Hot SEAL, Heartbreaker - Cat Johnson Page 0,39
her email. Texting Shelly. Using the traffic app to see what she was in for on her commute. Reading the news and weather.
Not today.
Even after Shelly had left hours ago, she had barely touched the cell, except to make sure there were no more texts or messages from Greg.
The bastard had not only ruined her life. He’d ruined her phone. Or at least, her enjoyment of using it.
She was still scowling about that when a loud pounding on her door had her jumping.
It couldn’t be him, could it? She hadn’t considered that if she didn’t answer his calls he’d just show up.
She should have moved after they broke up. She definitely should have changed her phone number.
Creeping to the front window, she peered out the crack between the blinds and the glass and breathed in relief when she saw Brian’s Jeep parked outside.
Relieved beyond measure, she ran to the door, unlocked and opened it.
“Hi.” She smiled at the unexpected diversion.
He didn’t smile. In fact, it looked as if someone had died.
“Hey,” he said, eyes downcast, the corners of his mouth pulled down.
“Brian. Are you okay? What’s wrong?”
It was obvious something was. He was always tall, dark and handsome but today his mood looked as black as his raven hair.
He raised his gaze to meet hers and said, “My mother.”
Her eyes widened as she feared the worst. That her next assignment as his fake girlfriend might be for a funeral.
“Oh, no. Is she all right?”
“She’s . . . dating.” He spat out the last word with such vitriol she couldn’t help her burst of a laugh.
“Jeez. Brian, I thought she’d died. Come inside and tell me why you’re so upset she’s dating.”
Scowling, he shuffled in, glancing back at her as she closed the door. “This isn’t going to be one of your head-shrinking sessions.”
She stopped to stare at him. “You really do hate therapists. And no, this is just me, your friend and favorite fake girlfriend, talking to you.” The man who’d made her come three times yesterday.
Batting that thought away, she followed him to the living room.
“Sit. You want a beer?” she asked.
“No.”
“No?” This was serious. He never said no to a beer.
“I had too many already tonight over dinner with my mother and Dale.”
Alicia pressed her lips together to avoid smiling at how he’d said the man’s name in a childishly mocking way.
She’d said this wasn’t a session but it was starting to feel like one as she sat in the chair opposite him and asked, “And why does her dating Dale upset you?”
“I don’t trust him.”
“Has he given you or her reason not to trust him?”
“No. Not yet. But he will.”
“And why are you so sure of that?”
“Because her boyfriends always have. Then I had to pick up the pieces.”
The answer to the question of why Brian wasn’t in a real relationship was becoming apparent.
She might have been starry eyed and ready to leap into love until Greg had broken her, but poor Brian never had a chance. His bad experiences with romance began much earlier in life. In childhood.
“Do you think she’s in danger with this man?” she asked.
His brow furrowed. “No.”
The word looked like it pained him to say. Like it was hard to admit Dale wasn’t as bad a man as Brian wanted him to be.
“I’m sorry you’re feeling this way. But your mother’s an adult. It’s her choice whom she dates, no matter what you think of him.”
The scowl was back.
“I guess.” Finally, he raised his gaze to her. “Sorry to bust in on you like this and lay all this on you.”
“Not a problem. That’s what fake girlfriends are for.” She smiled.
He let out a short laugh. “Not really, but thanks.”
Now that she’d talked him off the proverbial ledge, his gaze dropped down her body, as if he’d just noticed she was in her favorite sleep shorts and tank top.
“I didn’t get you out of bed, did I?” He looked less concerned and more interested. As if he’d like to join her in that bed.
“No, but I was planning on heading to bed soon.”
Don’t do it. Don’t do it. Don’t do it.
The voice in her head broadcast the warning.
She tried to fight it but the impulse won and the words spilled out as she said, “Would you maybe like to join me?”
Shit. She’d done it. Ignored the voice in her head telling her that she should not, under any circumstances, get down and dirty with Brian again.
As the smile that made her insides