Bro Code(13)

A wave of heat continues to pulse through me at the realization of his words. I hate to admit that he just might be right. If what I saw when Barrett stepped out of the shower was any indication, he might split me in half with one thrust. He might be too much for me to take, but why does every inch of him make me want to try?

“Need any help?”

The sound of Mom’s voice jolts Barrett back into behaving. Tossing the cucumber back on the cutting board, he resumes dinner prep as if we hadn’t just been teetering on the edge of foreplay in my mother’s kitchen.

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Saunders. I’ve got everything under control.”

If by everything he means me, then yes, he absolutely does. To say I’m putty in his hands is an understatement. He’s got a grip on me tighter than the one he just had on that cucumber. At this point, I know there’s no way I can sit through a family dinner without groping Barrett’s dick under the table as he passes me the salad dressing. Because I am shameless and cannot stop thinking about his cucumber. Which he really needs to keep to himself.

Turning away from my recipe duties, I snag my phone out of my back pocket while Mom and Barrett are discussing the rest of the menu and shoot off an emergency text to my best friend Megan, praying she’s not busy. Luckily, she responds in an instant, asking if she needs to call and fake a death in the family. A snicker escapes the side of my mouth. She's always had my back no matter what.

“What’s so funny, Ava?” Mom asks as both she and Barrett turn to look at me, a smirk all over his gorgeous face.

“Oh, nothing. It’s just Megan. She actually needs me to meet her at the mall. It seems kind of urgent, plus I should pick up a present for Dad anyway. Two birds, one stone. Save me a plate?”

I have one arm in my coat before she even has the time to respond. Barrett shoots me a “I know exactly what you’re doing” look, but I brush it off and breeze out the door without another word. It feels good to be back in the driver's seat of my car, back in a position of control for the first time in the past twenty-four hours.

When I turn the key in the ignition, the engine sputters and then goes silent. This has got to be a joke. I give it a few more desperate tries, but it does nothing but leave my fingers stiff and cold in my gloves. Shit. I’m going to have to go back in there. Stepping back into the concentrated sexual tension I left unresolved in the kitchen isn’t exactly a safe move for me, but if I grab the keys to Dad’s truck quick enough, I might be able to slip out without notice.

As quietly as I can muster, I crack open the door and tiptoe toward where all the keys are stored near the back of the kitchen.

“Back so soon, sweetie?” Mom asks.

Well, it was worth a shot.

“Yeah, my car wouldn’t start. I’ll just take Dad’s truck, no worries.”

Mom crinkles her face in disapproval. “I don’t know if I trust the truck with the roads being this bad, Ava.”

“I can give you a lift,” Barrett suggests, chopping up the last of the cucumbers. “I was going to head out soon anyway. I told my mom I’d come over for dinner tonight.”

Mom’s face softens into a pleased smile at Barrett’s offer. “I’d feel much better about that, Ava.”

“Sure, that’s fine,” I say, not opposed to another opportunity to let my eyes wander Barrett’s sculpted frame without my mother as our audience.

“I’ll leave the front door unlocked for you tonight, Barrett,” Mom says, giving his forearm a grateful squeeze. “And thank your mom again for sharing you with us. It’s been so nice to have the extra set of hands helping out around the house.”

God, if only those hands could help me out, too.



*

Once we're inside the car, Barrett turns up the heat and adjusts the vents to direct some of the warm air toward me.

“I'm sorry about what you overheard with Nick before. I meant what I said about supporting you in whatever you want to do. If saving the plant is your goal, then that's pretty fucking commendable.”

“It's honestly fine. Thank you, though.” I shrug him off. It's been no surprise that Nick's against my plan. Ever since his quickie wedding and even faster divorce, he's been in a sour mood. Just because his dreams fell through doesn't mean he can't be happy for the rest of us.

The mall parking lot is packed to the brim, but I could spot Megan’s bright red hair from a mile away. She’s leaning against a pillar by the front entrance, scanning the parking lot for any car that looks familiar. I sent off a warning text on the way to let her know I’d be dropped off in front, but I didn’t mention who would be doing the driving. Too much to try to explain via text without Barrett asking what I was typing so furiously about. I direct him toward Megan and he pulls up the car, shifting it into park.

“I can pick you up tonight,” he offers.

“I’m sure Megan can drive me home.” One-on-one car rides with Barrett, plus the cover of darkness? That’s a dangerous combination that I might not be able to resist.

Outside my window, Megan tilts her head in an effort to identify my mysterious driver. Could she be any less subtle? When I open the door, her eyes light up with recognition as she gets a clear look at my chauffeur.

“Oh, my—”

I cut her off with a tight squeeze of her wrist. “Thanks again for the ride,” I call over my shoulder as I tug Megan away from the car and into the warm safety of the mall.