“Who’s this?” he grunted and pulled at the light pink tie cinched at his neck.
“This is Brodie—”
“Brodie Merrick, sir. Nice to meet you.” Brodie held a hand out to my father.
For the first time in too long, I watched surprise wash over John Stafford’s face before he nodded and shook hands with Brodie. “John Stafford. How long you been seein’ Bryn?”
Shit.
Dad was going right for the details.
Why hadn’t I thought to work this over with Brodie in the car before we arrived?
“Best few months of my life.” Brodie smiled at my dad. “Saw a driving range when we pulled in—you play golf?”
My father’s eyebrows rose into his hairline, as if he was taken aback by Brodie’s… confidence. Manliness. Brodie wasn’t intimidated by my father; he went toe to toe with him. Spoke to him on the same level. No one had ever been able to accomplish that with my dad. Except Max. Max Kennedy had figured out my father from the get go and found himself tucked neatly inside the back of my father’s chinos.
I think Max fulfilled my father’s long-forgotten desire for male progeny. In fact, I think if he could have traded me in, he would have.
“You play the good game?”
“I do, sir. Was practicing my swing just last week at Turnberry.”
“Florida? You spend time down there?”
“Often as I can. Best golfing weather in the country. Next to Hawaii, of course.”
“Maui’s got a nice course. Always wanted to get to Kauai though.”
“Oh, you haven't seen anything until you’ve been on the green at Kauai. My brother’s got a place there. He wouldn’t mind an extra pair of shoes on the green.” Brodie clapped my father on the shoulder like they’d been old friends for decades.
I frowned, feeling the after-effects of Brodie’s kiss on my lips as he and my father walked away. Brodie’s hand laced with mine at the last second and pulled me along with them, tucking me close to his side. He shot me a quick wink, squeezing his hand in mine before replying to something my father had said.
My stomach swam with excitement at the thought of spending the next few hours tied to Brodie.
There were certainly worse ways to spend an evening.
Maybe Brodie wasn’t the only lucky motherfucker here.
Chapter Six
Bryn
Brodie sat next to me at dinner, his arm draped over the back of my chair nearly the entire time. We giggled over the frosted pink tablecloths dotted with crimson hearts, snorted through the toast from the best man, and nearly fell on the floor when Max smooshed layers of hot pink fondant in my sister’s face. She deserved it.
The best part was that Brodie acted like the doting boyfriend. He played his role well, I’ll give him that. I actually almost began to believe him.
Almost began to believe that he really liked me and that I could see myself falling for someone like him. And then I remembered what he was paid to do, at least for the next few hours, and I zapped that stubborn little cupid in the ass.
Brodie had slipped his hand at my thigh during the father-daughter dance. I squirmed, nerves humming with arousal as I thought about all the incredible talent Brodie must have acquired as an escort. They certainly didn’t hire inexperienced people for that job. I could only imagine the skin of his heavy hands moving along my body, the way he’d whisper in my ear all the nasty things he wanted to do to me. Maybe he was into kinky stuff—spankings, whips, daddy play. Who knew… But suddenly the possibility of exploring every fantasy I’d ever had felt intoxicating. Like an opportunity too thrilling to pass up. He made me feel reckless, wild desire.
Brodie’s fingers inched higher up my inner thigh, and my breath rocketed up another notch.
“You must be trying to kill me,” I breathed through my teeth.
“I want to see you come apart on my hand first.” One long finger connected with the lace of my panties.
“Brodie…” I breathed, clutching at the chair cushion. My nipples pebbled stubbornly under his touch, probably very visible under the flimsy fabric of this dress. One finger slipped under my panties’ edge and touched the searing hot flesh of my pussy. “Oh. God.”
“Sorry, I just can’t shake that I know you from somewhere.” Max, my sister’s new husband, appeared over Brodie’s shoulder. I locked eyes with him, fear and arousal pummeling my system as Brodie turned, his left hand still working between my thighs.
“Not sure where that might be from. Run my own consulting company from home. It’s rare I’m on a jobsite,” Brodie explained smoothly.
“How long have you been dating Bryn?” Max tipped his head, eyes still regarding Brodie with interest.