Slammed (25 page)

“Brooke.”

She turned at hearing her name and saw her boss standing in front of her.

“Hi Barrett. What’s up?”

“I need to talk to you.” He jerked his head and she followed him away from the group of people she’d been talking to. In a quiet corner he turned to her. “What’s with you and Dylan Schell?”

She blinked. “Nothing.”

He gave her a look, chin down, eyes narrowed. “Right. And I’m about to win the Jackson Cole Pro.”

She pressed her lips together.

“You two looked very friendly, and I’m hearing talk that you’ve been looking pretty friendly all over town.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh for heaven’s sake. Yes, we’re friendly.”

“You’re supposed to be keeping him on a leash.”

“I am. Have there been any problems? Any hints of bad behavior?”

“No.” He eyed her then smiled. “Oh, so that’s how you’re doing it.”

Her mouth dropped open. “What are you talking about?”

He smiled knowingly. “Attagirl, Brooke. You do whatever it takes to keep him in line and keep the higher-ups happy.”

“I’m not…” She paused. “I mean, I’m not…” Oh Jesus. She didn’t even know what to say. She’d been about to assure Barrett that she wasn’t sleeping with Dylan, but…she was. But not like he thought. Except, telling him the truth wasn’t an option.

She stared at him. Did she want him and the rest of Jackson Cole management thinking she was that ambitious and manipulative that she’d use sex to control Dylan? Good God.

“It’s not what you think,” she insisted in a low voice. “It’s just business.”

“Well yeah, I should hope so.” His smile faded and he gave her another calculating look. “Because we didn’t give you this account so could you hook yourself a rich surfer.”

Pressure built inside her, fast and hot. A red haze floated in front of her eyes and she took a deep breath. “That’s really uncalled for, Barrett.” She gave him the haughtiest look she could muster. “If you have problems with how I’m doing my job, let me know.”

“Dylan Schell
is
your job. Just remember that.”

And he turned and left.

She stood there for long moments, marshaling her thoughts and trying to control the emotions that churned inside her. She’d never really liked Barrett, but she’d never hated him more than she did at that moment.

Furious, she whirled around and left the VIP tent. She was done for the day anyway. Her face hurt from smiling and she was tired of schmoozing and networking. And dammit, she had to go that damn party with Dylan.

A mistake, yet she’d said she’d go and she’d also committed to helping him, which in turn made sure that he was staying on his best behavior. She felt squeezed, as if she couldn’t win no matter what she did.

But this only reinforced her determination that from now on, things between her and Dylan had to stay just business.

At home, she made herself a grilled cheese sandwich for dinner. She’d grabbed a few bites of food earlier in the day, but hadn’t really been hungry, her stomach in knots, first with nerves for Dylan as he surfed, then anxiety about seeing Corey and Matt, and Dylan wanting to talk.

She didn’t want him to know she was all twisted up about him. This was supposed to be a casual thing, a wedding date to help him out and gain his cooperation in the business part of their relationship. She wasn’t supposed to be feeling like this. Whatever “this” was
–
she couldn’t even identify it. Jealous? Hurt?

She had no right to be jealous of him and relationships he’d had in the past, and she certainly had no reason to be hurt. Everything that had happened was no big deal. They’d get through the week with Dylan’s reputation intact, hopefully a championship under his belt and his sponsorship and her job secure. She needed to keep Dylan happy so he’d behave, cooperate with the charity events and hopefully win this event.

She’d been so casual to Dylan about watching him surf earlier, but the truth was she’d been gnawing on her thumb, her stomach a mass of tight knots as she’d watched. God, she’d wanted him to do well.

And then, watching him, something weird had happened. She was no expert on surfing, but she knew a little, and she knew when she was watching something amazing. Something almost magical. The grace and power of his body as he’d ridden the wave, the way he moved with the board, the way he kept his balance with such ease, was mesmerizing. When he’d caught that air, he’d been flying.

And then she hadn’t been nervous any more. She’d been calm and smiling, and when he’d finished, a feeling of awe and admiration swelled inside her, a feeling of…pride. She was proud of him. Not like a parent is proud of their kid. Not even like she’d had anything to do with it. It was hard to explain, but she was impressed and happy for him, wanting more than anything for him to do well so he’d be happy.

