiple ventures in different areas executed.
Like Julia, Jax only needed time to realize that without a job, he’d have nothing. I only wanted to help ensure they were on track for success. It wasn’t just for them, though. I wanted Oliver to be surrounded by a strong working family—role models worth looking up to.
I took one more peek at my calendar to confirm Jax was my last meeting of the day. Since it was still early, I knew there was enough time to make one stop before picking up Oliver.
Chapter 3
Brethren
“Bourbon, neat,” I requested, sliding off my coat and grabbing a stool at Morgan’s Bar. Only a block from the office, the place was my regular haunt. When I looked up after placing my coat down beside me, I found Caleb standing there, manning the bar.
“Coming right up,” he called back, tossing a dish towel over his shoulder.
From the corner of my eye, I did a peripheral sweep down the bar and focused on the redhead perched at the end, sipping from her almost-drained cocktail and directing a smile my way. She was a new face, and a pretty one.
“Since when do you escape the office before five?” Caleb asked, pouring my drink and pushing it toward me.
“Since I scheduled my brother as my last meeting.” I lifted the glass and took a swig, savoring the charge it gave my system while not missing the redhead maneuvering on her stool, crossing her legs in my direction.
“I’m guessing we’re talking about Jax.” He snickered. “Little brothers can be a pain, but yours, he’s something else: crazy, bullheaded, but talented as hell. Cut him some slack. He’s only a kid.”
“Talent will only get him so far. If he wants to open his own place someday, then he needs to learn how to run it.”
“And when he does?”
“Then he’ll have my support,” I replied easily.
Caleb nodded, then moved down for another customer who’d slammed his empty glass down on the bar, signaling for a refill.
I used the brief reprieve to scan subtly for any other prospects hanging around. When he returned, I shot my gaze straight toward the redhead, my head not swaying an inch. She was the top pick. He caught my drift without further explanation.
“So how’s everything else going?” Caleb asked causally as he turned his back to me, mixing up a fruity concoction.
“Nothing remarkable to note.”
He popped in a little umbrella—girls always seemed to like those in their drinks—and walked it to her. Deliberately slowly, I cocked my head her way, watching as she lifted the glass up to thank me before taking a sip. I gave her the slightest hint of a smile. It was all she needed.
“So how’s the rest of the family? Any other sibling crap going on?”
Caleb was in front of me again, overly relaxed. My gaze shot to him. Since when did he ask about anyone other than Oliver?
As realization set in, I lowered my head, chuckling. “She came to you?”
“Yeah, and I was just as surprised to see her on my doorstep.”
My laugh cut off, eyes widening. Julia went to Caleb’s apartment. My jaw ticked. I was surprised my sister would go to him, since they’d rarely crossed paths after I crashed their first—and last—date a couple years earlier.
After a loud public scene and a punch thrown, I’d cut him some slack since he wasn’t aware at the time that the girl he was seducing was jailbait who’d sneaked out her bedroom window on a school night. But he was smart enough to apologize, and we became fast friends.
“Save the look.” His expression was insulted. “You know I’d never touch her. I have no interest there besides looking out for her as your little sister.”
I took another drink. “What’d she have to say?”
“Oh, you should have seen her.” His eyes lit up. “There was a whole speech, which I happily sat through.” He looked proud of himself. “She even provided visuals.”
My brows knit together. “Visuals?”
He leaned over the bar, laughing. “She put together what she called a ‘mood board’ of Harmony.”
I couldn’t restrain my own laughter as I loosened my tie. “And your verdict?”
“Promised her I’d at least talk to you.”
I gave a slight nod, appreciating him appeasing her. “Good man, but my mind is made up. She needs the city to help her grow…build the right connections.”
He groaned. “Always about connections and business with you. Thank God the little guy has Jax and me to show him how to live it up.”
I shot him an unimpressed glower and finished my drink. I could’ve used a second, but I had a one-drink limit when I was on my way to pick up Oliver.
“Look, I know it’s not my business, but it’s a good school—a good town.”
“Then why’d you leave?” I challenged. I’d never asked him before, and honestly I was that concerned.
“I had my reasons, but they didn’t involve Harmony itself. I have plenty of good memories from there.”
“I’m sure.”
“Come on. You said you lived there when you were younger.”
“And I haven’t been back since,” I clarified.
“Never?” He looked stunned, as though I’d confessed to some heinous crime.
“Why would I? My grandparents passed on, and my father got a job here.”
“Wait.” He shook his head, bemused. “So you’ve never even been there? I mean, where you can remember it?”
“No.” Why was that hard to believe? I traveled enough, but not to a town that held nothing of interest.
“Well, shit, looks like we have a road trip this weekend.”
I sat back, narrowing my eyes. “No. She’s not going there, and neither am I.”
