“I think we should keep seeing each other. Even after the three weeks are up.”
Brett let go of his erection, and he could see he’d caught her off guard. Hell, he’d caught himself off guard. The idea of amending their temporary status had been floating around in his head ever since he’d told her about Joey, but he hadn’t planned on acting on it.
“You want us to date?” she said slowly.
AJ nodded.
“Why?”
He was as bewildered as she was, and he struggled to vocalize his emotions. “I like spending time with you. I like more than just the sex part. We have fun together, don’t we?”
“Yeah, we do.” She paused. “But…I don’t know. I’m going to be super busy if my dad lets me run the new shop.”
“I know. And I’m not suggesting we make things any more serious. I just want to keep doing what we’re doing. If you’re too busy to see me, just say so and we’ll hang out on a night when you’re free. I won’t push you to give me more than you’re willing to give.”
Her forehead crinkled. “Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why do you want to keep seeing me? I thought I wasn’t your type.”
Her quiet remark nearly did him in. His chest clenched, aching as he realized he’d hurt her when he’d implied that she wasn’t someone he would consider dating. But he hadn’t known her back then, not the way he knew her now.
“I won’t lie. You’re not like the women I’ve dated in the past,” he admitted. “They didn’t dress like you, or challenge me like you”—he had to grin—“or fuck like you.”
She smirked. “I am phenomenal in bed, I know.”
“Damn right you are.” He paused. “I’m not thinking about the future. Let’s just take it slow and see where things go.”
Brett went quiet, doing what she always did whenever she was deep in thought. Bit her lip, wrinkled her forehead, fidgeted with her hands. It was so fucking adorable, and at that moment, he knew with certainty that he’d made the right decision by broaching the subject.
He wasn’t ready to say good-bye to Brett Conlon yet.
“Okay,” she said. “We’re dating.”
The evil smile she followed up with sparked his suspicion. He’d learned never to trust her when she got that look on her face.
“And as my new boyfriend, your first order of business is to give me an orgasm,” Brett announced. “A really good one, too.”
“An orgasm, huh? And a good one, to boot? That’s asking a lot.” He slipped his hand beneath her dress and stroked one firm thigh.
“It’s a daunting task,” she agreed. “I mean, you’ll have to work very hard. We both know your skills aren’t up to par yet.”
“Up to par? Fuck that.” In one swift motion, AJ dropped to his knees and wrenched her panties down her legs. “I don’t shoot par, Brett. With me, you get a hole in one. Every. Damn. Time.”
Then he buried his face between her thighs and proved it to her.
Chapter Fourteen
“One year.” Two words. That was all Brett’s father uttered as he settled in her chair and crossed his big arms over his big chest.
It took an outrageous amount of willpower not to squeal in happiness. Or give a fist pump and spin around like a little kid. But Brett did her damndest to control her excitement, especially since her father was staring at her with that super-serious, super-stern expression.
“You have one year to show me what you can do,” Jimmy Conlon continued. “I’ll be working with you during the first month to teach you everything. Payroll, management, stock, all that boring stuff.” He cocked his head in challenge, but Brett wasn’t the slightest bit fazed.
She’d done it. It had taken six long months, but she’d finally proved to him that she could be trusted.
“I’m going to love every boring second of it,” she vowed.
His lips twitched. “I think you actually mean that.”
“I do.” She flung herself at the chair, wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders to hug him tightly. “Thank you. I promise I won’t let you down, Dad. By the end of the year, Conlon Ink North will bring in more money than the other two locations combined. Just you watch.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, princess. Running a small business is a lot harder than you think. With that said, I do believe you’ll work your butt off to make it happen.” He got up from the chair and pulled her up with him, his voice going brusque. “I know I’ve been hard on you, but that’s because you’re my little girl. I guess that makes your old man a hypocrite, though. I let the boys run wild, because that’s what I did when I was their age, but I expected more of you.”