“What?”
“You heard me. I want to be treated like everyone else.”
“But you're anything but.”
“I don’t care. For once, I want to earn something. I want to prove to myself and others that I’m capable without my last name carrying me through.”
“Others won’t think that, though you know that as long as you work for me, they will see you getting special favors.”
“As long as you, me, and Olivia know that’s not the case, then I’m fine with that.”
“Well, fuck, I wasn’t expecting that,” I said, pulling into the parking spot and killing the engine.
“I always like to keep you on your toes, Barrett.”
“You do, that’s for sure,” I said, unclipping her belt and lifting her over the center console.
She let out a yelp but giggled in my arms as they came to rest around my neck.
“Does that mean I won’t be getting any lunchtime specials?” I grinned and took her lower lip in mine, then released it after nipping it.
“I'm sure we could come to some understanding there.” She grinned and ground her ass against my crotch.
“Hmm, why wait till then?”
“Because we are in my brother's parking garage!” she said, kissing me chastely on the lips then releasing the door handle.
I groaned out, adjusting myself.
“Come with me, handsome.” She extended her arm and tried pulling me out.
I laughed at her lame attempt. “Okay, Mr. Two-Hundred-Pounds of Twisted Steel and Sex Appeal!” she said, and I split into roaring laughter.
“Oh yeah, that’s me, absolutely.”
“Come on, before I change my mind, and we really give the tabloids something to print about.”
“Coming,” I said, slapping her ass.
We walked up to the door and pressed the buzzer, looking into the video screen.
It rang and rang.
“Maybe he’s not home?”
“He’s home,” she huffed out.
She rang it again. This time, he picked up.
“Who’s there?”
“Connor, it’s me.”
“Lourde?”
“Yes, who else! Barrett’s with me. Can you let us up?”
“Barrett’s with you?”
“Yes, now let us up, weirdo.”
“It’s not a good time, guys.”
“Ah, we won’t be long, Connor. Now, could you just get over yourself and stop being rude?”
“Fuck, fine.”
The buzzer sounded, and she pushed the gate, leading us to his private elevator.
“He sounded weird,” she said.
“Yeah, he did. Maybe he’s still weirded out about us. His best friend and sister, come on, you have to feel for him a little.”
“Since when are you the sensitive type?”
“Since you softened my angles to curves, Lourde.”
She smiled, agaze with unblinking awe. I was only speaking the truth, and fuck, it was so liberating.
“Some things you come out with should be printed on a Hallmark card.”
“Well, if construction fails, I'll definitely keep that in mind.”
She squeezed my hand and kissed me on the cheek. The doors pinged open, and I pulled her close to me.
Connor met us at the elevator doors. “What are you doing here?” Adopting a hard smile, he stood at the entrance, blocking our entry.
“Well, hello to you too, brother.” She let go of my hand and placed two hands on the tips of his shoulders, pecking him on the cheek.
She stood back and glanced at him. “Did you just get up?”
“No.” He ran a hand through his wayward hair. “I’ve been working.”