Owen growls a moment. At least they’ve got that in common. “I’m throwing her a birthday party. A barbeque. I talked to Wyatt, and he wants to host it at the ranch.” He snarls a moment as if that took away from the fact he wanted to throw it for her. And something in that one act of birthday chivalry makes me like the guy just a little bit more.
“Cool. It falls on a Saturday this year, so it’ll be perfect.”
“I’d love to invite your parents. I mean, I know it’s a big trip, but I’d love to meet them. I’m sure Piper would love to have them over.”
“Done. I’ll put in the call. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind flying out for the weekend.” It’s true. My parents, Wyatt Senior and Angelica, can be anywhere and everywhere as fast as their private jet can whisk them away. “You going big or keeping it tight?”
“Just her friends and a few of my buddies. But we should hang out sometime before that.” Something in Owen softens. Owen and I have hung out before. In fact, we were better friends when I didn’t know he was screwing my sister. I guess that’s the great ironic divide, Piper.
“I’d like that.”
“Cool. Most weekends we’re playing pool in the back. My buddy, Jet, gives the best tats this side of Tijuana.”
I grimace because I’m not sure that says much, and I’ve seen Piper’s meager tattoo, although the artwork scrolled over Owen’s body looks decent.
“Rex is my other buddy,” he continues. “He’s boarding school born and bred much like yourself,” he says it as if it’s a selling point, and, to be honest, I like Rex already. I know what it’s like to be dragged off from your family, given a new one in the scholastic sense, and then living that way until you’re vomited out into the world upon graduation. “We’ll get together. There’s something I need to pick up at the office. I forgot a file your brother has me working on. You can head over with me if you want to kill time.”
“No, that’s okay. I think I’ll hop back to campus. There’s something at the bookstore I’m looking for.”
“Or someone.” He gives a quick wink before slapping my shoulder and taking off.
He’s right. It’s definitely someone.
Cassidy Clayton is like a ghost around here when she’s not in class. Maybe next time she lands in my bed, I’ll beg her to tell me all of her secrets.
Whitney Briggs University is a hotbed of beautiful girls. It’s not a huge shock someone as perfect as Cassidy should be in attendance. A dull laugh rattles through me at the thought of her. She is in everyway perfection, both outside and underneath the sheets. I can’t stop thinking about the girl, and it’s bordering on obsessive. I’m not stalking through campus tonight looking for some book. Owen was right. It’s Cassidy I’m scouring the four corners of the world for.
Crowds of girls travel in every direction, and I make it a point to scour every blonde in an effort to weed her out. I’ll admit, it’s leading to a few awkward glances, some subtle invites, and a few bold girls blowing kisses my way. It’s all in fun. Every single one of these girls is headed off-campus looking for a good time tonight—not that it has to be sexual. Heck, I’m hoping for a good time myself, but, for me, it most certainly has to be sexual—only if it includes Miss Clayton. She volunteered as my bed warmer, and I’m hoping she feels the need for heat as much as I do.
After an hour of aimless wandering, feeling a bit like a self-proclaimed stalker, I head over to the bookstore. In the least I won’t have been a liar. Hell, maybe I’ll go for the gold and buy a freaking book. The brightly lit establishment is covered with plastic hearts as an ode to that over-glorified greeting card manufactured holiday tomorrow brings—Valentine’s Day. I’ve already purchased two dozen long-stemmed roses and have them at the house. If she shows up tonight, I’ll give them to her then. I’m sort of hoping for that scenario because not a single part of me wants to wait another day to see her.
A dark-haired girl heads toward the door just as I’m reaching for the handle, so I swing it open for her and hold it as she plows on by.
“Thank you,” she says, briefly glancing up, and the two of us freeze in tandem.
Shit.
My gut pinches, and instantly, I want to hit rewind, play back the last ten seconds so I can make a clean escape.
“What are you doing here?” It’s the first thing out of my mouth. It came out nice enough, not sure why it wouldn’t, but a darker part of my heart wanted to spit the words with venom.