Manfax (Winter Brothers #2) - Jacob Chance Page 0,12

right now.

“Good?” Adam asks in a hoarse tone.

I meet his gaze, nodding. “Sorry. I didn’t realize my enjoyment was so obvious.”

He leans over, bumping my shoulder with his. “It was hard to miss the look of rapture on your face.”

“Oh, God.” Embarrassed, I cover my eyes with my hand. And what strange phenomena is this? I never get embarrassed by men.

Briefly catching my wrist, Adam draws it downward, exposing my face to his appreciative gaze. Placing my palm flat on the table, he releases his hold. “Rocky, don’t get embarrassed because I saw your orgasm face.” A wicked, crooked grin angles one side of his lips upward. “It was hot as hell.”

My mouth falls open and then closes. Then opens and closes some more as I struggle for something to say. Giving up, I wrap my lips around the straw, sucking down the ice cold beverage until pain racks my head. I clap my palm to my forehead, squeezing my eyes shut to soothe my brain freeze.

Fucking ouch.

This is not going how I planned.

6

Adam

“Brain freeze, huh?” I ask, feeling sympathetic.

The only answer Roxanne gives me is a pained whimper.

Shifting on the stool, I turn to face her. Placing my fingertips on each of her temples, I croon, “Relax,” slowly rubbing in a circular motion. She turns into my touch, desperate for relief. After a few seconds, she releases a relieved groan, and I remove my hands.

Her eyelids slowly lift, revealing her look of gratitude.

“Thank you. You’re a lifesaver. How did you know that would help?”

How did I know? I didn’t. I saw her pain and needed to do something to ease her suffering. An urge to make her better hit me, and I couldn’t help myself. That my technique worked is merely a happy accident.

I hold my hands up, wiggling my fingers. “These hands have the cure for whatever ails you.”

“What can they do about bad company?” Her lips quirk.

“Rox,” Violet says her name in a scolding manner. “Be nice.”

Roxanne doesn’t reply. At least not verbally. Eyes bouncing back and forth between the girls, I watch their brief, animated, silent conversation take place.

Larsen stands. “Anyone ready for another?”

“I’ll come with you,” Vi offers with a smile, slipping from her stool.

“We’ll each take another,” I intercede before my reluctant companion can disagree.

Roxanne stares after Vi and Larsen, as if she wants to shout take me with you.

“Alone at last.” I can't ignore the chance to tease her.

She sucks down the rest of her drink, this time with no problem. “So, what do you do for work?” I ask.

She jerks, as if she’s been kicked underneath the table.

“You all right, there?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” She forces a stiff smile, awkwardly baring her teeth like a donkey. Albeit, she might be the cutest donkey I’ve ever seen.

“You never answered my question about your work,” I remind her.

“Oh. Uh. Umm… I own my own business.”

“And what does said business involve?” I prod, eager to know more about this beautiful woman.

“Nothing exciting.” She fidgets with her bracelets, twisting them around her narrow wrist.

“I’ll be the judge of that. That is, if you ever share the details with me.” I smile.

She laughs, but it’s abrupt and sharp, not like her real one. I had the pleasure of hearing her genuine laugh earlier today when she was joking around with her friends. Husky and sexy, the sound stirred up images of us naked and rolling between the sheets, giving me a semi. And as a result, it might be my newest life goal to hear the throaty sound again when we’re both naked and in my bed. Or her bed. I’m not picky.

“I have an investigation firm,” she finally reveals.

I definitely wasn’t expecting her to say that. “Do you mean private investigations?”

“Yes, amongst other things,” she offers without clarifying.

Why is she being so friggin’ cryptic? Getting her to talk about herself is like prying the lid off Pandora’s Box. Challenge fucking accepted.

“Where’s your business located?” I’m not about to stop the questions. I’m pushing for as much information as possible.

“Brookline. Comm Ave., more specifically.”

I let out a whistle. “That’s a great location. How did you manage that one? I have friends who’ve been looking for real estate there for years and have had no luck.”

She shrugs one golden shoulder. “I’m lucky, I guess. I found space the first day I began searching for a place to rent.”

“If you ever need to renovate, let me know. Rex and I will be glad to take care of it for you.