The Scheme

I wondered what guy in his right mind could cheat on Kendy, or even cheat in general. Was this the guy she’d been talking about at the park? Had he been abusive toward her?

Her words rang out in my head. Took away your free will, where you felt helpless.

I wanted to ask her more, though I knew she wouldn’t answer. Still, I needed to take away the cold, disco

The next second, I was inching closer, ducking my head so I was in her line of sight. “I’ve never kissed a nurse before you.”

***

KENDY

One minute my body was shaking, and the next Brian’s handsome face was in my line of sight. I didn’t take a sip, because I had never kissed a nurse, either. I had only ever kissed a doctor, but not the doctor who I had my sights on.

Cole’s asshole face was imprinted in my head. His cocky ways, his arrogant self. “Bitch! You think you’re better than me? You think you can just leave me?” Trembling, I shook my head to get the visual of him looming over me out of my mind.

Being in love was blind. He was hella hot and the most popular guy at Bowlesville High. Maybe that was why I’d had my eyes on him. I’d felt flattered when he’d asked me out. He was the only guy I’d ever dated all through high school. I’d thought he was the one, maybe because he was the only one I’d ever known. There was a difference.

When you were young and in love, you thought love lasted forever; you thought love could only ever be pure. You expected it to be perfect and drama free. I had expected it to be like those princess books, when the prince scooped up the princess and whisked her away in the pumpkin that turned into a carriage.

You never expected a relationship to leave you gutted and heartbroken.

The more I thought about Cole, the more my hands shook with anger. The next moment, I rammed my lips against Brian’s, wanting to have some essence of control. I needed to be in control.

I shoved him down on the couch, his head hitting the cushions, and ran my hand down his chest. I reveled in the firm span of his six-pack, which instantly made me wet. My tongue moved from his chin to the outer shell of his ear while my hands gripped his hair.

“I’ve never done it on a brown leather couch,” I breathed, flicking my tongue against his.

He shifted beneath me, and I could feel how ready he was. My insides clenched with anticipation as I pulled at his shorts. I guess the ‘I never’ game was over, which was fine by me.

***

BRIAN

I rubbed my eyes and stood. My head was spi

Trey was already dressed and sitting on the couch. Leftover pizza from whenever was on the coffee table in front of him.

I didn’t say a word as I strolled to the windows, pulling the curtains together to lessen the light in the room.

“Holy shit,” I said, rubbing my eyes with the back of my palms. The roof of my mouth felt like sand paper. I was probably dehydrated, but I needed to sit before I toppled over.

I plopped next to Trey, who had this amused smile on his face, which didn’t help my mood.

“Why you smiling like an idiot?” I practically growled at him.

“Don’t know,” he joked, still looking at me like I was the fu

“Got something to tell me, bro?” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

My eyebrows pulled together. “What?” My headache coupled with my queasy stomach was giving me major issues with my mood.

“Come on, man. Don’t hold back. What’re friends for? Lay it all out on the table.”

“You’re speaking a foreign language, dude. And a little too loud.” I let my head hang between my hands and massaged my temples with my fingertips.

“When did you start falling for her?”

My head shot up, causing the whole room to spin. “What’re you talking about?”

“You and the blondie. The one you’re doing. When did you—”

“I heard you. But I told you, we’re not like that,” I snapped, glaring at him.

He scratched his jaw, casting me a ‘yeah, right’ look. “Is that why you wanted to kick my ass for looking at her too closely?”

I didn’t bother answering him. His statement did not warrant a response.

“Well, if you guys aren’t serious, and maybe she’s into me, maybe I’ll take a shot at—”

Before I could even stop myself, I shoved his chest so hard he shifted on impact. “Don’t fucking say it. I’ll knock you out cold. She’s not some sex toy.”

His eyes widened and he raised both hands. “Easy, easy. I don’t see what the big deal is. If you’re not together, and she’s up for a one-night . . .” His voice trailed off, probably from the scary-ass look on my face.

I stood. “Stop,” I commanded. “She’s off limits. End of story, shithead.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” His mouth trembled with a need to smile. “I’m just playing. I want nothing to do with your Kendy. I’m just trying to prove a point.”

“What point?” I ground out.

“That you’re falling for this girl.” He softened then, and I wanted to punch him for that, too. I didn’t need his pity. “Hey, look, I’ve been there.”

“I’m not there. There’s no ‘there’,” I growled. “Quit being such a dickhead and leave it.”

Trey sighed, stood, and placed one hand on my shoulder. “I’ve been there before, bro. With your sister. I tried my hardest to win her back, and part of me wishes . . . part of me wishes I’d tried even harder.”

Win her back? He’d had my sister. They’d been together. What was he talking about?

Pain flashed in his eyes as he let his hand fall to the side. His look turned serious, like he was finally going to go into what had happened between them, but then he shook his head instead. “You can win this girl. Don’t regret it and walk away without trying.” He turned toward his bedroom, glancing back one last time. “Don’t use work as an excuse, man. You let her walk away and be with that doctor without telling her how you feel, you’ll regret it. Trust me.” When he shut the door behind him, I contemplated heavily on his words.

My mouth slackened as I let myself drop to the couch. The sane part of my mind was screaming at me that I had the deal of a lifetime. Every guy’s dream. No strings attached.

But the crazy part of my mind wondered ‘what if’?

I let my head fall between my hands again as it pounded more painfully than before. I ran my hands through my hair, gripping the tips in my fingers as I remembered how jealous I’d been last night. I slowed my breathing, inhaling deeply through my nose and exhaling slowly through my mouth.

Why? Why had I been jealous?

Trey was being a bastard, but maybe he wasn’t all wrong.

I pressed my palms hard against my eyes, seeing only darkness, when the truth started coming to me. No, Trey wasn’t all wrong. Because he was right.

I was falling for her. Hard and so fucking fast.

Shit.

I’m screwed.

Now the question was—what was I going to do about it?

THIRTEEN

BRIAN

In typical Brian-mode on a Sunday night, my computer was on my lap and I was tapping away, trying to write a proposal and figure out questions that I could ask the company when I met with them for our first meeting.

My manager had just added a new prospect in my portfolio that he wanted me to call on after my Tiggins Corporation meeting. Here I’d thought that if I landed Tiggins Corp., I’d be sitting pretty for a while.

Not at the nation’s biggest bank. There were probably a hundred young professionals willing to take my position tomorrow. I had to wear my game face.