No Denying You(28)

Emma stood up, coming around the desk to give her friend a hug before leaving. She stopped to talk to Ella at the receptionist desk for another few minutes, making her late by the time she made it to her office. Brant was standing in his doorway obviously waiting for her when she opened the door. He leaned against the doorframe and with no preliminaries asked, “Why’d you take off this morning?”

“I . . . er . . .” Shit, she was already stuttering like someone guilty. She might as well admit to teenage stalking and get the humiliation out of the way.

“I wasn’t sure it was you until I was next to you at the light. What were you doing out that way?” he asked.

“I was looking for a drugstore,” she blurted out.

“Oh . . . isn’t there a Walgreens right down the street from your place?” Damn, she should have known he had his brain wired like Google Maps. At least he looked puzzled and not suspicious.

Trying to maintain eye contact, she said, “They weren’t open yet.”

“But there’s also a Walgreens near my house, so wouldn’t both stores have the same hours?” he asked.

“My God, Judge Judy, can we end the questions! I have PMS! Do you need to know what I bought and if I favor pads or tampons?” Emma watched in fascination as a red flush ran up Brant’s neck and settled on his cheeks.

“I . . . shit . . . I’m sorry,” he stuttered. “I shouldn’t have kept pushing you like that.” He turned to go back in his office, then turned back, looking at the floor, “I didn’t mean to embarrass you.” She sat on the corner of her desk, surprised at how fast the tide had turned. Brant went from twenty questions to running from her. She hadn’t seen him move that fast since he figured out what kind of book her mom’s book club was discussing. She definitely owed Suzy one. It had saved her from what was potentially a very embarrassing conversation.

Brant leaned back with his feet propped on his desk, taking a moment to relax. The day had been nonstop busy and, truthfully, he had hidden like a coward in his office since embarrassing himself with Emma first thing in the morning. He’d been so surprised to see her near his house on his drive to work and had hoped for a moment that she was stopping by because she wanted to see him. He thought maybe he had imagined the whole thing until he pulled beside her car at the light. She had looked him straight in the eye and turned the other way at a fast clip. He still thought it was kind of strange that she would come to a pharmacy near his house when she lived in a busy area with plenty of stores. He knew, though, that you never questioned a woman about the choices she made at that time of the month. He had only continued to question her because he was disappointed that she hadn’t been in the area to see him. Pathetic, but true.

Emma walked into his office carrying a bag. She plopped it on his desk and settled in the chair across from him. “Hey, babe,” he said before remembering where they were. She smiled in return, seeming to enjoy his slip of the tongue.

“Hey, yourself. I thought you might be hungry since you haven’t had a chance to leave today.” She chuckled as he looked at the bag warily.

“Don’t worry. I actually picked it up in the cafeteria on my way up so it should be fresh. It’s just a bowl of chili and some cornbread. I figured you might like something new,” she finished with a smirk. She knew he hated the soggy sandwiches that she usually brought back for him.

Brant opened the lid, inhaling appreciatively. “Wow, this smells great, thanks.” He swallowed a bite of the chili as she got up to leave. “Wait, Em. I’ve barely talked to you since we got back. Do you . . . want to go to dinner or something tonight? I’d love to see you . . . away from here.”

Her eyes softened. “I’d like that. How about I cook dinner for us?”

Brant smiled, thinking the evening would sound even more promising if she hadn’t admitted to having her period this morning. What the hell, at this point he’d be happy to just spend time with her. They talked while he finished his lunch. He stood to give her a quick kiss of thanks just as Mark DeSanto walked in without warning. “Am I interrupting?” By the leer on his face, Brant could tell that the other man already knew the answer. He was surprised to see Emma looking flustered as she gave Mark a tight smile before walking out and shutting the door behind her.

“Was it something I said?” Mark laughed. Before Brant could answer, he added, “I guess that would be why she wasn’t interested in going out with me. I have to admit, I was puzzled.”

