Deal Makers Read online

  I don’t miss the way his beefy muscles flex as I touch him. He’s taken off his suit jacket so they’re definitely more noticeable through his pale green dress shirt.

  He clears his throat as he turns toward me. “Sure. What are you having?”

  “How about an Old Fashioned?”

  He nods and places my order with the bartender.

  Drew’s eyes twinkle in amusement as I grab the glass in front of him and take a sip. “So, Drew, why are you hanging out all by your lonesome?”

  He takes the whiskey back from me as the barkeep delivers my order. “Just felt like getting a drink.”

  I smirk as I gesture to the private room behind us, where the engagement party is being held. “The drinks are free in there.”

  “Maybe I wanted some air.”

  I nod in mock agreement. “That makes sense...if there was an open door or window anywhere close.”

  He chuckles. “What are you getting at, Charlee?”

  I smile. “Why are you constantly running away from me, Drew?”

  “What?” he chokes out. “I don’t run away from you.”

  “Um...yeah, I’m gonna call bullshit on that.” I gesture between our bodies. “Why are you fighting this?”

  “Fighting what?”

  “How much you want to bang me.” I wink.

  He chokes on the sip he was taking and spits the amber liquid back into the glass. “What makes you think that?”

  I cross my legs, allowing the tip of my stiletto to accidentally graze his shin. “Besides the fact that you perpetually have a boner around me?” I pointedly eye his crotch.

  He follows my gaze, smirking as he discreetly adjusts said boner. “How do you know that?”

  “Really?” I challenge. “So that third leg of yours is always rock hard, just because? That must get awfully uncomfortable.”

  He laughs. “No, I meant how do you know I’m hard for you?”

  “Because your dick jumps whenever you look at my boobs.”

  “Because they’re boobs,” he argues.

  I squeeze said boobs with my arms, pressing them together. “Don’t pretend you wouldn’t love to suck on them, Drew. Lick them. Slide your dick between them. Not just any boobs. My boobs.”

  He does this weird half-laugh, half-groan thing. “Jesus Christ, you and Brody are definitely related.”

  “Quit trying to change the subject,” I scold. “Back to my boobs and all the things you’d like to do with them.”

  He gulps as he stares at the cleavage on display. “Maybe I’m more of an ass man.”

  Oh, so he’s going to play it like that, huh? Time to up the ante.

  I jump off the stool and grab his arm. “Well, lucky for you, my ass is fantastic. C’mon, let’s go.”

  He stands but resists when I try pulling him forward. “Go where?”

  “I saw a small patio near the hallway to the bathrooms. You said you needed fresh air, didn’t you?”

  He eyes me skeptically. “Why do I get the feeling that you have ulterior motives?”

  I shrug. “Because I do.”

  His eyes flash with desire and this time, he willingly allows me to lead him across the restaurant.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  DREW

  What am I doing? Following Charlee has clusterfuck written all over it, yet I seem to be in a trance as her perfectly heart-shaped ass leads me across the building. Let’s be real; I easily weigh twice as much as she does. If I didn’t want to see what she had in mind, she wouldn’t stand a chance. Goddamn, she wasn’t kidding about the fantastic ass. Understatement of the year, right there. This is not the first time that I’ve noticed. Charlee throws a smile over her shoulder as we step out onto the patio. The completely empty patio, besides us.

  Fuck.

  I rub the back of my neck. “Uh...I think I’ve had enough fresh air. I’m just gonna get back to the party.”

  Charlee rolls her eyes and flings her arm wildly. “Oh, don’t be such a pussy. We just got here and I only want to talk.”

  I laugh. Her bluntness is one of the first things that makes her stand out in a crowd, besides the fact that she’s fucking gorgeous. She almost always talks with her hands, which is adorable, and the girl has no filter, just like her brother. You’d never know they’re siblings by looking at them; they couldn’t be more different, physically speaking. Brody’s tall and built, with blonde hair and blue eyes, whereas Charlee is short and thin, with dark chocolate hair and bourbon-colored eyes. The more I get to know her though, the more I see how similar their personalities are—they’re practically male and female versions of each other. I’m sure Freud would have a field day with my attraction to her.