And he
had
been happy, and that had made her heart expand in her chest so much it had been hard to breath, a warm soft feeling growing inside her. Then it had been even harder to maintain her professional demeanor when he’d shown up all jubilant, flashing that sexy grin around and hugging half-naked girls.

She changed into a short purple dress that was tight around her hips, blousy on top, with narrow spaghetti straps, and redid her makeup in preparation for Dylan picking her up for the party. When he arrived at her door, she was ready, wearing a cheerful smile along with her stilettos.

“Wow.” Dylan gave her a scorching up and down look. “You look hot.”

“Thanks. You look good yourself.” And he did, even though he was wearing his usual baggy shorts and loose, brightly-colored print shirt. “I’m ready to go.”

“Hey, we have a few minutes. I wanted to talk to you.”

Damn. “Oh right. Okay. Do you want something to drink?”

“Nah, I’m good, thanks. Did I tell you the other night I like your apartment?”

She made a face. “Uh, no. But thanks. It’s nothing special.”

“It’s just like you,” he said, walking into the middle of her living room. “On the surface it’s all neat and tidy and buttoned up, but underneath it’s hot and sexy.”

She stared at him. “How the hell do you get that from my apartment?”

He grinned. “It’s the little things. The hot red and orange cushions on a beige couch. The pictures on the wall.” Her framed black-and-white photographs were done by Jules Stockwood. She’d purchased them at Jules’s gallery, and she loved them. “They look all innocent and black and white until you realize they’re nudes. And it smells like Tahiti in here, all warm and tropical.”

“It’s the passion fruit candles.”

“See?” He lifted an eyebrow. “Passion fruit.”

Well. She nibbled her bottom lip. “I still don’t…oh never mind.”

“Yeah, you
are
like that, Brooke. I saw it in Tahiti. You showed up all stiff in your business clothes, and the next thing I know you’re wearing a hot little sundress and seducing me.”

“I did not seduce you!” Then she took in the twinkle in his eye and shook her head. How could she stay angry at this guy? But she had to keep her distance. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

“Oh yeah.” His smile faded a bit. “About earlier. You seemed all…pissed off or something.” His eyes searched her face. “You okay?”

“Of course! This is a busy week. Stressful for everyone. But not as much as you, I’m sure.”

“Yeah. I guess. Okay.”

“We should go. Matt and Corey will be there soon.”

He nodded and they left.

They drove to the bar in his rental car. She opened her mouth to say something about drinking and driving then closed it. She didn’t need to be that much of a babysitter. Dylan knew better than that, and now the competition had started he wouldn’t be drinking much. She trusted him.

A lineup stretched from the front door of Aura down the sidewalk, but Dylan led her to a side door where the bouncer immediately let them in with a grin and a slap on his shoulder. Inside, music throbbed around them in the darkness, colored lights pulsing above the dance floor. People moved around, talking, laughing, flirting.

Once people had seen Dylan, that was it, he was the center of attention. Brooke went to step aside, but he slid his hand down her arm in a warm caress that made her shiver and clasped her hand, keeping her close. She kept a smile firmly in place as she listened to the conversations that didn’t include her. When someone asked Dylan what he wanted to drink, he looked at her first. “What would you like?” he asked in her ear.

“Um. White wine.”

He requested her wine and a San Pellegrino, which she guessed was for him. More people came up to talk to him and wish him well, other surfers there as well as fans. Dylan introduced her to people as much as he could, when the noise level permitted.

Matt and Corey arrived, further testing Brooke’s acting abilities as she continued to smile and laugh and respond appropriately to the conversation.

This was a part of the Pro that a lot of people lived for, the partying and socializing that went on all night. There’d been years where she’d been partying all night too. The energy and enthusiasm and excitement of the crowd was contagious, and she found herself moving to the music as she stood there talking to people.

“Hey Brooke!”

She turned to see Josh Busher, one of San Amaro’s police officers, now off duty, and smiled. “Hi Josh!”

