The Reluctant Boyfriend (The Bad Boyfriend series Book 4) Read online

“You looking for trouble, princess?”

  “I think I already found it.” She pushed past him and went inside.

  The boutique wasn’t huge, but she knew immediately it was her place. In the center, a large glass case held jewelry and sunglasses. T-shirts and sweaters in a rainbow of colors were folded neatly in tall, white bookcases. Countless racks of dresses, skirts, and blouses lined the walls. She ran her fingers through the silk scarves hanging off a hat rack. “This store’s amazing.”

  “Have at it. I’ll be on that bench across the street.”

  “Okay, but if you need to go, just text me. Don’t hang around on my account.” She wanted to turn back to the clothes, but, as beautiful as they were, she found herself watching Brodie cross the street.

  What would it feel like to be so comfortable in her own skin? To never doubt her place in the world? She loved the way the T-shirt stretched across his shoulders, his muscular biceps and thighs, and that ass. God, she wanted to get her hands on it.

  As if he heard her dirty thoughts, he glanced over his shoulder and caught her watching him.

  The thrill of it made her skin tingle.

  Dammit, once again, Brodie couldn’t concentrate. The hot sun beat down on his head, and the words on the screen of his phone swam. He had a lot of work to do, so he needed to focus.

  Not think about the way she’d watched him cross the street, like she’d slowly stripped off each article of his clothing.

  He hadn’t known it was possible to look vulnerable and bold at the same time.

  Sexy as fuck.

  “What’re you doing out here?” Vanessa strutted toward him with a big smile. As she leaned down for a hug, her perfume enveloped him. “Were you hoping to run into me?”

  “Why would I do that?”

  Her smile wobbled, and he felt like shit for once again hurting her feelings.

  “I meant, if I wanted to see you, I’d let you know.” Okay, that sounded even worse. Damn. “Vanessa.” He tipped his head back. “Things are a little too complicated here.”

  “No, they’re not. That’s my office right there, across the street, dummy. I was coming out of a meeting, when I saw you.” She sat beside him, crossing one leg over the other, her toned thigh outlined in the tight skirt and her shiny high heel catching the sunlight. “Well, I saw this really hot guy with broad shoulders and dark hair, and thought, Well, hello, my type. And then I realized it was you. So, what’re you doing sitting out here? It’s a gorgeous day.”

  “I’m getting some work done, while Rosie shops.”

  “Are you kidding me? That woman is ridiculous. Who does she think she is, asking you to wait around for her?”

  “She didn’t ask me anything. She had plans with Skylar, so I gave her a ride into town. I can get my work done here as well as anywhere.” His phone vibrated, and when he saw Pierce’s name, he held up a finger and answered. “Hey.”

  “Brodie. Sorry, it’s taken me a few days to get back to you. Been on vacation. I’m happy to set up a meeting, but can you tell me what it’s for?”

  “You bet. First, I want to apologize for dropping the ball on Owl Hoot. I got carried away with Knox’s digital shop, but that’s no excuse. Secondly, I’ve got all the artisan stalls filled now, so that should make things interesting for the tourists. I’ve also hired a social media manager to get us in tourism guides and travel websites. She’s already created some pages for us, and she’ll be posting pictures and announcing events on a daily basis.”

  “This is great, Brodie. I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear it.”

  “There’s more. I just had a meeting with my brothers, and we’ve got some business ideas to run by you. We’d like to build an Outfitters store that offers guided adventures. Fly fishing, rappelling, skiing, wildlife watches, things like that.”

  “That’s…fantastic.” He sounded emotional, and as glad as Brodie was to have resumed his responsibilities, he felt like shit for neglecting them for so long. He hadn’t once considered what stepping away meant for the team he’d hired to run the place.

  “We’re also thinking about an ice cream parlor and a reliquary museum. Gray brought up the idea of an indoor sports complex in case of bad weather. A climbing wall, a paint gun room, stuff like that. I just need to get the board’s approval, and then we’re good to go.”

