Why Don't You Stay? ... Forever by Jennifer Ashley

Author:Jennifer Ashley [Ashley, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JA / AG Publishing

Ben

When Erin takes off for lunch, I head back to my cave and try to concentrate on installing a couple new pieces of hardware. Usually I get absorbed in that, but today all I can think of are Erin’s eyes behind her glasses when she smiled at me before she left and said, “See you later.”

I’d wanted to kiss her. We’d been standing in the middle of the office with my family streaming to and fro, Ryan talking with a client.

I wished I could say to hell with everything and kiss her. Take her in my arms, run my hands down her back to cup her fine ass and kiss her deeply.

But I didn’t want to embarrass her, so I just nodded and let her go.

My brothers and parents have already drifted off to lunch, Ryan and Dad with the client, Zach joining Abby after her meeting. The only one left is Austin, who’s in his office singing along enthusiastically with whoever he’s playing on his radio. I stopped listening to popular music a long time ago, preferring blues classics. True music.

I lay down my screwdriver, dust off my pants, take a swift swig from a bottle of water, and head to his office.

When I walk in, Austin breaks off his wailing and turns down the volume. “Oh, sorry. Didn’t know anyone was still here.”

I lean against the doorframe. “Felt like staying in. Hey, can I talk to you?”

“Sure. What about?”

Austin is the brother I’m least connected with. Zach and I are closest, we two middle brothers finding common ground. Like I said, I was Zach’s tackle dummy all through high school, but he taught me a lot about football and holding my own. I couldn’t catch a ball to save my life, but I was good at running and punching, which made the other kids learn respect.

Austin, though. He’s about dressing in sharp suits and going to clubs and having the most beautiful women in town on his arm. He’s a schmoozer, but a decent guy if you catch him on a good day.

“How do you do it?” I ask.

“How do I do what?”

“You know.” I wave my hand vaguely. “Be you. With women.”

Austin is baffled. “I don’t know. Talk to them?”

“Yeah, but specifically? How do you know exactly what to say to them, how to treat them, what to do?”

Austin stares blankly as though I’ve asked him to explain particle physics. Then he has an “aha” moment.

“This is about Erin, isn’t it?” Austin launches himself from his chair and comes around the desk. “I knew there was something up with you two. What happened—did you hook up?”

I don’t like that term—hook-up. So impersonal, like the encounter is all about sex and nothing else. I try to keep my expression neutral, disapproving even, but my face feels hot.

Austin is overjoyed. “You did hook up. That’s awesome, bro.” He grabs me in a bear hug, pounding me on the back. “You dog.” He stands back, admiring. “She won’t even look at me.

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