He moved up closer, smiling back at her. They’d had an off-and-on flirtation for years but had never actually gone out together. When she was free, he was dating someone, and if he was free she was seeing someone. She really liked him though, and he was super attractive, a tanned athletic blond guy who looked great in his police uniform. “Haven’t seen you for a while,” she said, returning his smile. “Why aren’t you working tonight? I’d think every police officer in San Amaro would be working this week.”

He grinned. “We can’t work twenty-four-seven. I’ll be pulling some long shifts this weekend. Gotta keep those rowdy surfing fans under control.”

“And the rowdy surfers,” Dylan said from behind her, his hand tugging on hers.

She turned her head. “That too,” she said with a grin. “Josh, this is Dylan Schell. Dylan, Josh Busher. Josh is a police officer.”

The two men shook hands with narrow-eyed appraisal of each other. “Good to meet you, Dylan,” Josh said. “We’re all cheering for our hometown guy to win this week.”

“Thanks,” Dylan drawled. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Josh turned his attention back to Brooke. “So how’s your sister? Last time I saw her, her car’d been broken into.”

“Oh that’s right! That was awful. But she’s fine.”

They started chatting about other people they knew, and Brooke tried to separate herself slightly from the crowd of people around Dylan so she could have a conversation with Josh, although she had to give her hand a tug from Dylan’s to do so.

“Are you and Dylan going out?” Josh asked in her ear a little while later.

She shook her head. “No. I mean, not really. I mean…” She closed her eyes. “He’s just here for this week. Jackson Cole is one of his sponsors, so we’ve been working together on a few projects while he’s here.” And keeping him out of trouble.

Which hadn’t actually been that hard. Although who knew what kind of antics he’d have gotten up to if she hadn’t gotten involved.

She and Josh chatted and drifted away from the rest of the group. “Hey, you need another drink,” he said, indicating her empty glass. “Come on. Let’s see if we can shove our way through to the bar.”

“It’s a female bartender,” she yelled over the loud music and voices. “You better try. She’ll never pay any attention to me.”

He laughed and shouldered his way through the crowd at the bar. Easy for him, standing over six feet tall and with football-player shoulders. He caught the bartender’s eye and sure enough, the sexy brunette was right there in front of him with a flirty smile. In no time, they had their drinks.

“Thanks!” Brooke held up her wine glass to give a little clink against his beer glass.

“So. If you and Dylan aren’t together, maybe we could go out some time.”

“You and Jasmine aren’t going out any more?”

He shook his head. “Nah. Long story.”

“I’m sorry. I really like her.” Jasmine owned the White Jasmine Bed and Breakfast in town.

“No hard feelings.” He shrugged.

She sank her teeth into her bottom lip, unsure what to say to his invitation. She didn’t want to go out with Josh. But why not? There’d always been a little spark of attraction between them. Somehow that had disappeared. And the little spark was nothing compared to the inferno of heat and lust she felt around Dylan. But what she’d said was true—they weren’t together. And he was leaving next week. And here was Josh, single at the same time as she was. So why the hell not?

“Well, you know. Maybe after this crazy event is done, we could go for a drink or something. This week’s really busy.”

“I hear you.”

“There you are.”

Brooke turned to see Dylan standing there.

“I thought you got lost somewhere,” he said.

She smiled at him. “Not lost. Just got another drink.” She held up her glass.

His eyebrows drew together and his mouth went tight. He shot Josh a sharp look.

Whoa. Was he jealous?

Brooke tipped her head to one side. Frack.

“Can I talk to you?” Dylan said, gripping her arm and drawing her away.

“Sure. Excuse us,” she said to Josh with a smile. “Catch up with you later.”

“No you won’t,” Dylan said in her ear.

She eyed him. “What’s your problem?”

“You’re with me.”

She lowered her chin. “Well, we came together. But you know as well as I do that we really only have a business relationship.”

“Business?” He laughed. “
That’s
what that was in your bed the other night? Business?”

His words were an uncomfortable echo of Barrett’s earlier that day, and her insides twisted. She really didn’t appreciate those insinuations. She gave Dylan a cool look. “No,” she replied. “That wasn’t business. But
this
is. I’m here with you, keeping an eye on you so you stay out of trouble, and helping you out so your friends don’t know you’re still lusting after your best friend’s new wife.”