Reaching Hearts - Faleena Hopkins Page 0,23

away, eyes darkening. “I wish you were right, but I don’t think that’s the case. We all need friends in our court, you know? I’ve known these guys since forever, but it’s like I’m on the outside ever since they moved in together. I try to reach out.” He stopped and said on a laugh. “God, I sound like such a pussy.”

“No, I like it. My ex and I never used to talk like this. This is nice. I like hearing what’s really going on with people.”

“Yeah? Me too.” He searched my face, leaning forward again.

“So, let’s connect,” I smiled, meaning it. “What are you going to do about this problem? Tell me what you think might work to fix it.”

He sat back and played with his watch. It gave me a second to study him. He was dressed casually but with style. His jeans were dark and hung well. His sneakers were leather and hip. The T-shirt was tight, but not too tight. And his watch had a large, brown leather strap that screamed testosterone. His hair was cut short and looked great. He had a strong neck and jawline. He glanced over and caught me looking, and I blinked a couple times and turned my attention to the clock. It was 12:45 p.m.

“I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing. Being cool, not rock the boat. Show up with a smile and hope that Brendan will take down that wall of his.”

I laughed. “He does have a wall, doesn’t he?”

Tommy made a small noise that said yes without saying the word. He brought both hands up and clasped them behind his head, his torso spreading out as he leaned back in the chair. His T-shirt stretched tight against his chest and his legs opened comfortably in a way that said sex, sex, SEX.

He glanced to my chest making me suddenly aware that my nipples had come to attention without my knowledge. I crossed my arms. “Well, about work and him not supporting you, I hope you’re wrong.” I was covering my embarrassment.

“I hope you’re right,” he smiled.

I stared at him. His eyes stayed on me. The charge in the room could have lit up the San Francisco Opera. I should ask him to leave. I glanced to my book on the coffee table, then back to him. He didn’t falter in his gaze and I felt him everywhere.

After an electric moment longer, I heard myself say, “Tell me more.”

He smiled. “I figure, if I stick around long enough, I’ll win in the end. That’s my plan.”

“I think that’s a good plan,” I said, quietly. “Are we still talking about your job?”

Then I heard the front door and before I realized who it must be, Brendan stormed into the room, looking from me to Tommy like we were both naked and fucking. I straightened up and greeted him a little too quickly. “Well, hello. You’re back early.”

He focused on Tommy. “They moved the meeting to Monday.”

“Oh yeah? That sucks you went all the way down there then.”

I watched them, two men with pistols drawn, standing twenty paces apart. And I was so shocked by what Tommy said that I blurted, “Wait. What? Was there really even a meeting at all?”

Chapter Fifteen

Rebecca

They both looked at me. Brendan, like he wanted to say something angry, but Tommy chuckled and stood up, thwarting any potential words with a sexy smirk that made light of my question. “Of course there was a meeting, Rebecca. What, dya think I set him up?” He held out his arms and looked from me to Brendan. “You two have a good day.” He grabbed the bottle of Macallan 18 he’d left on the table the night before. “Like you, B-man, I have a hot date tonight. That’s why I had to come get this, you see. Good scotch for a good woman.”

“What’s her name?” Brendan shot at him, and there was a meaning behind his words that I didn’t understand.

But Tommy did. He smirked and shook his head to himself. “It was nice talking to you, Rebecca.” He smacked Brendan on the shoulder and passed him. “You’ve got a good one here.” Behind Brendan’s back, he mouthed to me, yikes, like he had no idea why Brendan acted that way.

I waited for the door to close before I asked, “What was that about?”

“You two have a nice talk?” he growled and walked into the kitchen.

I stared after him, wondering if I should do something to make him