Guy Hater (Fisher Brothers 2)

“That’s it? He’s really good-looking? No shit, Sherlock. Everyone within a fifty-mile radius knows the Fisher brothers are good-looking.”

I shrugged. “What do you want me to say? That I was so lost in those green eyes that I wouldn’t have noticed if the building had caught fire? That having him look at me the way he did made me forget where we were? That just looking at him made my heart race like I was running a marathon?”

She reached out and squeezed my shoulder. “True or false?” It was something we did when we were being serious and wanted an honest answer. Lying wasn’t permitted.

I sucked in a quick breath. “True.”

“At least it wasn’t Ryan. I might have had to plot your murder if he made you feel all those things.”

I was startled as Frank suddenly appeared in front of us, his large frame towering over ours as we sat on the squishy couch.

“Ladies, how are you doing on drinks?”

Britney downed the rest of her No Bad Days before thrusting her glass toward Frank with a pout. “Mine’s all gone.”

Flustered, I tried to fight off the heat that spread throughout my body simply from being near him. I rarely reacted to anyone this way, and I was having a hard time keeping myself in check.

Sure, I was attracted to a handsome face and a hot body as much as the next girl, but this . . . this was something entirely different. Looking at Frank sent shock waves through me. And when he looked at me, it was like he really took his time and saw me. Men in Los Angeles rarely took the time to pay attention to anyone or anything, unless it was their own reflection in a mirror.

“Would you like another, Claudia?”

He spoke slowly, pronouncing my name correctly, and I decided then and there that my name had never sounded as sexy as it did coming out of Frank’s perfect mouth.

I glanced at my glass, which was half full. “I still have some,” I said, swirling the remnants of my Adios Pantalones around inside the glass.

“I could still get you another.” His lips tilted into a slight smile as his gaze burned into mine.

“Okay. Sure.” I smiled back. Or, at least, I hoped I did. My body was numb with all the crazy feelings that Frank triggered in me.

As he walked away, I couldn’t help but watch him go. His ass looked incredible in his jeans, the way they fit him snug and hugged every muscled curve on him. His biceps flexed as he walked, stretching the sleeves of his T-shirt.

“Here.” Britney handed me a cocktail napkin and I took it cautiously, narrowing my eyes in question. “It’s for the drool.”

I tossed the napkin back into her lap. “Asshole.”

“The two of you should get a room. I mean it. I’ve only been here a few times, but I have never, and I mean never, seen Frank mingle with the commoners.”

“And?” I tried to sound like I didn’t care, but I liked what she was hinting at.

“And . . . I think he likes you.”

“He doesn’t even know me.”

“What do you think he’s trying to do? It’s a hell of a lot more than Ryan’s ever done, and I was convinced he liked me. Now I’m not so sure.” Britney tilted her head toward the bar, and I looked to see Ryan smiling and reaching out to touch a woman’s cheek.

He was flirting, but like I’d always thought, it was part of his job. Maybe that’s what Frank was doing too, just being good at his job. I couldn’t let myself pretend something was there that wasn’t. Chastising myself, I tried to reel my heart back to reality.

When a voice called out, “I see the love of my life!” Britney clapped her hands.

I spotted Nick Fisher looking toward the door as a pretty young blonde walked through it, her face flushing red at his words. A petite Latina trailed behind her, smiling and waving at everyone as if they were staring at her. The sight of it made me laugh.

“God, you’re gorgeous. Isn’t she gorgeous, everyone? I love this woman!” Nick shouted, making his way toward the blonde before planting a kiss on her lips and giving the other girl a hug.

“That was the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.” I smiled, envious of the very public display of adoration.

“I know, right?” Britney let out a heartfelt sigh. “I want someone to love me like that.”

“Don’t we all?”