Bare_Raw Page 5

  He was right about everything, except one. I wasn’t pining after Mandy, it was never about her. The only reason I wanted her was because I felt without her I couldn’t truly have Caden. In the end, I lost it all.

  Chapter 10

  Brynn

  “I love the purple ones.” I arch a brow at Katelynn as she holds up two different pairs of shoes. “The red ones are too flashy,” she adds, and again I say nothing. “They’d clash with ninety percent of my wardrobe because let’s face it, I love purple.”

  “You don’t want to just go with something neutral, like white or,” I look over at the rack and pick up a pair of grey shoes, “these.”

  I look back at Katelynn to find her looking at the shoes offensively which only makes me laugh. “Those are awful,” she says, her nose still wrinkled in disgust. “I’m not boring like you.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Come on, Brynn, you are.” She places the red shoes on the shelf, reaching out to take the grey ones and doing the same with those. “You never do anything with yourself, you’re always wearing your hair pinned back in a ponytail or bun, and those shoes.” She looks down at my feet. “Always the same raggedy old tennis shoes.

  “What’s wrong with my shoes?” I’ll have her know I love my Nike’s.

  “They’re old,” she replies, “and worn. Oh, and ugly.” She pushes past me and moves toward a shelf across the center aisle. When she lifts up a fancy pair of low-cut boot things with a heel she turns to face me with a bright smile on her face. “These are what you should be wearing?”

  “Um, why?”

  “Why?” She lets her arm drop to her side still holding onto the boot securely. “Well, I don’t know, maybe because you’re not a jogger, or an old lady.”

  “Katelynn.” I scan over the area hoping that there are no older woman near us that may have heard. My sister has a tendency to say whatever is on her mind without regard for anyone else.

  “Seriously, Brynn, you’re young, you should be dressing sexy.” I stare at her wondering where in the hell my sweet little sister went. The one that was quiet and so innocent. Then I cannot help but smile and feel proud of the confidence she conveys now. She’s become so strong willed and determined, no longer that scared little girl that feared where’d we’d sleep the next night, or if we’d eat that day. “I bet Alec would agree with me.”

  And there went the exciting fun moment I was sharing with her.

  “Alec and I aren’t dating anymore.” Maybe I should have continued on with the story about him being out of town, but it was too late now.

  “What happened?” When I shrugged she stepped closer and gave me a determined look that I’ll admit surprised me. “Did he do something, or say something? Was it because of me? Because you have a kid to raise and it was too much for him? I’ve heard of things like that, where guys fear relationships with women that already are responsible for children.”

  “Katelynn, slow down.” I lift my hand to place on her shoulder. “It wasn’t anything like that, we’re just too different. That’s all.” She didn’t need to know anymore, that was enough.

  “Now about these boots,” I reach down and snag the boots from her hand and lift them out before us. “Do you really think that I’d look okay in them?”

  “Definitely,” she says, her smile finally returning though I could still sense something unsettling in her. “These are the kind of boots that say, I’m beautiful and confident, and if you can’t see that I’m amazing, then you’re missing out.”

  “They say all that, huh?"

  “Yep, they also have the perfect heel, so the next time you see that creep you can stomp on his toes hard, and twist. Make him squeal like the dirty little pig he is.” I stare at Katelynn and want to laugh, she was a fire ball.

  “Okay little devil,” I hook my arm over her shoulders and begin dragging her toward the salesmen. “Let’s get my size so we can get out of here. I think you need some type of substance to drown out the fire inside you.”

  “How about Portlands?” I glare at Katelynn and she laughs. “What? I just thought maybe you’d want to revisit your old boss and beg for your old job back.”

  Her comment reminded me of the fact that I’d most likely be looking for another job. The idea of going back to Erotic Nights and facing Alec was something that only made me feel sick to my stomach.

  “Why don’t we skip Portlands, because I’ve seen what they actually put in that meat,” I fake a shiver and she laughs. “How about burgers and fries, maybe a milkshake?”

  “I could go for a burger.” She smiles brightly.

  “Great I have the perfect place.”

  I shouldn’t revisit Flannigan's, I knew this. It was like continuously teasing myself with something I knew I couldn’t have, but I couldn’t stop. My night with Alec at Flannigan's was one that was filled with so much hope. He wasn’t the cold man that I’d seen on my last night with him, or last night at the club. He smiled and laughed and made me feel so desirable during that date.

  Pulling up alongside the pub, I felt a rush of anxiety at the possibility of seeing him. Knowing that it was just my conscience playing tricks on me.

  “What is this place?” Katelynn asks, leaning closer to her window to look up at the sign above the door.

  “The best burger, cheese fries, and shake you’ll find in the city.” It wasn’t a lie, the food was amazing. “You ready?”

  I don’t wait for her to respond before pushing open the car door and climbing out. I step up onto the curb just as Katelynn crawls from the car. “It looks like a bar.”

  “It’s a pub,” I say.