Brant was taken aback by his sudden desire to throttle his old friend. He had always gotten along well with him, although they had few things other than business in common. The only thing that surpassed Mark’s love of women was their love of him. Brant suspected women were probably drawn to the whole emotionally unavailable thing. Mark was rich, a fitness buff, and Brant could grudgingly admit that women probably found his dark looks attractive. In their course of business, he had been out socially with Mark before and while he was completely focused on business when it was important, as soon as the deal was over, he was looking to blow off some steam and that usually came in the form of a woman. Mark worked hard and he played harder.

He’d known him for years and in that time, there had never been a serious relationship in his life that Brant was aware of. Hell, he knew he wasn’t much better, but he had never dealt in the sheer quantity of women that his friend seemed to. He decided to ignore the line of questioning concerning Emma and change the subject. “Did we have a meeting today?”

Mark quirked a brow, seeming to notice the subject change. “No, we didn’t. I stopped by to drop off some paperwork with Jason and thought I’d see if you were free for lunch. I see you’ve already eaten, though. I don’t guess you’re free for a drink tonight either.”

Brant knew the last question was a challenge and he didn’t give a damn. If this had been business, he would have worked something out, but he wasn’t going to change his plans with Emma tonight just to prove something to Mark. He shuffled some papers on his desk, saying, “I’m tied up, sorry.” Brant silently cursed his choice of words, knowing exactly what Mark was picturing him doing with Emma now.

Mark was at the door before he turned to ask, “How’s Ava been? I was disappointed she couldn’t make it to dinner last night.”

“She’s fine.” At that, Mark finally smiled and walked out. Brant heard him talking to Emma for a few minutes before the outer door clicked shut. The last thing his sister needed was to get mixed up with Mark DeSanto. She didn’t need any more trauma in her life, and that was all someone like Mark would offer her. The one man she needed was Mac. Brant just hoped she opened her eyes and realized it before it was too late.





Chapter Sixteen


Emma opened the door to her apartment and felt her jaw drop open at the sight of Brant standing on her doorstep looking like the man she had fallen for in Florida. Gone were his work clothes and in their place were the cargo shorts and T-shirt that showcased his broad chest and muscular arms. In a suit, Brant looked good; in casual clothes, he was beyond handsome . . . incredibly hot. They both stood there uncertainly for a moment before he walked toward her and pushed the door shut behind him. God, she wanted him to kiss her.

It must have been written all over her face because suddenly he was there. His lips were on hers and his arms were encircling her waist. Her heart raced, her toes curled and her body hummed. Well, hello Mr. Florida, welcome back! When she felt his fingers pinch her nipple through her bra, she started pulling him toward the bedroom. She was desperate to rip his clothes off and run her hands all over his firmly chiseled body. “Em,” he groaned as he pulled her body tightly against his. She felt the firm ridge of his arousal pressed against her. She dropped her hand, palming and lightly squeezing his length. “Fuck,” he growled, pushing back against her.

“I need you inside me . . . now,” she whispered.

He had just literally ripped the shirt from her body when he froze. “Fuck . . . Damn it! Em, stop! We can’t . . . remember. . . .” He was taking deep breaths and trying to get himself back under control. She had no idea why he paused or what he was talking about and she knew she would probably explode if they stopped. She unclipped her bra and let the straps slide from her arms. She lifted Brant’s shirt and slowly, deliberately, rubbed her erect nipples against his hairy chest. He shuddered against her as if in physical pain. “Em . . . baby, I’ve never . . . um . . . you know . . . had sex like this.”

His words penetrated her sexual fog and she pulled back to look at him. “What are you talking about? Sex like what?”

He rubbed her shoulder almost consolingly as he shifted around nervously. What the hell was wrong with him? “During . . . that time of the month.”

She looked at him blankly before it hit her. Oh shit! She had told him this morning that she had been near his house looking for supplies for her period. Crap! What a tangled web you weave when first you practice to deceive. No kidding! “Oh, that’s finished,” she said before reaching for him again.