Bachelor’s Return (2 page)

James smiled. “Aww, come on, brat. You know that’s not true. I treated your sister the same way. How is Kerry doing?”

“She’s fine. Engaged. Don’t you see her in the city?” A stab of jealousy gutted her. He was always nice to Kerry, but with her…

“No, I haven’t had the time to call her up. When’s the wedding?”

“Next year. Her and her fiancé decided that it was better if Mark made partner at the accounting firm before they married. Kerry should be here on Thursday.”

“How’s your mom?”

Annoyance stung her. She hated the small talk. It was always about her family or his. Shit was getting old. “She’s fine. You should go over and visit her. Mom’s home. I think she’s going to a movie with your mom tonight.”

As if he knew he was annoying her, he grinned. Her skin tingled under his gaze. “So, you’re still the third wheel then? I know how much our moms love having you on their girl outings.”

Any free time she had, she spent working and studying for her Master’s. There wasn’t time. She glared. “I have better things to do.”

“It’s okay that you only hang out with our moms and my sister,” he said, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

She ignored him and moved to carry the boxes in herself. James stopped her with a hand at her elbow and a shot of heat sprang up her arm. Her breath caught, and she stared up him.

Frowning, James dropped his hand. “I got it.”

She waited until he lifted the boxes, then she closed the trunk as he headed inside.

Glaring at his back, she pocketed her keys.

James Bauer will pay for all he’s done.

James wished he’d invested in a pair of earplugs.

“She’s really pretty and you’ll like her and…” His mother went on and on about whomever, he didn’t care. Another matchmaking attempt.

He tuned out his mother’s nagging voice and took a swig of his ice cold beer, eyes trained on the flat screen in front of him. The baseball game had started twenty minutes ago, the same amount of time his ears had been ringing.

“James, are you listening?” his mother asked.

He nodded, without hearing, out of reflex. His patience was thinning, but he willed strength. She’d gotten the nagging out of the way, now she was on to blind dates. He estimated another good twenty minutes before she’d decide to take a break.

“I promise, you’ll like her. Kathy’s daughter is a knockout. A model for some big brand magazine.”

“Aunt Beth, did you want me to take the chicken out of the oven? I think I smell it burning.”

His mother gasped and shot up off the couch. James glanced at the doorway of the living room as his mother scurried past Melissa. His torture session was cut short, thank God.

“About damn time,” he grunted.

The brat grinned at him as she sauntered into the room. His gaze followed her walk. Ever since he’d seen her in the kitchen this morning, he found himself noticing things about her that he’d never had before. Her little catchy laughs at his sister’s joke, the black, silky strands of hair slipping from her tight bun, her silver eyes darkening every time he said something annoying. Hell, he’d never even known she had a dimple when she smiled until now.

The moment he’d touched her in the driveway, he knew he was in trouble.

She’d certainly grown up. The last time he’d seen her was at her graduation four years ago, so that made the brat, what? Twenty-six?

Melissa sat down on the opposite end of the couch and crossed her legs. The sight of her bare skin sent a shiver down his spine, and he felt the stirring of heat in his gut.
Not good.

“You’re welcome.”

He jerked his gaze to her face. “For what?”

“For saving you.” She grinned. “Unless you want me to call Aunt Beth back to continue her lecture.”

He stiffened at the idea. “Don’t even think about it. Or I’ll tell her to set you up too.”

“Don’t you dare.”

He laughed at her grimace. “What? Still no guy?”

“You’re a fine one to talk. At least I don’t have guys knocking on my door in the middle of the night, unlike
some
people.” She picked up the remote and changed the channel.

James frowned. He hated how his sister told Melissa everything that went on in his life. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She scoffed. “Big jugs knocking at your door at three o’clock in the morning when you had some other girl over? Don’t deny it. Your mother even knows. She thinks your soul is going to hell.”

He had to grin. “That was months ago. I don’t have time for women now.”

Melissa settled on the Travel Channel, which was doing an episode on China. She sighed. Her Master’s was in Asian Studies or something, he couldn’t remember.