“Come on, I’ll make sure it’s worthwhile. I know you’re as tired of the same damn scene as I am. All the decent-looking women we have yet to bang in this city are becoming fewer and more far between. I’m in need of some new prospects.”
When he put it like that, sweet country girls sounded like my type of weekend after all. I grinned, convinced.
“You’re on, but not this weekend. I’m taking Oliver to the new exhibit on dinosaurs. Next weekend.”
His grin was triumphant. “How’s the little prince doing?”
Caleb was the only person outside my family whom I discussed Oliver with or allowed around him. “He’s been frustrated lately,” I answered honestly.
He laughed, pulling the rag from his shoulder and wiping it over the bar. “Just like his old man, huh?”
I cracked another smile at the jab. “His
cousin Charlie’s already learning to play the piano.”
“Damn, that kid’s so little. What is he, two?”
“And a half, and already challenging Oliver. Katherine’s teaching them both, but it’s not coming as easily for Oliver.”
“Katherine, mmm.” He closed his eyes, exaggerating his crush. “I’ll never understand how that stiff brother of yours ended up with such a fine specimen of woman.”
“Watch it,” I warned, which was unnecessary. Caleb had a thing about teasing me when it came to her. He shot me a knowing smirk.
A guy a few stools down called him over for a drink. I glanced back at the redhead still sitting, still waiting. She was in a short black dress, which suited her well.
I pivoted on my stool and was appreciating the view she gave of her matching black thong when she repositioned herself, spreading her legs for the briefest moment before crossing them in the other direction. Caleb stepped back over, moving my empty glass and replacing it with one filled with soda.
“Oliver has nothing to worry about. The little guy can paint. That’s all he needs, as you can attest to, to appeal to the ladies.”
I held up my glass to salute him, finding just the hint of Jack mixed in as I took a drink. He knew me too well.
“It seems it doesn’t take as much anymore,” I replied, thinking out loud. Revealing to a woman that I was an artist was even more effective than telling her I ran my own company, although it seemed most women were receptive without any conversation at all.
I glanced down at my watch. Twenty until five—plenty of time left. I grabbed my coat and stood. “Where is she?” I asked, sliding it over my arm.
Caleb knew exactly what I was asking. He leaned forward and spoke in a hushed voice. “Four seats down.”
With one stealthy move of my head, I saw his target: a dark-haired beauty in a cheap grey dress. From her seated position, she was all tits and ass. Just his type.
“Not bad. So I take it big-shot Parker’s in the hole again?” I threw out, referring to the owner of the bar who was always owing Caleb something. It gave Caleb a new game to play, though: using his roleplaying exploits to pick up women. Why he had a thing for pretending to be a struggling bartender, I didn’t know.
He grinned, shrugging a shoulder in mock innocence. “He should be grateful. It’s free help for the bar. No better way to clear a debt.”
It was true—Parker was lucky Caleb let him pay it off by giving him full rein of his place, and with his female patrons. Not everyone was that lucky. Caleb had a padded bank account, but I knew he was still looking for what he really wanted to do for a living. Because of that, he played games—both respectable and questionable ones.
“Tell the little guy I said hi,” he said, turning away to face his prey.
“Good luck,” I replied, though he didn’t need it. He’d used the bartender act before on unsuspecting women who came in for a drink, hooking them with his ‘woe is me’ bartender routine. It never led anywhere serious, though, because he was as jaded as I was. I wasn’t sure what his story was, which was actually the glue that bonded us. He never asked about Natasha, I never questioned how he made his money outside the poker table, and neither of us placed judgment. It worked well.
I took one more drink from my glass to finish it off, then strode straight to the pert redhead.
Her expression confirmed a conversation wasn’t needed. She dragged her gaze down my chest, stopping below my belt, and then gazed back up at me, darting her tongue out to moisten her lips. She was eager to skip to the main event, which worked perfectly with my time crunch.
I held out my hand and watched her broad smile lift her features. She put her hand in mine, stood up, and followed me to the back, no questions asked. Some women made it too easy.
When I opened the door to the small break room, I found it empty as usual. She entered the room, looking around while I shut the door behind us.
The soft creaminess of her breasts overflowed from the low-cut dress that hit just under her ass. She was only looking for one thing dressed like that, and I was more than happy to indulge her.
She moved toward me, her hands skimming over my tie. “Thanks for the drink. It was…delicious.” Her soft voice was as fake as her breasts, but I went with it. I turned the lock on the door and then twirled my finger, directing her to turn around.
She did so immediately with an excited giggle. I stepped behind her, placed my hands on her hips, and walked her forward until her front was pressed against the wall. She was damn near giddy when I took hold of the zipper at the base of her neck and slid it down her back in one swift movement, watching the thin material fall to her feet. No bra—only a black satin thong.