  “Damn, Brodie. When you set your mind to something, you knock it out of the park. Okay, let me get with the board and come back with a few dates for you. Thank you.”

  “I’m only doing what I should’ve done last year.”

  “No, you’d made it clear the work would be done in phases, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

  The moment he hung up, Brodie checked the text messages that had come in while he’d been on the phone. Fin needed him at the training facility. He wrote him back. Be there soon.

  “Sounds like you’ve made Pierce happy.”

  “Yeah.”

  Led by a black lab on a bright red leash, an older couple walked by. Once they passed, Vanessa asked, “So, are you and Rosie seeing each other?”

  “Like I told you, we’re working on a project together.”

  “Don’t get so defensive. Friends can ask questions like that.”

  “You never did before.”

  “That’s because you’ve never looked at anyone the way you look at her.”

  Damn. He knew she was right. “I like her, sure.” He glanced across the park to the boutique. “She’s engaged.”

  “Right. I forgot about that.”

  “All right, well.” He got up. “I’ve got to get back to the ranch.”

  “You want to grab a coffee or something first?”

  “Can’t. Fin needs my help. I’ll catch up with you later.” Something had changed between them. He didn’t know if it was because she’d decided she wanted more, and he wasn’t giving it to her…no, that’s not it.

  It’s me. It was meeting Rosie and learning the difference between a casual interest in a woman and a volatile, crazy attraction.

  He crossed the street and headed into the boutique. Over the smell of new clothes, he caught the scent of vanilla from the big jars of candles. He didn’t see the princess, and the saleswoman was busy with a customer, so he wandered toward the dressing rooms. “Rosie?”

  A velvet curtain parted, and she peered out. “Hey.” She looked concerned. “Do you have a minute? I want to show you what I’ve got.”

  There was something about her smile, her voice, that melted his tension, and made him want to be nowhere else but right here. “Sure.”

  She gave him a sparkling grin, before slipping back behind the curtain. He pulled out his phone and texted Fin. How soon do you need me?

  Can you come right now? Where are you?

  In town.

  Never mind. Let me see if Will’s home. Need help right now.

  “Okay, come on in.”

  Parting the curtain, he stepped into a small room stuffed with an orange upholstered chair, a gold-framed full length-mirror, and pink and purple wallpaper. Clothes hung neatly on every bar.

  Facing the mirror, Rosalina stood barefoot, her toenails painted a pretty shell pink. One hand held the top of a dress to her chest, making her breasts plump. His palms ached to feel their weight. “Can you zip me, please?”

  “Sure thing.” He stepped behind her, and the heat of her body, the scent of her skin, made his dick go hard. In that moment, he realized he was making a big mistake. They kept flirting with each other, pretending they could control themselves. But they were wrong. Every minute with her weakened his resolve. If they kept this up, she’d be flat on her back, naked, and he’d be kissing every inch of her hot body.

  Instead of zipping her, he said, “I have to get back to the ranch.”

  “Oh. Okay.” She turned to him. “You go ahead. I can get a ride, no problem.”

  Good plan, terrible execution. He didn’t need to strand her in town. “Forget it. I’m an asshole. I can wai
t till you’re done here.” He made a circling motion with his finger, and she went back to facing the mirror. Catching her hair in his hand, he lifted it and dropped it over her shoulder. He towered over her, so he got to watch it scatter over her cleavage. Tugging the fabric together, he pulled up the zipper, but it wouldn’t budge.

  She twisted away from him. “Never mind. I thought maybe it was just that I couldn’t reach back there, but it doesn’t fit.”

  The fabric tucked in at her waist and flared at her hips, but he couldn’t get the zipper up over her chest. “You want it?”

  “I want it so much.” They looked at each other in the mirror, and he didn’t miss the pretty flush that spread across her chest, up her neck, and fanned across her cheeks.

  “Then get it. Knox can fix it.”

  “Oh, that’s a great idea. I hadn’t even thought about that.” She glanced at another dress hanging on a rack. “Close your eyes. I want to see if you like this one.”

