Hard For My Best Friend's Sister Read online

  She hadn’t said she’d accepted my apology, but she also hadn’t attacked me when I’d kissed her. She’d even kissed me back. Maybe that meant she wanted a do-over as badly as I did.

  I had no idea what she was thinking, and I needed to find out.

  I walked back to the conference room, but Dylan wasn’t there. She must have gone to print those papers. I wished I could have a minute to talk to her before George showed up, but my over-eager client was bounding through the elevator not five minutes later and Dylan finally walked back in a second after he did.

  Had she been waiting to make sure we wouldn’t be alone again?

  The little sting in my chest told me I was probably being paranoid. The sheets of paper she set down in front of George could have taken five minutes to print.

  Or, she was avoiding me. Kissing her may not have been the smoothest move after all. I needed her to agree to go to dinner with me, not to take out a restraining order. I’d been so sure she’d been feeling the same heat I was. I could have been wrong.

  She started going over the contract with George line by line. This was the point where I was supposed to be going over it and double-checking the language. I tried to catch her eye, but she was completely focused on her work. She was a complete professional, whereas all I could think about was the fact that my cock was still hard, and I could still taste her lips on mine.

  George nodded like a bobble head while she talked. Dylan was so confidant and knowledgeable, eventually I focused on her words, and had to stop myself from nodding along.

  There was no doubt about it. She knew how to close a deal. I was impressed at how much she’d grown since the last time I’d seen her. It only made me want her more. She was all woman now and I liked that a fuck of a lot.

  I picked up the agreement once she was finished explaining it to George and went over it myself. It was standard. No tricks or gotchas. I liked her even more. She wasn’t trying to pull one over on George. I didn’t care for people who tried to hide little time bombs with complicated wording. I always thought the biggest victory was when both sides were equally happy with an agreement and no one felt tricked or used.

  Was that how I’d made Dylan feel when I’d left her that night? My skin crawled. I could spend ten more years making up for that, and it still wouldn’t feel like enough. I hated that I’d hurt her. She’d put her complete trust and faith in me that night. And I’d acted like a total prick. Hot shame burned through me, dousing the arousal I felt earlier.

  Dylan finished with the second document and handed it to me. I tried to brush my hand against hers, but she moved too quickly.

  I needed to know what she was thinking. Not knowing was driving me crazy. Soon I was going to be grabbing her shoulders and trying to shake the answer out of her.

  I slid my phone out of my pocket and pulled up the texting screen. Dinner after this? I texted her.

  Her phone buzzed but she didn’t bat an eye or look up from talking to George.

  Her dedication to her job was hot, but I was going to be tapping my foot until she answered.

  She finished walking through the last document. I snatched it away from her and looked over it quickly. All good.

  “I’ll give you a minute to talk to George.” She gave me a smile before she got up from her chair and pulled her phone from her pocket.

  She was going to see my text. My palms started to sweat. I’d never worried this much about a request for a simple dinner in my life. Then again, I’d also never planned a dinner for as long as I’d been planning this one.

  She walked out of the door, and I couldn’t see her face as she checked her phone.

  “It’s a good deal, isn’t it?” George asked.

  Right. I was still working. Mind off the woman, Richmond. “Yes, the deal is good. I know you wanted to keep more control, but they’re worried about the risk they’re taking on you. With the extra money they’re giving you, this is a fair compromise.”

  George nodded, his brow knit. “And they’re not screwing with me?”

  “No. The documents all look good.”

  George clicked his pen. He was a small man. He didn’t even come to my shoulder, and I always felt like I was looking down on him. I was pretty sure he wasn’t much older than me, but he was prematurely bald and that made him look older.

  “This company is very important to me,” George said. “I wouldn’t want your head fogged by Miss Butler while I’m signing this paperwork.”

