The Best Man (Alpha Men 2)

“Where are you staying? In the township?”

“No.”

“With your family.”

“That’s none of your business.”

“What about school? Are you attending Riversend High?” With everything that had happened with Daff this week, Spencer had forgotten to ask Principal Kane about her. He felt guilty about that oversight.

She shrugged again in response to his question. Typical teenager.

“Okay, well, I work at the sports store. If you ever need anything, please let me know.”

“Why?” she asked suspiciously. “What’s in it for you?”

“I’ve been where you are. I just want to help.”

“I don’t need your help,” she snapped. Way too much prickly pride for one so young.

“Okay,” he said, holding his hands up in a placating manner. “That’s cool. I still hope to see you on Monday. We’re doing that self-defense class.”

“I’ll check my schedule,” she said sarcastically, and Spencer bit back a grin.

“You do that,” he said seriously, trying to keep his amusement hidden.

“Can I go now?” she asked with a belligerent tilt of her chin.

“You’re free to do whatever you want.”

“See ya around,” she said casually, turning away with a dismissive wave. Spencer watched her walk away, again feeling a swell of concern for her. He didn’t think she had a permanent place to stay, and it worried him. She was young, vulnerable, and small enough for a strong breeze to blow over. Not ideal. He hoped like hell she would show up on Monday—something about her brought out all his protective instincts, and he wanted to be sure that she was safe.

He turned back to his car and saw that he was standing in front of Daff’s store. She had closed up for the day already, and he wondered if she was headed straight to his or if she was on her way home for a change of clothes. He hoped it was the latter. It was silly for her to go home to change every morning before work. But he knew that bringing an overnight bag would feel a little too much like a relationship to Daff. So he doubted the stubborn woman would bring so much as a toothbrush.

He didn’t know why he expected her for dinner, but she was a no-show. He ate a silent, solitary meal and glared at the empty chair across from his at the dinner table. Of course she wouldn’t come—that wasn’t the way this worked. He had a quick shower, changing into a pair of those pajamas she seemed to find so irresistible, and did some accounts. He was still trying to figure out an economically viable way to fix the plumbing at the community center. He could pay for the entire thing, of course, but this should be a community effort. He wanted people to get off their privileged asses and chip in. So far it looked like nobody else—aside from Mason, Oom Herbert, and Principal Kane—really gave a damn about these kids, and Spencer wanted to find a way to change that. He wanted his program to become something the entire town could be proud of. Maybe if they had a dedicated youth center. A safe haven where both the well-off kids and the at-risk kids could hang out and socialize. If Spencer and Mason had had a wider circle of friends, perhaps their grim home lives would have felt slightly more tolerable.

An idea started to bloom, and he began to jot down notes. He’d have to get Mason to sign off on it, but he was sure his brother wouldn’t mind. He was about to pick up his phone to call Mason when the soft knock on his front door sent all other considerations fleeing.

Daff.

He went rock hard in an instant.

Just like Pavlov’s fucking dog, he thought with a wry glance down at his straining crotch. He took a moment to will the erection away—his cock mocked him for even trying—before opening the door. She stood there, a cheeky grin on her face, her head tilted to the side and her hands planted on her hips.

“Hey there, big guy. What are you up to?”

“Nothing much.” He stepped aside to let her in. She sashayed past him, leaving him to follow in her deliciously scented wake. She always smelled amazing. He couldn’t tell if it was body wash, perfume, or just her shampoo. Again he wondered if it was vanilla or honeysuckle, and he was about to ask her when she sent him a cheeky peek over her shoulder.

“It’s hot in here. Won’t you take my coat?”

“Of course.” He reached out to help her. She shrugged out of her coat, revealing first one bare shoulder, then the other, then the slim, naked column of her back, her pert, perfectly peach-shaped ass, and finally those gorgeous, shapely legs. His mouth immediately went bone-dry as he drank in the sight of her nudity. Then she turned around, and he nearly passed out when even more blood drained from his brain straight down to his now throbbing cock.