“Not bad; the class load is kicking my ass, though.”
Emma quickly introduced Brant, who asked, “How many classes are you taking this semester?”
Wrinkling his nose, Boston said, “Three. I usually try to stick with two. You know . . . to have more time for other things.”
Brant, oblivious to Boston’s surfer-dude attitude, said, “Oh, you work and go to school part-time?”
Boston looked confused. “No, man, I go full-time. It’s pretty rough, too.”
Emma was grateful when their father interrupted the conversation to say that Robyn had to work late and would have to drop by the next day. By that time, Brant would have already gathered that her brother was a slacker, but why make it worse? Boston walked off to sneak some food off the table, leaving her alone with Brant for the first time since coming downstairs.
“Your brother is quite a character.”
Emma smiled. “Yeah, he’s the go-to guy for all leisure activities.” She took a minute to study him. “You look pretty leisurely yourself. I didn’t think you owned anything besides suits.”
His eyes drifted over her white shorts and turquoise off-the-shoulder top. “You look pretty laid-back yourself. I like the top. A lot.” Emma felt her face flush at his unexpectedly flirtatious words.
“I . . . um . . . thanks.” Oh no, she could feel her nipples start to harden at his continued attention. She could tell by the slight widening of his eyes that her body’s betrayal was obvious to him. Suddenly it was as if their usual insults had turned into come-ons. Frankly, the whole thing had her off center. She didn’t know how to act in a world where her words may now be considered foreplay, not only by Brant but herself as well.
She jerked when Brant settled an arm around her shoulders and nuzzled her neck. Was that his tongue? “I guess we need to look the part, right?” he whispered in her ear.
“Hmmm?” she croaked out, barely able to think with his body this close to hers.
“You know . . . boyfriend, girlfriend, lovers. That’s what we are playing at, right?”
“Oh, yes, right, of course.”
Her mother beamed her approval as Brant led Emma toward a chair. “You go ahead and sit if you want. I’m going to grab a Coke,” she said. In truth, she just needed a few minutes away from his amorous attention. She stopped to talk to her dad and then her brother before deciding she couldn’t stay away from Brant any longer without it being obvious. Drink in hand, she turned back in his direction and then abruptly stopped. Brant was still seated at the table, but her vacant seat and all of the others next to him had been filled by her mother’s book club friends. In fact, Brant was now the center of their attention. Far from looking awkward, he appeared completely at ease as he laughed and joked with the crowd of admiring females.
Her father walked to her side and tracked her line of vision. “Thank Christ, at least I’m off the hook tonight. If there’s a male anywhere in the vicinity, they’re all over him.”
“Daddy!”
“Baby girl, I’m just calling a spade a spade. Your mother loves that group and I like ’em just fine as long as they meet at someone else’s house. Most of them are divorced and it doesn’t take long to figure out why. Their men probably packed up and ran like hell. They don’t bother your brother too much. They probably figure it would go right over his head.”
Emma put her hand over her mouth, trying to stifle her giggle. God, she loved her daddy.
“It looks like I’ll be able to enjoy my beer and my burger tonight, though, since they have their hooks firmly in your new man.”
“Yeah, I see that and it’s only just begun. He accepted their invitation to the book club meeting tonight to discuss Fifty Shades of Grey.”
Emma laughed as her father’s mouth dropped open. “You’re shitting me?”
“Nope. I don’t think he knows what it is, though.”