  “What?” Crap. He’d noticed. “I, ah, I assure you that I wouldn’t let a personal matter get in the way of my professionalism. I know Miss Butler in another capacity, but I’ve been careful to keep that relationship out of these negotiations.” I was pretty sure I’d managed it. Dylan had made it easy by making such fair offers. I had a feeling that even if I’d accepted the first thing she’d laid on the table, she wouldn’t have been screwing my client over. Both sides had a vested interest in the success of George’s company.

  “Personal matter.” George rolled his eyes. The gesture looked funny on him. “If you stare at her any harder, you’re going to burn a hole in her head.”

  Hell. I needed to be more careful. “I’ll set that aside as we finish up. Feel free to kick me if I stare too hard.”

  George grinned. “Oh, I will.”

  I’m not in the habit of inviting clients to assault me, but I’m also not in the habit of feeling the way I do around Dylan.

  She walked back into the room and flashed a professional smile. “Ready?”

  “Yes,” George said. “I believe all my concerns have been addressed.” He flipped the paper toward her. “Where do you want me to sign?”

  Dylan pointed to a spot on a page. “My boss will be here tomorrow to countersign. I don’t have the delegation of authority to execute this particular document.”

  George nodded.

  Dylan still hadn’t answered my text. I promised George I’d focus. I tried not to think about how sexy her hands were.

  She turned the paper back to George and he signed. I carefully didn’t look at Dylan.

  George nodded and looked satisfied. I’d done well by George, even if I had been hot for the woman on the other side of the table.

  George took his copy of the contract and waved for me to walk with him on the way out. I wanted to stay and ask Dylan again about dinner, but my client needed to come first. I stole one last look at Dylan as I walked away.

  She was looking at her phone, not answering her text. She didn’t look up at me once as the conference room door swung shut behind me.

  Chapter 5

  Dylan

  It was half an hour later, and I hadn’t answered his text yet. My phone was sitting on the table next to my bathtub. It was too late for dinner anyway, I lied to myself.

  I’d decided to take a celebratory bubble bath as soon as I’d gotten back to my hotel room. The bathtub in this room was amazing. The senior partners had really splurged on my accommodations here. Good thing I’d be taking a victory back to them.

  The bath bomb I’d chosen smelled amazing and the bubbles tickled my skin.

  I couldn’t stop thinking about that text. He wanted to take me out for dinner. He wanted to apologize. Maybe he even wanted more. Did I want that? I leaned my head back against the edge of the tub and let my eyes drift closed.

  I loved baths. When I’d chosen an apartment in Dallas I’d picked the one with the huge statement piece of a bathtub. It was a freestanding tub with claw feet and big enough to fit three of me. Or me and Cameron. Not that Cameron would ever be in Dallas with me to see it.

  Normally I wouldn’t have dared to take a bath in a hotel, but this place was fancy enough to eat out of the ashtrays, so I decided it wasn’t much of a risk. This place was going to spoil me so much that I’d never be able to stay at a cheap hotel again. They even left the expensive Belgian chocolates on the pillowcases, not the cheap bulk kind.

  I took a deep breath and inhaled the vanilla candle b
urning quietly beside my phone. My phone with the text that I hadn’t answered yet.

  What did Cameron want? Sex? A relationship? Just to talk? I didn’t know.

  I revised that. He hadn’t kissed me like he was only thinking about talking. I sunk deeper into my bath as I thought about that kiss. I wouldn’t mind another kiss like that, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of telling him so.

  There was another problem. I wasn’t over him. I’d said I was, but I knew the truth. The memory of him not being there when I’d woken up still hurt. If I went to this dinner with him, I could end up falling right back into bed with him while crossing my fingers and telling myself it would be better this time. That wouldn’t get me anything but more hurt.

  I already had hurt in spades. The idea of getting revenge was sweet, but I didn’t see how I could manage it without risking my heart in the process.

  What I really needed was closure. I’d never gotten to confront him after that night and ask him why he’d left me. We hadn’t argued about it and discovered what went wrong.

  He’d disappeared and it had hurt so badly that I’d spent ten years avoiding him.

