What He Wants: Trusting You prequel novella Read Online Free PDF Page B

to approach you. Ryan tells me that you turn down every guy who comes to you. To some men that can be intimidating.”
    Ryan said what? I am so going to kill him.
    However, I could tell I didn’t intimidate Brett. He was cool and collected with a smirk tilting up the left side of his lips. He was a man who knew what he wanted, and in his eyes he wanted me … but why? What did he want from me?
    Crossing my arms at my chest, I sat back, pursing my lips. “So you and Ryan talked about me, huh?”
    He smiled. “A little. I was curious about you. Especially when he told me you were off limits. I had to know why.”
    “And what did he say exactly?”
    “Other than the fact that you turn every single man down? Basically that you’re a mystery.”
    “I beg to differ,” I laughed.
    Brett Walker was a mystery to me … I couldn’t figure him out. What I did know was that I needed to keep my distance; I didn’t want anything serious. Judging by the heat in his eyes, something light and fun was not on his mind.
    “Most of the men I’ve met around here were arrogant fools,” I stated. “Even before they’d say their first words, I could see it in their eyes what kind of men they were. I have no tolerance for that, or for lying, cheating bastards; especially ones who had the gall to hit on me when they’re married.”
    Clearly amused, Brett bit his lip and smiled, lifting his left thumb to graze over his lip; probably to show he had no ring on his finger. “I can assure you, I’m not married … and as far as the guy on the patio you never know. He could be different and just what you’re looking for. What if I was out there? You’d be missing the chance to get to know me .”
    “But it’s not you out there,” I countered. “I may be single, but I’m not desperate Mr. Walker.”
    At about that time, our server—a young woman with long, wavy blonde hair wearing black pants and a crisp blue button down top—came over to our table and set down a tequila sunrise and a Crown and Coke.
    Oh no, another one? That guy is relentless.
    I was about to tell her to take it back, but Brett spoke up first, handing her a credit card. “Thank you, Mira. Tell Ryan I’d like to close my tab and that everything’s good back here.”
    Quickly, Mira grinned over at me and then winked at him. “I’ll tell him. If you need anything else, let us know. I’ll be right back with your card.”
    Smirking, Brett nodded his head and took a sip of his drink, his gaze alit with humor. “Did you think it was the other guy ordering you the drink?” he asked. “I figured you were about to send it back.”
    “I was,” I answered, stirring my drink with the tiny red straw. “There comes a point when it gets to be a little too much.”
    I took a sip of my tequila sunrise and felt the burn go straight down into my stomach. After drinking my limit of three, I knew I needed to take it easy or my inhibitions would be out the window. That’s not exactly the way I need to be in the company of an alluring stranger.
    The server came back with Brett’s card, handing it to him, before smiling at us both one last time and waltzing off. I felt like I was on the outside of a private joke between the two. Brett’s mischievous leer only proved it.
    Tossing back his drink, he chuckled and set it down. “If you want to know the truth, Ms. Ashford, I was the one who ordered you the drinks.”
    “What?” I gasped, choking on my drink. “How is that possible? When I met you outside, you didn’t seem to have any interest in me whatsoever. Besides, I never saw you again after you walked back inside. I thought you left.”
    “Did that bother you?” he asked, his voice smooth … deep. “That I didn’t show any interest in you.”
    It did bother me, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. “No, I just figured I wasn’t your type.”
    Sliding my drink to the side, Brett grasped my hand and helped me up from the table, pulling me into him … so close.