James stared at her profile. Her concentration was on the screen so he took his time, taking in her small button nose, lush lips and high breasts. He could almost make out the white lace bra under her blouse if she would just…he stopped. His groin tightened at the fall and rise of her chest.
Hell, she’s the brat. Hands off. No, thoughts off.

As if sensing his scrutiny, Melissa turned to look at him. “What?” she asked.

James cleared his throat, hiding his embarrassment, and leaned forward, hoping she wouldn’t notice his arousal. “Nothing.”

He could still feel her stare as he trained his eyes on the TV. A picture of the Great Wall dusted with tourists filled the screen. He swallowed hard when the couch dipped, and Melissa shifted closer. Her breast pressed against him for the barest moment. His body tightened, but she moved away before he could let out the breath he held. She had swiped the dirty cup from the stand next to him and stood up.

“See ya later. I have to go to work.”

James frowned. “Work? It’s Saturday.”

She nodded.

“Where?”

Melissa shifted on her feet. A look of unease passed over her delicate features. “I got a part-time job, bartending.”

He stood up and studied her. She wouldn’t meet his gaze. The brat was up to something. “Why?”

She pursed her lips and crossed her arms over her chest. The movement pushed her cleavage up, but he quickly brought his gaze back to her face. “What do you mean ‘why’?”

“Are you short on cash or some--?”

Melissa closed the distance and waved a finger in front of him. “No, I don’t need your help. I’m doing fine.”

He frowned. “Is it your mother? I can--.”

“No. We’re fine. We don’t need your handouts.” She poked him in the shoulders to emphasize her words.

“Mel…” Startled by the fire blazing in her emerald eyes, he caught her jabbing finger and shook his head in warning. He’d never seen Melissa this angry. He was just trying to help… “Why are you working?”

“It’s just a part-time job I enjoy. Don’t work yourself up over it. And I’m not the little girl you can boss around anymore.”

His eyebrow lifted. Where could she possibly be working?

“Don’t worry. I can take care of myself. Go get ready to go out.” She turned around. “I’ll see you tonight.”

He watched the mesmerizing sway of her hips, then let out a groan and adjusted himself in his tight jeans. Her answer didn’t ease his concern, but he knew one thing: the brat was off-limits. Or so he told himself.

James couldn’t get out of the house fast enough.

After dinner, the girls had gone home to get ready for the club, and he hung out with Alan, drinking beers and watching the local news.

“The finance market must be hard to keep up with,” Alan had said.

James had never understood what his little sister saw physically in the scrawny blond. Alan was a total geek, but at least he made good money working for some IT company. “It is. The economy is making it tough for brokers, but there’s a rise in retirement accounts with the baby boomers.”

“That’s cool,” said Alan.

And that was the end of that conversation. His sister appeared dressed in a short black skirt. He didn’t even like seeing his sister in the flimsy tank tops she wore, but he tried to hide his big brother disapproval. Liv hated when he acted overprotective. “That’s what you’re wearing out?”

Liv made a face. “What’s wrong with it?”

James frowned. “It’s…a little revealing?”

“Get over it.” She took Alan’s arm and pulled him out the front door.

“Have fun,” his mother called from the kitchen.

James shook his head as he followed them out and got into Alan’s Jeep. He didn’t know where they were going and he didn’t care as long as he didn’t have to spend the night listening to his mom go off on how she’d never see him settled before she died. Since his father passed away, he’d become the head of the household, and he didn’t mind supporting his family or paying for his sister’s wedding. As long as they were happy and he didn’t have to marry, he was fine.

He couldn’t handle any more women in his life. And with the brat being mysterious about her job, there was bound to be trouble.

They drove through downtown, and Alan parked his car in front of a pizzeria. The streets were littered with people, ready to get the most out of their weekend. His hometown had grown over the years since he’d been away. Unlike New York City, shops and restaurants were spread out, and there were no tall skyscrapers and strings of policemen patrolling the streets.

James got out of the car and waited for his sister and Alan. “Where are we going?”