  Turning to the wall, he pulled out his phone. But, instead of reading the new texts, his brain tuned into the shushing sounds of clothes dropping to the floor, gliding over her nearly-naked body. She hummed quietly, and he had to wonder why he never felt like he was standing on solid ground around her.

  “Okay, look.”

  Against her shiny, dark hair and pale skin, the grass-colored dress popped. It tied at the back of her neck, completely covering her breasts—and yet at the same time drawing attention to them.

  “I thought you needed clothes so you could work? Like jeans and shirts.”

  “I do.” She gestured to a stack of clothes folded on the chair. “But I love these summer dresses. They’re so pretty. I’m worried this one’s too bright, though.”

  “Nope. It’s perfect. Now you just need a reason to wear it.”

  “I have one.” She watched him carefully in the mirror. “I’m going on a date.”

  “A date? With whom?”

  “The guy I met at the bar the other night.”

  Part of her checklist. Get freaky with a cowboy. “And he’s already asked you out?” Of course he did. She was beautiful and fun. Smart and sexy. What guy wouldn’t want to be with her?

  She nodded. “What’s that expression for?”

  He wouldn’t pretend with her, so he leaned in—real close. “He better be special, princess. That’s all I’m saying.”

  “Sometimes, all it takes is a moment.” She faked a dreamy expression. “Sometimes, you look into someone’s eyes and you just know. He’s your one and only. Your soulmate.”

  Okay, she was fucking with him. He straightened. “So, is Mr. Wonderful moving to St. Christophe to wear the crown or are you moving out here to work his ranch?”

  “Details. We’re just going to wing it, let true love run its course.” She laughed. “It’s just a date. It’s not a big deal.”

  “Yeah, but he might expect things.”

  She covered her mouth with a hand, her eyes comically wide. “You don’t mean…s-e-x, do you?”

  “All right, smart ass. Get dressed. Let’s pay for all this crap and get out of here.”

  “Wait. There’s one more thing I want you to look at.” She made a circling motion with her finger.

  “Fine.”

  “And close your eyes for real this time. No looking at your phone.”

  “Why? You gonna get nekkid?”

  “Actually, yes, and I don’t want you to go crazy and start pawing at me.”

  “I think I can control myself.”

  “I don’t know. All I did was ask one for one little kiss, and you were all over me.”

  He smiled. “Sure as fuck was. So don’t be asking me for any more kisses, unless you want what I’ve got to give.”

  “Oh, okay, bad boy. You’ve got me running scared now. Just keep your eyes closed. I’ll be ready in a minute.”

  Brodie wanted to watch her strip out of that dress more than he could ever remember wanting anything. He wanted to see her tits pop out as she leaned forward to let the straps fall from around her neck, her ass sway as she lowered it over her hips, and her smooth skin bared in the soft light of the dressing room.

  He wanted to see that shy smile and feel those bold fingers, wanted to feel her hips rock up and grind against his hard cock. How many minutes would it have taken before she’d gotten herself off last night? If he hadn’t walked out on her, she’d have come. He’d have gotten to watch her features go slack, her body seize in ecstasy.

  Fuck, yeah. He wanted to see that.

  Wanted to be the one to make her come.

  He heard her moving around in the dressing room, the smack of elastic, and then it went quiet. “You ready?” he asked.

  “Um...”

  He turned around to find her in a black bikini. Two scraps of spandex covered her plump tits, and the bottom was a strip of fabric connecting two patches of fabric.

  “Brodie.”

  “What?”

  “Eyes up here.”

  “How can I give you my opinion if I’m looking in your eyes?”

  “Can you at least wipe the drool off your chin? It’s very unbecoming.”

  “You going to wear that for the hot cowboy?”

  “Yes. I thought I’d answer the door in it and pretend I just got back from the lake, tell him I’m running late. Good strategy?”

  “Are you such a smart ass in St. Christophe?”

  She got a panicked look. “Shh.”

  “No one can hear us.” He flicked his fingers at the bikini. “You sure you need that thing?”

