Casanova(24)

I stood and looked down at him. “I’d really rather not, if I can help it.”

Mostly because I didn’t want to bear witness to him inevitably lying to some poor chick he fucked and discarded like she was nothing.

“Just wait.” He didn’t ask this time—no, he told me. Like he was the fucking boss of me.

Unfortunately, he stormed out of the room before I could say a word back to him or, like I really wanted to do, before I could tell him to go and fuck himself.

I swung my attention toward Camille. “Is that true?”

She grimaced. “Welcome back to the Walker world, Lani. It’s way more frustrating than it ever was.”

I sighed heavily and tussled my fingers through my hair. “Help me out here. What’s he going to be saying to her?”

“He’ll likely tell her he has no idea who she is and that she has the wrong guy.”

“Wow.” I put my laptop bag and purse down on the desk nearest to me. “What happened to him?”

Camille simply shrugged her shoulders. “If I knew, I’d do something about it. The only reason he’s doing this is because he’s been threatened with being all but cut off financially. No income, no inheritance, no share of the business when our parents retire...this isn’t just a thing, Lani. This is serious for him.”

“Yet he’s standing in the hallway right now dealing with something he deems not serious.”

“Like I said, welcome back.”

“Welcome back to what?” Brett appeared behind her and looked between us.

Slowly, I dragged my gaze to his. “Done degrading yet another woman by lying to her about how you don’t remember her?”

Camille’s eyes widened, and she pursed her lips before shuffling back. “Just gonna...yeah.” She disappeared.

Brett jerked his head. “What?”

“Don’t tell me you gave her your real number and set up a date.”

“Why would I do that?”

I laughed, but it was so hollow I couldn’t even believe it myself. I couldn’t even fake its reality. “What am I supposed to do, Brett? Your sister just told me why you need—yes, need—me to do this, yet there you are, being the same old person you have been.”

“You’re right. I did tell her I couldn’t remember her, but it wasn’t a lie. I really do have no idea who she was.” He paused. “And no, I wouldn’t ask her out on a date, because she’s only interested in one thing.”

“Let me guess… your dick?”

He shoved his hand into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. Then without taking his eyes off mine, he pulled out a black credit card and dropped it on the desk next to my purse. He followed it up by throwing a small wad of green bills on there too.

“That. That’s all she wants. Don’t fucking think for a second that any of the girls you think I use aren’t using me right back. Anyone who’d fuck me on the first date will fuck me in an entirely different way in a few years.”

“That doesn’t excuse your behavior. Nothing does. Just because somebody doesn’t respect you doesn’t mean you have to disrespect them right back.” I shook my head, smiling humorlessly. “God, Brett. Who are you?”

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward him. My body slammed into his, knocking the breath out of me. My skin burned where his fingers wrapped around my wrist, and my pulse throbbed harshly against his touch.

He met my eyes with such a ferocity that it made me want to run but also needed me to stay. Needed me to know why he looked at me that way. “You don’t want me to answer that question.”

“What if I do?” I raised my chin in a challenge. “What if I want to know why you changed so badly?”

His lip curled so coldly a chill ran down my spine. “Then you’re a fucking idiot, Lani. Trust me when I tell you that you should drop it.”

“Why? Do you think so much of yourself that you really think I’ll give in to your so-called charms and fall helplessly into your bed?”

His silence answered my questions.

“Oh my god,” I breathed. “You do. You think that’s what’ll happen.”

Again, he said nothing. He simply speared me with his hard, hot gaze.

“Fuck you.” I tore my wrist from his grip and took a step back, shaking my head. “You know something? You’re right. Nothing I do or write or publish will ever be able to change people’s opinions of who you are. You’re such a self-absorbed, egotistical, self-indulgent, disrespectful—”

Brett grabbed my arms, pulled me back to him, and slammed his lips against mine. A spark of hot, angry lust cascaded across my skin, leaving goosebumps in its wake. Frozen in place, I could do nothing as he sank his fingers into my hair and cupped the back of my head, pulling me deeper into the kiss. His tongue swept across the seam of my lips teasingly yet forcefully.

My body reacted before my brain.

I gripped his shirt and fell into the kiss. My heart thundered against my ribs as he swept his tongue through the gap in my lips. I inhaled as his tongue touched mine and he fisted my hair so tightly my scalp stung with the pressure.

My entire body burned. It was the only word for the mix of feelings that were running riot through my body.

As he kissed me. And, god, he kissed me. He kissed me long and hard and deep until the reality of it sunk in and— He smacked my ass.