  “Why can’t we talk inside?”

  “Because Brody is being an ass,” she says. “He doesn’t want me anywhere near you.”

  “I can’t say I blame him.”

  She tilts her head to the side. “Why’s that?”

  “Because I’m sure he knows what I’m thinking whenever I look at you. I’d kick his ass if he had those thoughts about Devyn.”

  “That’s ridiculous.”

  “No, that’s Bro Code,” I correct. “Sisters are off-limits.”

  “You’re kidding me, right?” There go the hands again. “You guys actually believe in that stuff?”

  I shrug in response.

  “You know what I think? I think you’re both morons.”

  I put my hands in my pockets and rock back on my heels. “Maybe, but that doesn’t change it.”

  “So...let me get this straight. If I wasn’t Brody’s sister, I’d be fair game? You’re not denying that you’re attracted to me?”

  I grin. “Not denying that even a little.”

  She gets a devious smile on her face as she inches closer. “So...you agree that we have chemistry? That you’d be more than happy to take what I’m offering?”

  There’s just enough blood left in my brain to tell me that I should abort. Sadly, the blood flowing to my other head likes where she’s going with this.

  “And what exactly are you offering?”

  My dick jerks when she wraps her fist around my tie, pulling me down. Our lips are mere inches from each other.

  Don’t do it, man. It’s not worth the consequences, my brain says.

  Shut the fuck up, my dick replies. Do you feel the tits pressed against our chest?

  “This,” Charlee says, right before she attacks my mouth.

  Fuuuuuuck me.

  Her lips are just as soft as they look, and whatever shiny shit is on them tastes like cotton candy. She bites down on my lower lip, before sliding her tongue into my mouth. I know it’s wrong, and that I’ll probably regret this, but I can’t find the will to stop. Instead, I wrap my arms around her, pulling her into me so she can feel how fucking hard I am. She moans into my mouth and rubs her torso against my dick through my pants. She uses the brick wall that I have her pressed against for leverage to climb my body. Right before my wandering hands get up close and personal with her amazing tits, we’re interrupted.

  “What in the actual fuck?”

  I jump away from Charlee the second I hear Brody’s voice, but it’s too late. There’s not a chance in hell he didn’t just witness me dry-humping his sister against a wall.

  He advances upon me and shoves me in the chest. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing, dickhead?”

  “Brody, don’t,” Rainey pleads, tugging on his arm.

  “I’m sorry, man. I just...wasn’t thinking for a minute. I mean, have you seen your sister?” I hold my hands up in surrender when his glare turns murderous. “It won’t happen again.”

  Brody turns his ire on his sister. “And you! What the fuck, Charlotte? Did we not just talk about this?”

  “Oh fuck you, Brody!” Charlee shouts back. “You’re not the boss of me or Drew. If we want to make out, we can make out. Or whatever else for that matter.”

  Brody’s scowl returns to me again. I shake my head, r
efuting Charlee’s statement. “It won’t happen again, man. I swear. It was a bad idea. A really bad idea.”

  Great, now Charlee’s glaring at me. “I can’t believe you two. Fuck this, I’m out.” She shoulder checks me as she storms past us.

  Brody’s still fuming, his nostrils flaring. He’s a big dude, but not as big as me. I could easily take him in a fight, but I’m not going to. If he wanted to punch me, I’d fucking deserve it. That’s also part of Bro Code—you’d be amazed at how landing a good punch can resolve any argument between dudes.

  “Brody, c’mon, let’s go back to the party,” Rainey begs, trying to defuse the situation. “Riley and Devyn are probably wondering where we’re at.”

  Brody points a stern finger at me. “Not cool, Drew. Don’t think for a fucking second that I’m okay with this.”

  I nod in acquiescence. “Got it.” Turning my attention to Rainey I add, “I need a minute. Will you please let Dev know that I’ll be there in a bit?”

  She nods. “Don’t worry about it. Take as much time as you need.”