  “Okay, I’m getting from all these questions that you like the way it looks. I don’t usually wear such…flimsy swimsuits. I just wanted to know if it looks all right.”

  “You wear that, you’re going to wind up pregnant, and then what will your parents think?”

  She leaned close and whispered, “Then I’ll get the heir without the husband. Pure win.”

  Stay there. Stay right the fuck there. It took every ounce of his restraint not to touch that smooth skin and cup those bouncy tits. Jesus. He needed to adjust himself, but if he reached between them, the back of his hand would graze her bare belly. “It fits fine. Can we go now?”

  “Why’s your voice all funny?” She said it all sassy, as if she didn’t know about the bulge in his jeans.

  “Because you’re fucking hot, princess, and I want to do filthy things to you.”

  She got all squirmy. “No one talks to me like that.” Her eyes went all drowsy with lust. “I love it.” And then she broke out in a saucy grin. “You want to kiss me so bad right now, don’t you?”

  “You don’t want to know the places I want to kiss you.”

  “What if I do?”

  I want to kiss those tits and then suck them into my mouth. “Shit, princess. We have to stop this.” He was going out of his mind with want for her.

  She sobered. “No, I know. You’re right. We’re going into business together.”

  “Exactly. So, save those damn kisses for your cowboy.” Made him sick just to think about it, but what the fuck could he do? “I’ll see you outside.” He’d just reached for the velvet curtain, when he heard. “I don’t want to kiss him. I want to kiss you.”

  “Dammit, Rosie.” He dropped the curtain and reached for her. Grabbing her hips, he hauled her to him. He wasted no time in claiming her mouth. Her silky hair brushed over his arms, and her scent filled his senses. Everything about her fired him up. What was it about this woman? He skimmed his hands up her sides, thumbs caressing the stretchy fabric holding in her breasts. “I’m going to go out of my mind if I don’t get my hands on these.”

  Pulling away, she yanked the tie at the back of her neck and let the top fall down.

  And, Jesus, there they were, those round, plump tits. With reverence, he cupped them, watching her nipples pebble from the slow strokes of his thumb. “You’re fucking perfect.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck, licking inside his mouth, teasing hi
s tongue into a sexy dance. She tasted like coffee and sweetness, and her hips swayed restlessly over his cock.

  “Fuck, Princess. Fuck.” He backed her against the wall, hangers rattling, and he cupped her ass cheeks and lifted her. With legs wrapped around him, she pumped her hips, moaning. He squeezed her round, firm cheeks, and she gasped, grinding against his cock. “So hot.”

  “Everything okay in there?” the saleswoman called. “Can I get you a different size or color?”

  Eyes lazy with lust, Rosie let her head fall back against the wall. “Everything’s great. Really, really good.” But then, with a look of resignation, she sighed, and dropped her feet to the floor. “Actually, can I give you the things I’m going to buy, so we can start ringing everything up? My ride needs to get home.”

  “Sure, just hand me what you want.”

  With that black bikini top dangling, and her tits jiggling, Rosie squirmed out of his hold and pulled on a blouse. She gathered as many hangers full of clothes as she could carry and handed it all off to the saleswoman. “I’m getting a swimsuit, too, so let me just change, and I’ll be right out.”

  “Great. See you in a minute.”

  The curtain fell shut, and Rosie turned to him. “Okay. That is the last kiss you’re going to get.” Her lips were wet from his mouth, swollen from his kisses.

  He didn’t answer her. Couldn’t. He was too shaken.

  “I’m serious, Brodie. God, I lose my head around you, but there’s nothing more important to me than our business. My family’s not going to support any of my ideas, which means our company is the only shot I get for a long time. I can’t risk it.”

  “No matter what happens between us personally, I’d never take away your half of the business. You’re the one who discovered the flower, made the essential oil…you even came up with the idea for the store.”

  “I know, but things could get derailed.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It means you’re juggling several different projects. If you lose interest in this one, then I’m out of luck. So, I’m not going to mess it up.”

  “By hooking up with me?”

  “By falling for a guy who gets started with projects and doesn’t follow through.”