Making the Grade (11 page)

Brian laughed and flopped back on the couch.

Rex sat across from him. “You look happy. Like, over the moon, in love happy.”

“Don’t ruin it by warning me to cut her loose. I had the best weekend of my life. I’m due the afterglow.”

“True. I mean, damn, son. She had me coming
hard
.”

“That’s my Faith.” Brian smiled. “But you think of touching one hair on her head, and I’ll rip you apart.”

Rex rolled his eyes. “Come on, Brian. I know you. You don’t do casual. Not in more than ten years.”

“Exactly.”

“But you need to be careful with this one. From all Derrick has told me—”

“Warren has a big mouth.”

“—she’s a little skittish. Not that you could prove that Friday night. Shee-it.”

Brian laughed again.

“I just don’t want you hurt. You took a nosedive with Sienna.”

Brian scoffed. “That was college.”

“Yeah, but she still hurt you. Using you to get to your dad. Then you had all those women fawning over you for your dough once you made your career happen.” Rex had been his go-to guy when Brian needed an ear to bend. “Now there’s Faith, who isn’t into money or power or your connections. So if she nails you in the balls, I’m thinking you’re down for the count.”

“Thanks, Dr. Killjoy.”

“Sorry, man. I worry, that’s all.”

“Well, worry about yourself. You’re thirty-four and single. And I know for a fact your parents want grandkids.”

Rex flinched. “Not from me. Not yet. I’ve been so busy that I barely have time for even a quick fuck anymore.”

“Sad.”

“I know, right?” He sighed. “Thanks for the invite Friday. You know I’m like a vault. Nothing comes out you don’t want anyone to know. She didn’t see my face, anyway. I swear I won’t say a thing.”

“I know you won’t. I trust you.” Brian arched a brow. “I also know you’ve got plenty of your own secrets.” He paused. “I know about Pete.”

Rex blinked and turned beet red. “You do?”

“Yep. I knew about him and all the others. That frat house was like a bordello. Everyone knew.”

“About Pete?”

Funny how high Rex’s voice could rise. “No, dumbass. That the frat house had a policy of not asking questions and keeping quiet about shit. I’m just telling you that I know things I’d never tell. You’re my best friend. That’s a rare thing for a guy like me to have.”

Rex rubbed his chin. “You mean, for guys like
us
. Being in the spotlight isn’t easy. And my parents are just as conservative as your dad.”

“Yeah, but they love you.”

“They love who they think I am,” Rex said with a hint of bitterness. “But that’s not why I’m here.”

“Oh?”

“I wanted you to know I have a meeting this week with HLE.”

Faith’s company.

Rex nodded as if reading his mind. “Faith Sumner is my business liaison. Just wanted you to know.”

Brian sat up and stared at Rex.

“Hey, not my doing. I had my guys look into alternative shipping to cut costs, and HLE is the best. So happens the boss is assigning me
his
best—who happens to be Faith. I wanted you to know so you didn’t get weird on me.”

“You can’t tell her about Friday.”

Rex scowled. “I already said I wouldn’t. I’m not stupid.”

“Not as stupid as you look, you mean,” Brian corrected.

“Fuck you.”

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I have to figure out how to get the woman to open up more than her body. Any tips on how to get closer?”

“That’s funny, you asking me for advice.”

“I know. I’m desperate and tired.”

“Yeah, no doubt worn out from that weekend marathon.” Rex sounded jealous, a balm to Brian’s ego. “My advice, since you’re so set on keeping this one, is to do stuff she likes to do. Women love that crap.”

Just what Brian had planned. He could handle most her likes. But really, fishing? He shrugged, dedicated to getting under Faith’s defenses. He was going to claim her before someone else did. Only for Faith would he deal with worms, fishing lines and the boredom that came with them. But if she really wanted to fish, maybe he could work nudity into their excursion, somehow.

Chapter Eight

Two days later, Brian sat next to Faith on the shore of the lake and tried to appear interested as she explained the merits of one bait over another. He must have failed because she frowned.

“Am I boring you?”

“Oh, um, not at all. I’m fascinated by your skills.”

She scowled, then reluctantly smiled. “Brian, why are we here?”

“To be together.”

“We could have gone out to dinner.”

“I wanted to do what you wanted to.”

The shy smile she gave made him want to sigh and hold her forever. “I appreciate that.”

“Good. Because I’m not into worms.”

She laughed. “I’m not either, but the fish seem to like them.”

They sat by a private lake at her favorite fishing spot, far away from the rest of the world. Here, in this tiny section of rural Georgia surrounded by trees and the inky darkness of night illuminated by a full moon, he felt as if nothing but the two of them existed. Even better, she hadn’t tried to avoid him or ignore his calls after Sunday. She’d accepted his offer to accompany her tonight without hesitation.

After a few moments, she asked, “So are you okay with what we did this weekend?”

“Yes. You?”

She nodded. “I just… I don’t want you to think I do that with everyone.”

He raised a brow, and she turned bright red.

“Well, I don’t. It’s kind of embarrassing, being turned on by being watched and bossed around.”

“I don’t know. I thought it was pretty damn hot.”

“So you don’t think I’m weird?”

“Sure I do. Anyone who likes fishing has a screw loose. But the sex? Nah. That just makes you more attractive, that you like to be creative in bed.”

She smacked his leg but didn’t do more than smile.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

Since
Will you marry me?
was probably too soon, he started with, “What’s your favorite color?”

She gave him a look before answering. “Blue. Yours?”

“Green.”

She snorted. “Figures.”