“
Sullivan’s.
” Liv pointed at the three-story building down the street. “I don’t think you’ve been there. It opened last year. Arcade on the bottom, restaurant on the main floor and the club is upstairs. I like it.”

James shrugged. As long as he could get his hands on a cold beer, he didn’t care. After the long day he had, he just wanted to relax. He followed them across the street and spotted Liv’s friends, and couldn’t help but wonder if he’d see Melissa tonight. His groin tightened at the thought. The memory of her breast brushing against his arm sent another jolt through him. “When is Melissa coming?”

Liv gave him a nervous glance then drew up Alan’s wrist to look at his watch. “She might be out of work by now. It’s late.”

“Where is she working and why?”

His sister shrugged and immediately grabbed Alan’s hand, pulling him along. He watched Liv speed up to meet her group of friends at the entrance. She was hiding something. He knew it, but he decided to let it go. Melissa and Liv had always gotten themselves in trouble, and he’d be the one to bail them out. He’d find out some time, hopefully before all hell broke loose. The line at the entrance didn’t seem too bad as they approached.

Cara, one of the blondes he’d met earlier, immediately looped an arm around his. “Have you been here before?”

He shook his head. “I haven’t been downtown in a while.”

“The city must make this place look like a dump.”

He chuckled. He didn’t find her amusing or interesting, but made nice to please his sister. If he ever offended any of Liv’s friends, he’d never hear the end of it. His sister was going to be exactly like their mother whether she wanted it or not. “It’s not too bad. Grant has its attributes, like the golf courses and hiking trails.”

Cara frowned as they made their way into the club. He hid his laughter. Most girls hated golf and anything outdoors. It was rare if he found one that shared his enthusiasm.

James stepped away from Cara and pulled out his wallet to pay the bouncer. The gentleman in him never allowed the ladies to pay. Alan argued, but James insisted. They got their hot pink bracelets and then went up the escalator to the club.

He was impressed. The interior was more sleek and modern than he’d assumed from the ratty exterior of the building. Neon swirls lined the walls and big white lanterns hung from the tall ceilings. The dance floor was already packed with a crowd, bumping and grinding to a Fergie song. Alan found them an empty table in the corner, and James left to get everyone drinks. Weaving his way through the tight crowd, he could already smell the sweat blended in with the spilt alcohol on the sticky floors. He found an empty spot at the bar and forced his way in.

The guy next to him hollered out an order and James winced, tempted to rub his ringing ear. Not that he minded these scenes, but he’d been to enough clubs in the city and he had to admit maybe he was getting too old for these hangouts. Expecting some guy bartender, his gaze met a luscious butt clad in tight black leather behind the bar.
Okay, maybe I’m not that old.
His gaze trailed over her long legs, back up to the short skirt, then over the small of her back and to the messy black hair piled on top of her head. Arousal strummed through him. If only she would turn around, he could see her face and admire her breasts, but the sexy bartender was busy punching in numbers in the cash register and counting change.

James looked around to see the line of guys leaning against the bar, admiring the same view. One guy even caught his eye and nodded at him. He had to laugh. Guys were such dicks and he was one of them.

“All right, who’s ne--?” Emerald eyes widened in surprise.

He froze, but finally found his voice. “What the hell are you doing here?”

The brat was in trouble.

He wished his eyes were lying.

Anger swarmed through every pore of his body. He couldn’t believe it, but it was definitely the brat--baring the swells of her pert breasts in some tight confining corset thing.

“What the hell are you doing here?” James repeated.

She had the gall to smile and cross her arms over her chest. “I work here.”

“Grab your things. You’re quitting.” He swallowed the rage clawing to get out. The sight of her and knowing the other guys were seeing what he’d admired a minute ago made him see red. Blood red.

“No.”

“Now, Melissa. I’m not joking.” He toyed with the idea of climbing over the bar to throw her over his shoulder, but one of the guys came up next to him.

“Leave her alone, buddy. She’s working and we all need drinks.”

James glared at the short white man, who immediately moved away, before he turned his attention back to Melissa. “You get your things and come with me
now,
or I’m going to carry you out of here.”