I leaned into the back of her ear and murmured, “Put your hands on the wall.”
Goosebumps flared over her shoulders and down her spine. I set my coat on the table behind us and pulled a condom from the inside pocket. Wasting no time on foreplay—which it was obvious she didn’t need—I undid my belt, popped my fly, and slid the zipper down.
“I have somewhere to be, so this is going to be fast,” I told her, sliding the condom onto my growing erection. My eyes focused on the slight jiggle of her ass as she shivered with anticipation. It was all I needed to harden fully.
She peered back over her shoulder, her head bobbing in approval, lust clouding her dark eyes. “I want it rough,” she demanded. There was her real voice, strong and clear. She knew what she liked, and I’d make this enjoyable for us both.
My lip curled up. “Good.”
I stood behind her and tugged her panties to the side. She was ready, all right: soaked.
Gripping her shoulder, I kicked open her legs, widening her stance. I slid my hand across her front under the suppleness of her breasts, cupping the left in my right palm, my thumb caressing her hardening nipple.
“You ready?” My voice was a hoarse whisper, spurring her arousal.
Before she could answer, I grabbed her slim waist with my other hand and thrust my hips forward, slamming into her with one hard stab.
I groaned, the temporary gratification enough in that moment. She was dripping wet and looser than most, but the contact still felt good enough to enjoy. Plunging harder, I moved my hand from her hip to her tramp stamp and pressed down, angling her ass higher to allow me more depth.
With her body held up between me and the wall, I let my head fall back, focusing on the feeling, the heat, and the sensation of her skin buzzing under my grip.
“Yes…harder…” she whimpered.
I slid the hand that covered her breasts up to her neck, my fingers rough in her short hair. She reached her arm out behind her, snaking it around my neck to bring me closer, her sweat-glistened back about to collide with my chest. I jerked my torso back, feet rooted in place to keep her from doing so while still buried deep inside her. I didn’t need any closer contact, and I wanted to avoid her scent lingering too heavily on my suit.
She gave up without a battle, dropping her arm to happily take what I allowed. With each thrust, I pounded harder than the last, the lurid slap of our bodies echoing around us until the brewing of my seed began working its way to the head of my cock.
I slid my hand down the front of her panties, working her pressure point to ensure her the same release. Her knees buckled, her face plastered against the wall as she cried out.
My breath was harsh, heart racing from the exertion as she climaxed over my hand, panting out incoherent slurs of pleasure. I gritted my teeth, inhaling sharply, and slammed into her twice more before backing away and pumping myself in my firm grasp. Even with a condom on, I never got off inside a woman.
With my release came a heavy breath of air forced from my lungs. The redhead turned to face me, mouth agape, ivory skin flushed.
“That was…” she panted, blinking wildly, “…hot.”
My lip curled up. I wasn’t sure I’d call it hot as much as convenient—exactly how I preferred sex.
I r
emoved the condom and tossed it in the trash can beside us. I tucked myself back in, buttoning my pants as she squirmed around, trying to situate her dress. One glance at my watch confirmed I was still on track with time.
“Take care, beautiful,” I said, ending our short acquaintance on friendly terms.
I crossed the room and unlocked the door, but she hurried to me, her eyes asking one last thing that I grudgingly obliged. My hands held her shoulders a few inches from me and I leaned forward, pressing one short, dry kiss to her moist lips. When I released her, I offered a kind but restrained smile, then opened the door. I headed down the hall toward the back parking lot as I buckled my belt.
“Kali? What the fuck?” The massive roar of a furious voice stopped me the moment my hand gripped the back doorknob.
“Go away, Marcus!” I heard the redhead plead.
I should’ve kept walking out the door, as I wasn’t one for unnecessary drama, but the hand that slapped down over my shoulder made it clear I wasn’t leaving yet.
I turned back, seeing two men standing there.
“Is there a problem?” I asked coolly, pushing his hand off.
“Yeah.” The veins in his neck bulged as much as his eyes widened. “Yeah, there’s a problem, all right. What the hell were you doing in there with my sister?”
His sister? Shit. I scrubbed my hand over my jaw and looked past him to the other guy, barely a man, his pants hanging to his knees. It was clear he was itching for a fight.
“Marcus, stop. Leave him alone. It’s none of your business what I do!” the redhead protested from behind him, but my focus shifted back to the flared nostrils a foot from my face.
I didn’t blame him, really. If that was his sister, he had a right to be pissed. But since Caleb had served her, I knew she was of age. He was a stickler for checking IDs, his job or not.
“Answer me, you son of a bitch,” he growled. “What were you doing with her?”
Caleb strolled down the hall. He appeared unaffected by the scene, but I knew better. “Hey, everything all right back here?”