Ramsey Security (Ramsey Security #1-3)(90)

"Don't be lazy. Just put on your pants and get over here. Please?"

"Did you call Troy first?"

"No, he just left. It would be rude to have him turn around and come back. Why would you want to be rude, big man?"

Rafael sighs. "Because he's not the boss."

"Neither are you. I just call you that as a way to suck up. Now be here in an hour so we can party.

Rafael says nothing for nearly a minute to ensure we squirm.

"Give me two hours," he says before hanging up.

While we wait, Minka and I pack my bags for the New York City trip. Every time I hear Brad's voice echoing from somewhere in the house, my entire body tenses. I desperately want to talk to him, even if I have nothing to say. I just want to look at him and have him look at me. Life would be simple, if not for all the prickly little details.

Rafael finally arrives. Before I can flee the house, Brad steps in my way.

"Where are you going?"

"Out with Minka."

He crosses his arms and frowns disapprovingly. "Whatcha gonna do?"

"Drink and talk about men."

"When will you be back?"

"When I feel like it."

"Keep your phone on, so I can send you pictures of the dogs."

"Why?"

"If you're thinking of them, you're thinking of me," he says, giving me a little smile.

"Then just send pictures of yourself."

"No, that would be weird."

His expression is too seductive, forcing me to smile grudgingly. Brad steps out of the way and gestures for me to leave.

"Have fun with Minka and only Minka."

"Or what?"

Brad gives me a look that I can't place. Is he threatening me? Teasing me? Will he cry soon? I have no idea what he's thinking, and maybe that's his point. Brad leaves me thinking of him, and that look long after driving away with Minka.





16


Saskia

Scary Broad

Minka talks during the entire drive to the bar called Limerick. I barely listen to her, but I suspect she knows I'm not listening. Minka mainly talks about her favorite drinks over the years. I can't imagine this list is meant to interest me.

Her voice fades in my mind, and I instead hear Brad warning me not to flirt with other men. Is he playing with me? Does he think my lust is funny? No, I doubt he does. I think he actually imagines us together. This idea upsets me more than if he was toying with my feelings.

Arriving at Limerick, we find stools at the bar and order drinks. Minka also orders cheesy fries, so she can show me how sexy she looks eating cheesy fries.

"You look stupid," I say after watching her down a few bites.

"Jealous much?"

Fighting the urge to smile at her confidence, I feel someone behind me. Glancing over my shoulder, I find a skinny man wearing a hopeful grin.

"Can I buy you a drink?" he asks me.

Still glancing at him over my shoulder, I unleash my dark stare on him. He backs away without saying another word and disappears into the crowd of bodies.

"I love when you do that," Minka says with a mouthful of cheesy fries.

"Thanks, but I'm not sure what we're doing here. I don't drink. If I get drunk enough, I might vomit on you."

"That's cool. I'll clean you up and take lots of pictures to share with the team. We'll have a good laugh and move on with our lives. No biggie."

Nodding, I admire Minka's easy way of seeing life. "Well, then bottom's up."

I down a shot of whiskey and shudder at the awful taste.

"Tell me five things you like about Brad," Minka asks, sipping her shot.

"He has beautiful eyes. His smile is sexy. I like his chest and shoulders. His hair is soft. How many was that?" I ask, downing another shot.

"I wasn't counting. So does Brad possess any qualities unrelated to being a sexy male specimen?"

Downing a third shot, I give the alcohol a chance to kick in. The whiskey burns from my throat down to my gut. I think about Brad and blurt out the first thing that comes to mind.

"He doesn't fear me," I say and then add, "Because he doesn't know the real me."

"Uh, fairly sure that guy who offered to buy you a drink didn't know the real you, yet he's changing his underwear now. Even at a glance, you're a scary broad."

"Brad doesn't know what I'm capable of."

"No one truly knows another person, but why do they need to? Why can't he want the Saskia you are right now rather than dealing with all the baggage from before?"

When I give her a grumpy frown, Minka orders me another shot. "Do you think I'll tell my perfect future man all of my dirty secrets? Fuck no. I don't need to know all his bullshit either. The only shit I care about is what kind of man is he when we meet. Or what kind of man he'll be in the future. I don't care about the past. We all f*cked up in the past, so no reason to think too hard about it."

"Can life really be as simple as deciding to make it simple?"

"Sure, why the f*ck not?"

Smiling easier now, I take one of the fries. "Were you sad when Troy chose Darla?"

"No. He's my friend, and I want him to be happy. More importantly, I like her, and I want her to be happy. It worked out for everyone."