  I needed to be the one walking out on him. My mind seized on the idea. I was already feeling heady and strong after settling the terms of the deal today. Tomorrow it’d be signed, and I’d cement my reputation as a rising star. A promotion had to be imminent after this. Then I’d fly back to Dallas and try to forget Cameron Richmond had ever kissed me.

  The only thing missing from this plan was closure. I dried off my hands on the fluffy hotel towel and picked up my phone.

  Yes, I texted him.

  His response came seconds later. One hour. Meet me in the lobby of your hotel.

  How did he know which hotel I was staying at? Stalker, I texted back to him. Okay, so my hotel was probably common knowledge because I was on their home turf. But using the information to pick up dates was pretty shady.

  I wasn’t even sure how ethical having dinner with the lawyer for the other side was. Surely it wouldn’t count as a conflict of interest if we didn’t do anything other than eat and talk.

  I pulled the plug on the bath and got out. An hour wasn’t much time to get ready, and I wanted to look so gorgeous he’d rue the day he’d ever left me.

  The first thing I pulled out of my suitcase was the lingerie. Lingerie was my ultimate confidence booster. I’d packed it in case the negotiation went sideways and I needed a pick me up. Wearing it just felt like a sexy secret.

  I slid into the silky fabric and sighed as it glided it against my skin. I paused to check myself in a mirror. I looked hot. Exactly how I needed to look. I smiled and flipped my hair over my shoulder.

  What’s that, Cameron? You want to sleep with me again? Oh, let me think about it for a minute. No.

  I laughed at myself. It would be thrilling to turn down Cameron Richmond. But what if my resolve wavered, and I said yes instead?

  I bit my lip. His large frame on top of me, my body begging for more…

  To hell with it. It didn’t matter what I said. No matter what happened, I’d find a way to win. Maybe I’d say yes and then be the one sneaking out on him in the morning.

  No. I’d say no. I couldn’t risk getting my feelings crushed again by sleeping with him. Then I’d be in the exact same place I’d been for the last ten years except without the excuse of being young and stupid.

  I shook my head. It wasn’t about winning. Was it even necessary I hurt Cameron? I was an adult now. I shouldn’t care so much about something as petty as revenge.

  I pulled my sexy red dress out of my suitcase. In case of celebration the Post-It note I’d stuck to it read. I always packed with purpose in mind. I did tend to have a problem with packing for too many different possibilities and over stuffing my luggage, though.

  I was glad I’d packed this particular dress. When he saw me in it, he was going to wish he’d never walked out on me all those years ago.

  I anticipated the look of longing and regret he’d wear when he saw me like this. It was still petty of me, but he’d hurt me badly enough that I decided a little bit of pettiness was allowed.

  I took my time with my makeup and hair. I curled my hair into soft waves that fell around my face and chose a bold red lipstick to match the dress.

  He was going to hate himself when he saw me, and I was going to relish every minute of it.

  Chapter 6

  Cameron

  Dylan looked so damn incredible I forgot to breath. She strutted into the lobby of the hotel in fuck-me strappy heels and a red dress that flirted around her thighs and begged to be taken off.

  Best manners, Richmond, I reminded myself. I needed to be the perfect gentleman to apologize for what happened between us ten years ago, but all I could think about was having a repeat performance. I had never wanted her as badly as I did right then.

  She was amazing. It wasn’t just that she was hot, curvy, and confident. I loved what I saw of her in that negotiating room. She still had that same sweetness to her that I found so appealing in college, but she added an irresistible sassy femininity now too.

  I thought the lobby of this hotel was impressive before she walked into it. Now it paled in comparison to her.

  She strutted toward the waterfall in the middle of the lobby and flipped her hair over her shoulder as she passed the marble countered concierge’s desk.

  I walked up to her slowly, drinking in the sight of her. I couldn’t wait to get her alone.

  “My car is waiting outside,” I said. I held out my hand for her.

