Dirty Sexy Saint (Dirty Sexy #1)(35)

“That’s very charitable of you,” Levi drawled as his gaze scanned the crowded bar area, then came back to Clay. “I take it she’s the gorgeous blonde over there?”

Samantha was hard to miss, and she was the only waitress who Levi hadn’t seen before. “Yeah, that’s her.” Clay set the orange juice spritzer on a napkin in front of his brother. “Her name is Samantha.”

“Also known as Cupcake?” Levi tried covering the smirk on his lips by lifting his glass for a drink, but Clay caught the sly gleam in his eyes.

Clay glared at his brother. “Fuck Mason and his big mouth.” And for being such an *, he thought grumpily.

Levi chuckled in amusement. “Ahh, brotherly love at its finest. Did you really expect anything less of Mason?”

Not trusting himself to reply to that comment with his own feelings about brotherly love, Clay instead grunted in response just as he saw Samantha come up to the service area to pick up a drink order. She looked over at him, her smile so sweet, sexy, and intimate he had no f*cking idea what to do with the strange and unfamiliar emotions tightening his chest.

So he pushed the feelings away and lifted his hand to motion Samantha over. Her entire face lit up at his summons as she walked toward him.

“Hey, handsome,” she flirted. “What can I do for you?”

Oh, hell, there were all kinds of suggestive innuendos in that question, and if they’d been alone, he would have played along, tossing out a dirty and descriptive response of what, exactly, she could do for him. Unfortunately, introductions were in order, and that speculative gleam was back in Levi’s gaze as he watched the interaction between him and Samantha with too much interest.

With a groan, Clay said, “Samantha, I’d like you to meet my younger brother, Levi,” he said, tilting his head toward the man she was standing next to. “He’s a cop with Chicago PD.”

Instead of the embarrassment Clay had expected, her grin widened, and her eyes shone with genuine pleasure as she turned toward his brother. “It’s so great to meet you.” She eagerly shook the hand that Levi offered.

“Likewise,” Levi said with a smile.

Clay was suddenly grateful that his youngest sibling had better manners than Mason. At least around Samantha. Once she walked away, Clay was pretty sure the interrogation would ensue, and Levi was damn good at extracting information.

“So, you’re the respectable brother,” Samantha said, her tone light and humorous.

Levi raised a brow in surprise. “Excuse me?”

“Katrina,” Clay said, knowing that was all the explanation his brother needed. The other woman had distinct opinions about each of the brothers’ personalities, and they were pretty much on point.

“Ahhh,” Levi said in understanding, then shrugged. “I suppose I am the respectable one, at least compared to Mason,” he replied with a laugh.

“That’s an understatement,” Clay muttered. “There’s a reason Katrina calls him a manwhore.”


Samantha tipped her head, her blue eyes clear and way too guileless. “I just think Mason hasn’t met the right woman yet.”

Levi rolled his eyes at Clay, who let out a laugh.

“That’s an optimistic thought, even for Mason,” he said.

Levi nodded. “The man’s got a point.”

They both knew their middle brother much too well. He’d never had a relationship with a woman that was anything more than a few days, a week tops, of pure unadulterated sex. Not to mention, the right woman was right under his brother’s nose, but Mason was either completely oblivious to her feelings or he didn’t want to take a chance on Katrina and risk ruining the close bond and friendship they’d shared for so many years.

“Samantha, your order is up,” Gina called from the service bar.

“I need to get back to work,” Samantha said, though she smiled at Levi one last time. “I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

Levi watched her walk away, and as soon as she was out of earshot, he glanced back at Clay, that intuitive look back in his light green eyes. “This one is different, isn’t she?”

Clay struggled to keep the truth locked away, because an affirmative answer would force him to evaluate those feelings that were stirring to life inside of him. Feelings that would acknowledge that yes, Samantha was different from any woman he’d been with before. She was unique and special—and so out of his league he was stupid to ever think otherwise.

“Whatever there may or may not be between us, it’s casual, and only until she figures out what she wants to do next.” He refused to give Levi any details about their relationship or admit just how in over his head he actually was.

Levi absently swirled the orange liquid in his glass, his gaze shrewd in a way that twisted Clay’s insides. His brother was smart. Professionally and personally, he was observant, direct, and insistent. He also didn’t beat around the bush and wouldn’t be afraid to bring up shit Clay preferred to keep dead and buried.

If Clay was lucky, Levi would keep things focused on Samantha only. “What? Spit it out already,” Clay muttered.

Levi placed his glass on the table, leaned forward, and met Clay’s gaze. “If you honestly believe this woman is a casual f*ck, then you’re a goddamn idiot.”