  Side by side we walked toward the front entrance and just as I reach out to pull open the front door I hear my name . “Brynn.” My heart rate picks up, beating so fast that I feel slightly light headed.

  I turn, almost feeling as if everything is moving in slow motion, to come face to face with Aric, Alec’s brother. “Funny seeing you here.”

  “Yeah.” I don’t know what to say, but I know what I was feeling. Run, go back to your car and drive off. “Wanted to show my sister the best burger place in the city.”

  “It is good, kid,” he says, looking down at Katelynn, and in the moment I look to my left. I could feel the laughter bubbling up in my chest at the look on her face. That awestruck look in her eyes as she stares up at a man she has never seen before.

  “You’re Royce.”

  I grow puzzled by the words she whispered. “No, his name is Aric.”

  “Yeah, yeah okay,” she says, waving me off again flooring me just a bit. “But you played Royce on Heart Throb.”

  “Heart Throb?”

  “Brynn, stop.” She again waves me off. “He got killed off last season, but my god, he’s Royce.”

  I hear Aric chuckle and it regains my attention. “Yes, I did play Royce,” he confirms, and I swear I hear my sister sigh. “So are you ladies just heading in?”

  “Yes we are,” Katelynn answers before I can. “You too?”

  “Yeah.” He gives her a smirk, one I’m sure he flashes often before lifting his gaze back to meet mine, and tossing a wink. “Mind if I join you two?”

  “Not at all.” Again Katelynn answers before I get the chance to say a word, and the way she states each word so slow and breathlessly makes Aric only smile wider.

  “Ladies first,” he says, pulling the handle and stepping to the side. I give my sister a pointed look and she shrugs her shoulders before stepping inside. “She’s fun,” Aric whispers in my ear as he steps inside behind me and places his hand on my hip to move me over.

  “Well, if it isn’t Aric Reynolds.” An older man steps forward wearing a Flannigan's shirt and takes him into a side hug. “And two beautiful ladies too,” he adds. I picture the man being popular with the ladies back in his younger years. He just had that flirtatious manner about him, and the most beautiful set of blue eyes to awe the woman.

  “This is Brynn,” Aric tells him, “and�
�”

  “Katelynn,” I interject, and Aric flashes his panty dropping smile before turning back to face the man. What the hell was with these Reynolds men?

  Once we were seated and Katelynn seemed to be lost in the tablet she now held, compliments of Morgan who I now knew owned Flannigan's, Aric focused on me. The moment his eyes locked on mine I got that same rush I’d felt in Alec’s presence. I wonder in that moment if these brothers had some type of superpowers or something that managed to make a woman feel weak in their presence.

  “I saw him this morning.” There’s no reason for me to ask who, I already knew he was talking about Alec. “He looked like he had a rough night.”

  “I’m sure he did, he spent the night with Raine.” I hadn’t meant to say anything in return, but the words fell from my lips before I had a chance to register them.

  “He said the two of you weren’t a couple,” I look to my left hoping Katelynn is too occupied to pick up on our current conversation. “Is that true?” Aric adds, regaining my attention. “Were the two of you dating?”

  “I don’t know what Alec and I were.”

  “Wait,” Katelynn says, placing the tablet onto the tabletop. “You know Alec?”

  “Depends,” Aric says to her leaning forward to place his forearms on the table. “Would me knowing him or even being related to him change your opinion of me?”

  “He’s a dipshit.”

  “Katelynn,” I warn her, and Aric only laughs making it impossible for me not to also smile.

  “What? He is,” she adds. “He sweeps in, pretends to like us, makes my sister smile and laugh, and then the next thing you know he’s gone. Men are idiots.” She then focuses solely on Aric as if she hadn’t just rambled on shocking us both. Only Aric was smiling at her as if he thought she was the greatest thing ever. Okay fine, so maybe I was the one shocked. “So how do you know Alec?”

  “He’s my brother.” I watch the conversation take place between Aric and my sister. The banter between the two of them surprises me, it’s almost as if they hadn’t just met moments ago.

  “You may have just moved yourself down a notch on the badass pole.”

  “Katelynn,” I warn again, “mouth.”

  The chuckling from Aric wasn’t helping matters at all. When I see Katelynn offer a wink to Aric, I know my eyes had to widen to the size of saucers. I was in some definite trouble with her. My god, what the hell was going on with her and her mouth?

  “Seriously though, is he bipolar?”

  I hang my head to hide my embarrassment, and am not surprised to hear the sound of Aric laughing hard.

  “He just might be, kid,” he says between laughter. “We’re all wondering the same things ourselves.”

  Chapter 11

  Alec

  “I’d like you to consider purchasing a couple of prime locations.” I sit in the conference room, across the table some from a big shot contractor. One I’ve worked with often on my quest to conquer the city and control everything. “I’m looking at buildings on Hampton and Frankfort.” He lays out a file between us that is filled with photos, both inside and outside the buildings in question. “I think they would make the perfect apartments and condos. I’d like to revamp both, from top to bottom. Having both luxury and standard, with all the same securities your other buildings hold. The amenities as well, and with the Hampton location the pool is already there, as well as tennis courts and basketball court, too. We do, however, need to update the amenities to meet the standards of your other locations. They are a bit outdated.”