  Dylan raised an eyebrow. I hated how good she was at that. “Let me guess: your car is expensive.”

  I smiled. “Yes. Try not to puke on the upholstery.”

  “That was one time.” She took my hand and I let out a breath I’d hardly been aware I was holding.

  I could hardly believe that I’d once seen Dylan as nothing more than my best friend’s little sister. When she’d been in high school she’d gotten drunk at a party once and called me to pick her up.

  I’d driven her home and she’d thrown up all over my back seat. It had taken me a week to clean it out. I definitely hadn’t seen her as sexy back then. She’d always been around, and I had taken her presence for granted.

  Then I’d had to go and mess it all up by sleeping with her and walking away. I wanted to kick my past self all over again.

  I led her to my expensive car and she touched the paint job in appreciation.

  “Mercedes. Nice. I’m a little shocked it’s not red and sporty though.”

  “I’m not compensating for anything.” I liked my understated car. It was luxurious and impressive without rubbing that fact in everyone’s face.

  Dylan laughed and clapped a hand over her mouth.

  I smiled. I liked being able to make her laugh. I opened the passenger door with a flourish.

  She gave me a sly smile. “Are you sure you aren’t just over-compensating?”

  I paused. Had she just implied what I thought she’d just implied? “I haven’t had any complaints.”

  “Do you put out comment cards?”

  Who was this woman and where had she been all my life? Never mind. I knew exactly where she’d been. A foot down and a little to the left. I’d just been too stupid to notice her there.

  I’d missed her these last ten years. Missed everything about her. The way she laughed, her snarky commentary, the way those ‘donate now’ commercials could make her cry and reach for the phone.

  Did she still do that? I wanted to ask, but I was afraid of how she’d react to such an out of the blue question.

  I took the driver’s side and tried not to stare at her out of the corner of my eye. She ran her hands over the buttery soft leather of the seats. I’d never wished so badly to be upholstery.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “You’ll see.” I wanted it to be a surprise. Dylan wasn’t easy to impress, as she’d made clear with her comments a
bout my car and lack of comment about the Armani suit I was wearing.

  “I don’t like surprises.” Dylan squirmed in her seat as she turned to look at me.

  I had to keep my hands off her. I hadn’t realized how difficult that would be.

  “Sure you do. You liked your surprise birthday party.” I’d attended it under duress. Dylan’s mother had worried the guest list would be too sparse if I didn’t attend. It had turned out that plenty of people had shown up, and I’d dumped the punch bowl over Dylan’s head.

  “I was ten. I’ve grown up since then,” Dylan said.

  “I noticed.” Fuck. I shouldn’t have said that. My eyes dipped down to the front of her dress, and when I lifted them again, she was pursing her lips together like I’d just said something really stupid.

  It was impossible not to notice, though. Dylan had started out as a very scrawny child. She hadn’t filled out until she hit puberty, and then curves had developed in all the right places.

  She’d still been my best friend’s little sister, though, so she’d been off limits on the fantasy front. Until I’d fucked her.

  That had messed up the off limits thing a bit. I’d panicked and run right after it happened, which had been an even worse mistake. I wished I could take back how things had gone between us.

  If I could do it again, I wouldn’t have made a move on her until after college when I was man enough to deal with my own actions. Waiting until then would have kept her from running from me for ten years.

  And that was even assuming she was going to forgive me tonight. She could walk away and it could be ten more years before I saw her again.

  The thought of losing Dylan again hurt like hell. I had to find a way to hold onto her.

  We pulled up in front of the restaurant.

  “Italian. Nice,” Dylan said.

  I was shocked. It was the closest thing to approval she’d given me since she’d walked into that conference room.

  “We’re lucky I could get a reservation here. Usually it’s booked.” I was only half lying. I’d booked this reservation the moment I’d seen Dylan’s name. I wasn’t sure she would say yes, but I wanted to make sure I could take her to the best food money could buy if she did. All part of the plan to make my past behavior up to her.