A Shattered Heart (Fractured Lives 2)

"You're not the boss of me," I muttered, noting the small dimple in his chin.

His eyes twinkled with amusement at my words, but he refrained from commenting. "No, but I'm sure you would rather I didn't call your dad."

"That's playing dirty," I muttered, tempted to bring my knee up to his crotch to wipe away some of his cockiness.

"Maybe, but I care enough about you not to care about getting a little dirty. Do you have a problem with that?"

I opened my mouth to answer but abruptly closed it. "Fine, I was going to move anyways," I said, crossing my arms over my chest. It wasn't entirely a lie. My lease was up in a few weeks and I'd recently been debating whether I wanted to sign for another year. The hassle of actually moving had been the only thing holding me back.

"You were?" He quirked an eyebrow at me.

"Yes, so it wasn't your idea. Now I have to find an apartment." I sighed, not ready to deal with that issue.

"You can live here," Brian interjected, closing my car door.

I gaped at him. "What?" He was crazy if he thought I was going to move in with him. We didn't even have a definition for what we were doing here. Sure, we'd slept together—more than once—but that didn't automatically deem us a couple. "I can't move in with you," I said, digging my heels in.

"Why not?" he countered.

"I could list a million reasons why not," I stuttered, looking at him incredulously.

He surprised me by cracking up. "I was teasing," he got out between laughs. "I didn't mean move in with me, though I'm sure my roommates wouldn't complain. The complex has plenty of units available at the moment. If you jump on one now, you'll get it before the influx of students next month. You have to admit even your dad would approve of this complex."

I digested his words. He was right about how Mom and Dad would feel about me making a move here, but did I really want to put myself in such close proximity of him? It had complicated disaster written all over it. "I'm not sure," I hedged. "I'll need to think about it."

"Kat, this has nothing to do with us. This complex is perfect for you. It's far enough from campus that you won't feel bogged down by the whole college life but close enough that you can get around easier. Even if I wasn't living here I'd suggest this place."

He walked up the short path, stopping in front of the first apartment on the second floor. I followed more reluctantly, almost afraid he'd think I was conceding if I checked out his apartment. In all honesty his suggestion was pretty appealing. I still hated the idea of moving, but not searching for a new complex was a pro.

"So, what do you think?" Brian asked, handing me a Coke after I settled on the couch in his living room.

"It looks like a typical bachelor pad," I answered.

"That's because my roommates are total dogs. I'm talking about moving here. We can go down to the office now and start to get you squared away."

I sighed, rolling my eyes. He was like a dog trying to get at a bone, completely relentless. "Not only are you bossy, you're also super pushy."

"Not pushy. Assertive. I'm an action kind of guy. I see a problem and look for a solution to solve it."

"You know I'm not your problem, right?" I said as he settled on the couch next to me with his own Coke.

He popped the tab before answering me. "You know it won't kill you to accept help from other people, right? You won't spontaneously combust if someone does something for you." His knee brushed against mine. My head instantly filled with scenes from our night together. Neither of us had spoken about it, but I could feel it heavy in the air. It could have been my imagination, but I could sense he felt it too. I hated that I was so attracted to him. It felt wrong and seedy.

"That's what you think," I quipped, finally answering him as I set my soda on a table that was littered with remotes. I didn't have a clue why they needed a half-dozen remotes. I leaned forward, lining them up by size in an attempt to avoid looking at him. His close proximity was tying my stomach into knots. I tried to remind myself why I was here. My mind refused to cooperate.

He leaned forward and laid a hand on top of mine, stilling my remote control fetish. "Kat."

The knots in my stomach loosened slightly at his voice. I knew it was wrong, but I couldn't help wishing I could lean into him and forget everything else for just a little while. I didn't move or look at him as I waited for him to say more.

He didn't speak again though. Instead, he stroked his fingers across the back of my hand in small circles before traveling up over the back of my wrist. His touch was slow and steady as it moved up my arm. My breath caught in my throat as it found the bare skin of my upper arm. I could feel my resolve slowly disappearing as he lifted my arm and brought his lips to the sensitive skin of my wrist. We had a million things to figure out, but I couldn't make any of them stick around long enough to take root. All I could think about was his lips on my skin. I leaned into him, pushing all the reasons we shouldn't be together to the back of my mind.

Nineteen

Detective Morris called me late that afternoon to tell me I could return to my apartment. I was laying in Brian's arms on his couch when my phone rang and I debated not answering it. I'd been expecting the call that would signify they'd cleared Carlos' body away. The idea of returning to my apartment held no appeal. I knew I had to go back eventually, at least to pack a bag. I didn't think I could ever sleep there again.

"I'll take you in the morning," Brian said, reading my thoughts once I hung up the phone.

I was too grateful that I wouldn't have to return to my apartment to mind his assumption I would stay with him. Somewhere in the middle of making love I'd given up the will to fight my feelings for him any longer. He was bossy as all get out and might have been Dan's brother, which I was sure would earn us a fair amount of judging, but my attraction to him could no longer be contained. It wasn't just a physical attraction. Everything about him drew me in. His intelligence, kindness, even his assertive behavior. I liked being with him.