On the Rocks (Last Call #1)(14)

“Hey, Hunter. Thought I’d come by and pick up the key from you.”

I close my eyes briefly and mutter a curse, because just like that… I’m thinking of Gabby. Hard not to… what with her sexy-as-f*ck voice coming from just off to my left somewhere. Opening my eyes slowly, I wipe any expression from my face and turn to face her.

Son of a bitch!

She looks like a wet dream. Her body is poured into a tight, black minidress, and she’s rocking some ass-kicking stilettos. Her hair is loose and wavy around her face, pouring over her tanned shoulders and spilling down her back. I want to wrap my hand in it and pull her toward me, which causes me to internally curse myself for those thoughts.

It’s then that I notice her roommate, Savannah, standing behind her, along with Alyssa Myers. I smile and nod at them, then turn my attention back to Gabby.

“You’re awful dressed up to pick up a key,” I tell her.

She gives me a cautious smile. “Well… it is Friday night… time to let loose. We’re headed out to a nightclub over in Kitty Hawk but thought we’d come have a few drinks here to start out. Savannah’s DD tonight.”

“Well… you look really nice. Beautiful, actually.”

Gabby looks at me like I sprouted an extra head, as if I’ve never paid her a true compliment before, but before she can respond, her attention goes to something behind me. Turning, I see Brody grabbing some orange juice out of the refrigerator.

“Hey, Brody,” Gabby says. I notice him flinch slightly as he turns to look at her but she steps up closer to the bar. “How you been?”

“Good,” he says as he makes a Screwdriver. “You?”

“Good, thanks. Hey, listen… I want you to meet my roommate, Savannah Shepherd, and you remember Alyssa Myers, right? She was always around in the summers growing up, but she’s moved here permanently.”

I know the last thing Brody wants is to be introduced to people, but he politely nods at Savannah, his lips never even cracking from their grim line. Then his eyes slide over to Alyssa and something interesting happens. He sort of stares at her for a moment, his eyes flaring just a bit. I glance over at Alyssa, and she’s giving him a soft smile.

“Hi Brody,” she says warmly. “It’s good to see you again.”

Brody just stares for what could be considered an awkward moment, and then he mutters, “Same here,” before turning away and walking to the other end of the bar.

I sigh once again, sad that my brother is having such a hard time even carrying on short conversations with people.

“He’ll come around,” Gabby says, and I turn to look at her. She’s watching me with understanding. She knows… knows that it kills me to see him like this, and all I can do is just nod at her.

“Listen, why don’t you girls go grab a table? Someone will be over to get your drink orders shortly. Gabby… the key is in my office, and I need to show you how to work the alarm system.”

I turn around and walk back toward my office, confident that Gabby will follow. When I reach the door, I open it and motion for her to walk in first. I step in behind her and pull the door closed, not quite understanding why I feel the need for privacy.

Turning around, Gabby studies me with perception and completely catches me off guard when she says, “I know you’re worried about Brody. Casey is too. He just needs some time is all, and a whole lot of love and support.”

I blink at her in surprise. It’s the nicest thing she’s said to me in well over five years. “Casey’s worried, too?”

“Yeah… she’s having a hard time. Not sure how to talk to him.”

I’m silent for a moment, not quite sure what to share with her. But then I venture forward. “I just miss the guy he used to be.”

“Me too,” she says quietly. “But we all change. This may be the Brody we have to accept.”

“I don’t want to accept it.”

“No, I don’t suppose you do. You’ve always been stubborn that way.”

I snort over that comment, walking over to my desk to grab the extra key I had made a few days ago. Turning to her with a grin, I ask, “So… are we like having a normal conversation?”

She flinches in astonishment, and then her gaze narrows at me. “What? No. I don’t even like you. Of course not.”

“Of course not,” I muse, my grin growing bigger as I hand the key to her. When she takes it from me, I let my finger slide along the back of her hand and I don’t miss her sudden intake of breath. Her eyes snap up to meet mine, and they are glaring at me ferociously.

I decide to put a stop to her anger once and for all. It’s time to man up.

“I’m sorry,” I tell her simply.

Taking a step back, she asks suspiciously. “For what?”

“For the way I treated you that night.”

“That night?” she mumbles.

“That night,” I tell her with conviction. “That night we kissed.”

Her gaze drops to the floor, and her hands grasp tightly onto the key I gave her. I wait but when she finally looks back up at me, her face is tight and unyielding. “Nothing to apologize for. I’ve forgotten about it. You should do the same.”

No, that won’t do at all.