  I take deep breaths as I ponder her statement. I have a feeling that no matter how much time passes, Charlee’s allure won’t fade. There’s just something about her—an energy that crackles between us that compels me to want more than I can have. I just have to keep reminding myself that nothing can happen.

  Bro Code. Bro Code. Bro Code.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Viva Las Vegas!

  DREW

  “Attention, passengers, now boarding rows five through twenty for Alaska flight 1436 from Seattle to Las Vegas.”

  “That’s us,” Devyn says excitedly.

  Her fiancé, Riley, takes her carry-on bag from her as we get in the back of the line. “C’mon baby, let the kid-free weekend begin.”

  She chuckles. “Am I a bad mom for being excited about that?”

  She blushes when he leans over and whispers something in her ear. I have to turn away because I know he just said something dirty. I know they get it on—they have a five-year-old son for fuck’s sake—but that doesn’t mean I want to hear about it. When Brody and I originally planned this Las Vegas bachelor party excursion, it was going to be a guys’-only trip. When Riley’s parents offered to watch my nephew, Nathan, three quickly became six. The ladies are still going to do their own bachelorette thing but we plan to meet up as a group toward the end of the evening. It’s a quick trip—thirty hours to be exact—but we hope to make the most out of it.

  “So, what do you want to do first?” I ask Brody, as we slowly inch up in line. “Topless pool or strip club?”

  “Dude, I already told you neither of those things are happening.” He swings his arm around Rainey’s shoulder. “The only T and A that I need to see are right here.”

  She laughs. “As long as you’re not touching someone else’s T or A, I couldn’t care less.”

  “Nah, I’m good,” he says.

  “I thought you were joking! What’s the point of going to Vegas if you’re not going to see naked women?”

  “Poker,” Brody and Riley reply in unison.

  “And regular pools,” my sister adds.

  “What the fuck?” I grumble.

  Brody shrugs as the flight attendant scans his boarding pass. “Sorry, dude.”

  “These old married couples are a buzzkill,” Charlee says conspiratorially. “Vegas is supposed to be about debauchery. Getting drunk, getting tan, and wherever else the night may lead you. We should ditch ‘em and have some fun of our own.” She throws a wink over her shoulder as she enters the gangway.

  I put my boarding pass on the scanner thing as I watch Charlee saunter down the corridor. When Devyn told me that she’d asked Charlee to be a bridesmaid, I knew she’d be coming on this trip. Things were a bit awkward after our make out session ended so horribly, but we’ve all moved on since. I’ve honored my promise to Brody and haven’t touched her. Haven’t even come close. To be frank, she hasn’t shown a lick of interest after storming off that night three months ago, which is probably the main reason it’s been so easy. I won’t lie and say I haven’t thought about that night many times, especially when I needed spank bank material, but I never considered the possibility of a repeat, no matter how much I like her. With the look she just gave me, I’m now thinking that this weekend is going to be an exercise in self-control.

  Big time.

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHARLEE

  Our flight was ridiculously early so it’s barely 10:00 a.m. and we have the whole day ahead of us. I watch the two couples on my right as they’re checking in. Riley and Devyn look so sweet together. I can’t help but grin as Riley brings their joined hands to his mouth and kisses Devyn’s knuckles. There’s so much adoration and familiarity in their eyes, it almost makes me feel like I’m witnessing something intimate.

  As for my brother and his girlfriend, Rainey...they’re still in the honeymoon phase, I think. All lust and love and not much else. One glance at them, and you know that they’d rather be having sex with each other more than anything else in the world. If he wasn’t my brother, it’d be hot. Since he is, it makes me want to puke in my mouth a little.

  “Here you go, ma’am,” the hotel employee says as she hands my credit card back to me. “Your room is ready now so you can check in early as you’ve requested. I have you on the twelfth floor, room 1208.”

  I take the keycard from her outstretched hand. “Thank you.”

  She nods. “Stay to the right on the casino floor and you’ll see the elevators about halfway down.”

  “You all checked in?” Drew asks.