It took a moment to realize what she meant. “Damn it. Not because of money.”

“Oh?”

“Look in the mirror, moron. I like your eyes.”

She opened her mouth, then closed it. “Oh.”

“Yeah, oh.” Liking the fact she’d taken the rebuke in stride—and with a blush he could see even in the moonlight—he continued. “Your favorite food?”

“Ice cream.”

He smiled. “Mine too.”

“Favorite movie?” she asked.

As they traded information, the intimacy deepened. The stars grew brighter, the air crisper. She ditched her poles for the blanket on the ground, and he joined her, tugging another blanket over them.

“I like this,” she said.

“The blanket or me?”

“Hmm. Tough question.” After he tickled an answer out of her, she said, “You.”

“Me too, Faith. I don’t plan on seeing anyone but you.”

Silence, until she asked, “Is this your way of saying you want to be my boyfriend?”

“I guess. Although boyfriend sounds so high school.”

“I know.” She hugged him closer. “I’m not seeing anyone but you. And I’m not a fan of dating multiple people.”

“Good. So we’re exclusive.” Brian didn’t want to dance around the issue. It was too important to him.

“Yes.”

He grinned. “Then can I ask you for a favor?”

“Ha. I knew there had to be something more to this.”

“Oh? Besides wanting you all to myself?”

“Yeah.”

“See? You know me well.” Brian kissed her. “I told you I don’t get along well with my father. But I’m trying to be a good son.”

“No pun intended.”

“A play on ‘Goode’? Really?”

She grinned at him, and he continued, “Anyway, my father has some stupid fund-raiser he’s throwing for a charity next week, and I’ve been invited.”

“Have fun.”

“Faith.”

“Brian.”

He blew out a breath. “I want you to go with me. As my date.”

She tensed. “I don’t know…”

“Please? Otherwise I’ll have to go and be at the mercy of rich society snots. They can get so clingy, touchy-feely, and—”

“Fine. I’ll go. But I won’t like it.”

He kissed her, pleased when she opened her mouth to accept his tongue. “Hmm. I won’t like it either.”

“So convince me why I should go.” Her hand slid down to his fly and hugged his erection.

He sucked in a breath. “Shit, woman. Don’t you know it’s dangerous to play with snakes?”

She laughed. “I don’t think this one is venomous. I’ve sucked the poison out before.”

He groaned. “You trying to make me come in my jeans, is that it?”

“You make me laugh, Brian.” She let him go and scooted over his body to kiss him. “I like that. I like you.”

She made him feel so good. “I like you too. A lot.”
I love you.
They’d come so far in so little time.

“I want to make love to you out here.” She put her hands between them again and shimmied out of her jeans and panties beneath the blanket. Then she pushed down his jeans and underwear, trapping his bare cock between her legs.

“Christ, Faith. You keep handling me, I won’t last two seconds.”

“I like you hungry for it.”

“Not
it
—you.”

Her eyes warmed. “Make love to me right here.”

“Anything for you.” He kissed her, loving her with his mouth.

She did all the work, settling herself over him and taking him in one slick surge.

He bucked up, moaning into her mouth, but she gave him no quarter as she slowly rode him, taking him all the way inside her before she eased off, almost, but never quite separating them.

He kissed his way to her throat, her ear, and whispered, “There’s absolutely nothing better than making love to you. I love being inside you, baby.”

She hitched her breath and slammed over him.

“Touch yourself,” he urged. “I want you to come with me.”

She levered up to look down at him, and everything inside him hungered for her. He raised a hand to cup her breast, still covered by her sweater, and she reached between them to finger herself while they made love.

“You feel so good inside me, Brian. God, yes. Fill me up.”

His climax neared, but he wanted her with him. Always with him.

“Come for me. Yeah, all over me.” He gripped her hips, the urgency so close. He couldn’t stop the swell of pleasure as it crushed him into a mind-blowing orgasm. Her small cry hit him as he eased down, and he watched her grind over him while she came, so moved by the woman he could cry.

Yeah, Brian. Real macho. That’ll turn her on.

With a sigh, he brought her down to him and kissed her, loving that once again, he’d left a part of himself inside her—this woman he wanted to hold on to forever.

“Brian.” She moaned his name and continued to kiss him.

When she’d finally had enough, she pulled away and off him. He tucked himself back into his jeans and stood while she cleaned herself up. They packed up their belongings in companionable silence, grinning at each other, and walked back to the car, hand in hand.

Faith spent the rest of the week either at Brian’s house in the evenings or working hard at the office to get everything done for her upcoming meeting with
the
Rex Samson. Their meeting had been postponed until the following week, so she felt better about being ready about everything.

Everything concerning work.

Saturday afternoon, the girls came over and Hailey stared at her with a critical eye. “You’re going with the blue dress? I liked the red. Sets off your hair better.”

“No way.” Sydney sat munching the muffins she’d supposedly brought for Faith. She handed one to Hailey, who took it with thanks. “The blue is nice. Note the plunging neckline. You’re going to love how Brian’s mouth drops when he sees you in it.”

Hailey rolled her eyes. “Please. That red one had no back. He’ll be feeling her up all night. The blue one is a tease.”

“You guys are no help at all.” Faith put the blue one back in her closet and took out a sheer black dress that hit her just above her knee and covered her from her neck down. No hint of skin, but the dress hugged her curves like a lover. “How about basic black?”

“With the red heels,” Hailey and Sydney said together. They high-fived and continued to eat the treats Faith eyeballed with longing. But she wanted to look as slim as possible when meeting Brian’s dad for the first time.