Mr. Big Jerk: A Forbidden Second Chance Romance (Kinda Cocky Series Book 3), стр. 16
He looked over at me. “To celebrate your birthday however you want.”
I held my glass out. “What I want is to get the hell away from them down there.”
He filled my glass again. “Seems like you accomplished that.”
I slowly looked over at him. “You look nice in that suit.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
“You look wonderful in your outfit as well.”
“I wasn’t fishing for a compliment.”
“I know you weren’t.”
I slid my eyes down his body, and I couldn't help but stare at his pelvis. I wasn’t an idiot. I knew of the rumors that circulated around work regarding Clint. Hell, those rumors had followed him all the way home from the Navy. And I’d be lying if I said part of me wasn’t curious as to what the man was packing. I sipped my wine and forced my eyes forward. The last thing I needed was to be so desperate as to think sleeping with my boss was a good choice for the evening.
Besides, the man had become a workaholic. Just like his brothers. Just like that entire family. So, even if we did hit it off, I knew it would only be a one-time thing. And I was sick of one time things. I was sick of a lot of things, really. Like being put second in the lives of people I always put first. And just like I didn’t have time for friends who put me second, I didn’t have time for a man who put me second either.
So, no use in opening that can of worms simply because I felt abandoned.
8
Clint
I tried not to grin too hard when Roxy started staring at my crotch. It was amusing, really, how her defenses were down, and all ladylike mannerisms had been tossed out the window. I enjoyed a woman who went after what she wanted. It’s one of the things that drew me to my ex.
Too bad she didn’t know how to stop going after the men she wanted.
As I sat next to Roxy, I forced myself to loosen up a bit. Though, the alcohol was helping me in that regard. I swirled my wine around in its glass as I eased into the comfort of the couch we took up. I tried not to stare too hard at the birthday girl sitting next to me, though she was particularly dressed up for the evening. And her curves were on display for anyone to behold.
Damn it. She’s a gorgeous girl.
“So, you enjoying yourself tonight?” I asked.
Roxy snickered. “Sure.”
“Doesn’t sound like a convincing answer to me.”
She shrugged. “Yeah. I love celebrating my birthday by myself.”
“I take it everyone else isn’t spending much time with you?”
She held out her arms. “You see anyone here now?”
“I’m here.”
“Besides you.”
“Then, you make a valid point.”
She sighed. “It’s nothing. I’m ready to go home anyway.”
“If you want me to, I’ll take you home.”
Her gaze found my own. “Really?”
I shrugged. “If that’s what the birthday girl wants, then that’s what she gets.”
“Well, what if the birthday girl wants to rip the heads off of your two brothers?”
“Then, the birthday girl understands why I went off to the military.”
She blinked. “I’m not following.”
I grinned. “Figured if I wanted to kill people, I might as well not kill my own two brothers.”
She shoved me. “That’s not funny.”
I chuckled. “Got a laugh out of my buddies whenever we shipped off for another job.”
Her eyes turned back out to the casino. “I get it, you know.”
“Get what?”
“Why I don’t see Kelly and Karina too often anymore.”
I locked my attention directly onto her as she drew in a deep breath.
“I mean, if I had a man half as wonderful as Brenden or Zane in my life, I wouldn't want to hang out with anyone else, either. And I sure as hell wouldn’t want to hang out with some tramp that picks up new men every week.”
I sat up straight. “Hey.”
“What?”
“Look at me?”
She fluttered her eyes in my direction. “What?”
I glared at her. “I said, look at me.”
She turned her body in my direction. “What do you want, Clint?”
I gripped her chin. “Don’t you ever talk about yourself like that again. Got it?”
She furrowed her brow. “Why?”
“Because you’re better than that, Roxy. You’re one of the best people I know. You’re witty. You’re beautiful, and you’re intelligent. You don’t take people’s shit, and you sure as hell don’t put up with their bullshit. It takes a strong woman to go after what she wants, even if it is a guy a week. Who cares what other people think? You do what makes you happy, and damned be the consequences. There are a lot of people out there that would love to have that as a part of their personality. All right?”
She nodded softly. “All right, I get it.”
My hand fell away from her chin. “Good.”
I watched as her lips cocked with a grin before it turned into a full-blown smile. And her smile lit up the entire room we sat in. It was beautiful, and it made her look beautiful, and there was nothing I wanted more than to put yet another smile on her face.
This isn’t good, Clint. Backtrack. Abort. Get out.
“Hey! We were wondering where you two went off to!” Brenden exclaimed.
Zane clapped my shoulder. “Entertaining the birthday girl, I see.”
Roxy’s smile quickly fell from her face, and I wanted to sucker-punch my brothers for making her feel this way.
“Yeah, yeah. Just doing what I can,” I said.
Brenden dropped down onto the couch in between us, and I wanted to toss him off the roof.
Why is this so frustrating to me?
“Where are the girls?” I asked.
Zane thumbed over his shoulder. “Oh, they’re heading up here now. They wanted to bring drinks with them.”
Roxy snickered. “And you guys aren’t helping them?”
Brenden held up his hands. “Not for lack of trying. They insisted on bringing the drinks up themselves. I don’t know what they’ve got brewing, but it can’t be good.”
Roxy leaned forward. “So, Clint tells me he wanted to