  I startle when I see him standing next to me. How does such a freakishly large man manage to sneak up on anyone? Seriously, the guy’s a giant. And it’s even more obvious when he’s this close.

  I hoist my bag back on my shoulder. “Yep.”

  We step to the side so someone else can be helped as we wait for the others to finish. Everyone compares room numbers as they join us and find that we’re all on the same floor. All but Drew, that is.

  “We should go to the pool and hang out for a while,” I suggest to the girls.

  “I want to play a few rounds of poker,” Brody says.

  I look at Devyn and Rainey. “What do you guys want to do?”

  Rainey yawns. “I’m really tired for some reason. Would it be totally lame if I took a short nap? I can meet you at the pool after.”

  Brody pulls her into him and whispers something in her ear.

  She bats him away. “No, you idiot, that wasn’t code for sex. I really want to sleep.”

  I laugh at the crestfallen look on his face.

  Riley laughs too, and pats him on the back. “C’mon, man. Let’s drop our bags off and we can hit the tables.”

  “The pool sounds awesome,” Devyn says to me. “I just need to get changed first.”

  “Drew?” Riley asks. “Poker?”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Drew mumbles. “But there’d better be some boobs afterwards.”

  Brody gestures to the scantily clad cocktail waitresses that pass us. “See? Plenty of boobs around here. Just not naked ones.”

  “But those are the best kind,” Drew whines.

  As our group navigates the casino floor, I allow myself a moment to feel the vibe. This is what I love about Vegas so much. No matter what time of day, it’s always hopping with activity and adrenaline. It charges my blood, makes me want to let loose and have fun. As the head chef in an insanely busy restaurant, stress is a big part of my life. Most people don’t realize what goes on behind the scenes when they go out for dinner but trust me when I tell you, it’s a lot. Multi-tasking is a must—I’m doing no less than ten things at any given time. Don’t get me wrong; I love what I do—there’s not many things that make me happier than feeding people. I blame my Sicilian mother for that little quirk. Growing up, she was constantly cooking, and I was drawn to the kitchen for as long as I can remember. Always so fascinated with how blending simple ingred
ients could produce such a masterpiece. By age nine, I was preparing dinner for our family of four by myself. By age twelve, I had made an art out of it. I’m thirty-one and to this day, I still feel an immense amount of pride when someone takes their first bite of something I’ve made—as they get that orgasmic look on their face when the flavors explode on their tongue.

  “Aaaaaaaaaah!” my brother screams. “What the hell is happening right now?”

  My lips twitch when I follow his horrified gaze, and find a group of about a dozen men and women all decked out in their finest Munchkin livery. Brody is a big muscular guy with an even bigger phobia: Munchkins, or anything Wizard of Oz related, really. I don’t know where it came from, but I exploited the shit out of it as a teenager, probably making it worse.

  Rainey rolls her eyes as Brody clutches on to her arm for dear life. “Oh my God, you’re a dumbass.”

  Brody looks to the ceiling for some divine guidance. “Why, God? WHY?”

  Everyone but Brody is laughing as we make our way to the elevators. As we reach the bay, God answers Brody’s question. There’s a wrap on each one of the elevator doors, promoting the convention that’s being held at this hotel: Alice in Wonderland and Wizard of Oz Cosplay.

  I point to it. “Does that answer your question?”

  Brody’s jaw drops. “Hell no.” He turns toward Rainey. “We have to switch hotels. NOW.”

  She pushes him into the elevator as it opens. “Brody, you are a twenty-eight-year-old man. Act like it.”

  Drew and I share an amused look as Brody squeezes his eyes shut and starts chanting, “This is not happening. This is not happening.”

  We make our way to our respective rooms and I quickly unpack my bag. I take a few moments to freshen up, change into my bikini, and lather on sunscreen. Right as I’m about to leave to meet Devyn, my phone pings with a message.

  Devyn: I am SO sorry but I have to bail on you. Something unexpected came up but it shouldn’t take too long. Can I meet you down by the pool in a while?

  Me: No need to apologize, lady. This is YOUR bachelorette weekend. Is there anything I can help with?