  “I’ll assume you’ve already inquired about costs of both buildings, as well as the cost to redo both?”

  “You know I don’t bring you a deal without having everything put together.” This was true, Walter tried that once in the beginning and found himself right back outside, without the answer he was hoping for.

  I spent the next hour going over the financials, looking through the figures of the remodel of each building. I made my adjustments, as I always do. I conferenced in my real estate agent and had him set up showings for both buildings. I never went into a situation blind, I always knew everything, detailed and drawn out.

  Two hours later, and with everything outlined for Thursday afternoon, I finally feel like I have something to distract me. Something to keep my mind from wandering back to Brynn and hell, even Katelynn. I may have only spent a little time in her presence but that kid was one that definitely left one hell of an impression.

  I’d been avoiding the club for more than one reason. Raine, of course, was one, but seeing Brynn would be too hard. Hell, on more than one occasion I’d found myself parked outside her apartment both early in the morning or late in the day just to get a glimpse of her. I’d admit it to no one, but I fucking missed her, both of them actually. I miss the way they made me feel, that comfort I’d get whenever they were close.

  It had only been a week that’d passed but it felt like a lifetime. A week that I’d done what I’d always managed to do, get lost in my work and forget the problems brewing within my life. It was easier than admitting to myself that Brynn managed me forget the rules I’d set for myself.

  I’d been able to avoid my family since Aric stormed out of my penthouse pissed and raring for a fight. I half expected him to storm back in after he got down to the lobby and realized he had more to say. Or hell, even show up at my office the next morning ready and willing to finish what he’d started. But instead, my little brother has been fairly quiet.

  I’ll admit I’ve been curious about his silence. The guy rarely let a day or two pass without harassing me in some form. Mostly it was to throw his new arm candy in my face, or brag about his next far off excursion he had planned. He seemed to thrive on his ability to get beneath my skin.

  Leaving the office I tell Warren to drive to Aric’s condo not far from my own place in the Upper East Side. Aric chose to live a life of minimal means at Alcove, a small studio apartment. It made sense really as he was rarely home due to jobs and the travel the required.

  Where as I have gone possibly a little overboard with my living arrangements, residing in a 4900 square foot penthouse. But it was one of the very first things I’d told myself I would do once my company reached the top. I wanted a new home, without the memories of Mandy and Caden. I wanted something to be proud of, and I was, but it was also a lonely life. Many empty rooms and silence. Again something I’d only admit to myself.

  Slowing to a stop outside Aric’s building, I reached for the handle when Warren speaks. “Would you like me to wait here, sir?”

  “Why don’t you take a drive,” I direct him. “I don’t believe I’ll be long, but I can text you when I’m about ready.” With a tip of his hat I climb out of the car and begin walking toward the maroon colored awning that extends from the front entrance of Aric’s building. Just showing up at his place wasn’t something I did often, in fact, I’d only been to his place a couple of times.

  “Good evening, sir,” I’m greeted by a slender doorman wearing glasses that appeared two sizes too big for his narrow face. “May I help you?”

  “I’m here to see my brother, Aric Reynolds.”

  “Let me just call up and make him aware of your arrival.” Before I have the chance to say a word he is lifting his phone and pressing buttons.

  “Hello sir, I have a Mr.,” he pauses, looking toward me for the answer, and I fight my urge to laugh.

  “Mr. Alec Reynolds.”

  I see the moment it hits him that only moments ago I said I was Aric’s brother.

  “Alec Reynolds is here to see you.” He grows quiet as he listens to whatever my brother says. I imagine he’s directing him to tell me to go fuck myself after our last encounter, only in a politer term. “Of course.” He hangs up the phone and offers me a smile. “He has directed me to ask you to wait here.”

  I find it interesting that he doesn’t want me to go up to his apartment, it meant one of two things. Either he had company, most likely of the
female nature, or he was still really pissed off at me.

  I wait near the doors, looking out into the street as dusk begins to settle in over the city. The sun setting, peeking through the buildings is almost blinding as it reflects off the glass windows of the buildings surrounding his.

  “Alec.” I spin around and come face to face with my brother. He wore a pair of basketball shorts and a t-shirt, a pair of Ugg house slippers on his feet.

  “Very causal I see.” I look him over from head to feet and smirk. “You still pissed off, or do you have company?” When he looks back over his shoulder almost nervously I figure it’s the latter. “A new woman already?”

  “Just a friend,” he corrects me.

  “It’s not like the Aric Reynolds to have female friends.”

  He doesn’t say anything immediately only stares back at me, a blank look on his face.

  “Listen, I need to get back upstairs, but was there a reason you stopped by?” Seeing my brother so rattled was interesting. Very little ever seems to affect him.

  “I just wanted to make sure things were okay between us,” I say, still observing the way he begins to fidget and looks back once more over his shoulder toward the elevator that led upstairs.