“Well, I’d like to think so, he is my brother.”
The most beautiful blush I’ve ever seen instantly spread across her cheeks, and for a second I forgot why I didn’t want to be completely taken with this girl.
“Wait. Harper, is this the guy you said was a jerk?”
Harper. That’s right, her name is Harper. I don’t know why I didn’t like it earlier; I couldn’t think of anything more perfect for her. It fit her, and I wanted to say it myself, but then I remembered why she was pissing me off and decided to stick with what seemed to piss her off more. Her eyes flew to the ground, and my lips quirked up into a smile.
“You said I’m a jerk?” I laughed and walked over to my sister. “She’s the one that just practically called me a dirty man-whore.”
“Don’t be rude to my friends, Chase!” Bree punched my arm, and I tried not to roll my eyes at how pathetic her punches were.
Princess turned quickly and went outside, and I tried not to let it show that I watched her leave. “Great roommate, Bree,” I scoffed, and grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge.
“She is, but she said you weren’t nice! So be nice. I told you, she’s pretty sheltered.”
I turned my back to Zach and Drew and leaned onto the island close to Bree. “Sheltered how?”
“She grew up with only her dad, and she said he’s been in the army or navy or whatever for her whole life.” Bree took two more shots, and I shook my head at her; at least she was staying here. “And get this! She’s never worn makeup or been to a mall!”
My face fell in mock horror. “Never been to a mall? Oh no.”
“Go be nice to her, you big jerk!”
I kissed Bree’s forehead and made my way outside. It was dark, but it didn’t take long to find her. Her face was in her hands, elbows on her knees. Is she crying? I usually hated when women cried, but I had to force myself not to rush up to her to make sure she was okay. God, get a grip. I sank into the seat next to her and waited until she peeked up at me. Not crying. Thank God.
“You hiding?”
“Is it that obvious?”
I looked at the empty backyard. “A little.” I took a deep breath in and got more comfortable. “Tell me, what’s a princess like you doing at my party?”
“I’m not sure what you mean,” she ground out, “but I was invited.”
I couldn’t care less if she was invited or not. I just didn’t want her around me. I didn’t want her in my house, and I didn’t want to be getting hard again thinking about her in my bed. Challenge or not, she was already getting under my damn skin too much for me to think clearly. She needed to go. I curled my lip and looked at her with the disgust she’d been serving me with all night. “You don’t have to be invited to come to the party, but in case you didn’t notice, you don’t exactly fit in here, Princess.”
She looked shocked and hurt. Good. Maybe now she’d stay the hell away.
“If the way we are disgusts you so much, feel free to stay at school next time.” I stood, and hated that I couldn’t help but look at her once more before walking away.
“Chase.”
My eyes shut, and I took a deep breath in. Would it have been weird to ask her to say my name again?
“I’m really sorry, I was out of line.”
Wait—she was apologizing? I turned and looked at her, confused. Oh God, it was a bad idea to turn around. If her sweet-as-hell voice hadn’t been bad enough, the way her eyes had gone back to completely wide and innocent was about to do me in.
“I was raised not to back down to people, but what I said was too much. So, I’m sorry. I don’t know you, I shouldn’t judge you.”
I huffed, and the corners of my mouth twitched. Snarky and sweet. Bad combination. Sexy combo—so damn sexy. But bad. I shook my head, and my brow rose when I realized I wanted to get to know this girl. Now that was a bad idea. I turned and took the long way around the house, giving my hard-on time to go down.
“. . . you kiss anyone tonight?” Bree’s voice reached me as I stepped through the front door, and I closed it quietly when I heard Princess murmur, “No.”
“I can help with that!” My hands formed into fists over Zach’s words, and I growled. Over my dead body.
“No, no, no. I told you guys, she’s off-limits!”
Thatta girl, Bree. I took the last few steps toward the living room when Zach spoke again.
“Come on, Bree, what’s your deal?”
“ ’Cause she’s pure. Completely. Pure.”
I froze. What the hell, Bree? Shit, from the way Harper’s cheeks went fire-engine red, Bree wasn’t lying. She was pure. I looked at Harper’s mortified expression, and the urge to take her in my arms and take her away from this overwhelmed me. I didn’t know where the protectiveness for her came from, but somehow I knew I’d do anything for this innocent girl, and I’d kill anyone who tried to take that innocence from her.