Deal Takers (Dealing with Love 2)

She rolls her big brown eyes and laughs. “You’re ridiculous. I have quite a while before I enter cougar territory.”

“I’ll let you in on a little secret,” I lean in to whisper into her ear. “I happen to think older women are incredibly sexy.”

It may be my imagination, but I swear she just shivered.

She pushes me away and presses play on the remote. “Just shut up and watch.”

Chapter Fourteen

BRODY

After our impromptu movie night, Rainey bid me goodnight and went to her room. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t seriously tempted to follow her to see what happened. Rainey’s not a cheater—I know this, and I would never want to help make her one—but that didn’t stop me from imagining all the possibilities. The more I get to know her, the more convinced I am that she doesn’t really want to marry Adam. They’ve been engaged for almost two years now and they still haven’t set a date for the wedding. That’s weird, right? Is she sticking with him out of some sense of obligation? I’m not proud to admit it, but I eavesdropped on her conversation with Devyn earlier. Rainey really wants kids one day and he doesn’t. Not that I’m jumping to knock anyone up, mind you—I’m only twenty-four, for fuck’s sake. It just pisses me off that she thinks she should settle. Someone like her should never have to settle for anything.

“You okay, man?” Drew asks. “You look like you’re ready to off someone.”

“Nah, just thinking about work,” I lie. “I have a busy week ahead.” I pull up to the curb outside his condo and flick my hazard lights on. “Here we are...home sweet home. You need some help getting everything upstairs?”

Drew looks in the backseat and sees his sister pulling her sleeping toddler out of his car seat. “Yeah, that’d be great. I think we could do it in one trip.”

I twist my torso until I’m facing the backseat. “Princess, do you mind taking the driver’s seat until I get back? I’d rather not get towed for parking in a loading zone.”

Rainey unbuckles her seatbelt. “Only if you agree to stop calling me princess.”

“Sure thing...sweetheart.”

She rolls her eyes as she exits the car. “Jackass.”

I laugh as I slide out of the driver’s seat and gesture for her to get in. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“You would,” she mutters.

I shut the door after she’s seated and lean into the window frame. “I’ll make it as quick as possible. Try not to miss me too much.”

This earns an even bigger eye roll, but her lips are turned up in the corners.

Devyn heads into the building with Nathan so I meet Drew by the rear doors to gather their stuff. Thankfully, we do manage to get everything to their third-floor apartment in one trip, so I can get back to Rainey that much sooner.

“Well, I guess I’m going to head out. I don’t want to keep the lovely redhead waiting.”

I’m setting my share of bags inside the doorway as Devyn returns from putting her son to bed.

“Be nice to her, Brody,” she chides.

“Who me?” I shrug innocently. “I’m always nice.”

“I’m serious. She may look okay, but she has a lot going on inside her head. Just don’t push her too much.”

I’d bet good money she’s talking about Rainey’s fiancé. What a dickhead.

“I’ll be good.”

She smiles. “Thank you.”

Drew gives me a bro hug. “Thanks for driving, dude. We still on for golf next weekend?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, big guy.”

He blows me a kiss. “See you later, sweet cheeks.”