Free What They Don't Know (Won't Hurt Them Trilogy #1) by O. Y. Flemming

even comment. I
can't, he's too much.
    “Great, you'll have
it before midnight.”
    Bryant coughs as if
he's trying to get my attention. I hear “Tomorrow” from Bryant’s
supposed cough. I feel heat rush to my face. Bryant is insinuating
he'll be staying over tonight. All I can do is occupy myself with my
phone. I glance up. Cruz has a slightly disgusted look on his face.
I'm sure he heard Bryant.
    “Hey, Bryant, say we
stick around later and do a little bar hopping to celebrate great
business ventures.”
    Bryant grabs Cruz's
hand and shakes it excitedly. “Hell yeah, absolutely, man.”
    “Congrats, fellas.”
I hold up my wine to toast.
    “You should come with
us, Bree.”
    “No, I'm beat. I need
to get some rest.”
    “Sure, sure,”
Bryant agrees.
    “Besides, men’s
night out. I can't interfere with that.”
    Our food arrives and
I'm starving. I attempt to eat my salmon salad. Bryant eyes it like
he's curious. He sticks his fork in my salad, pulls out a chunk of
salmon and a few pieces of lettuce. He sniffs it before he sticks it
in his mouth.
    “Neanderthal.”
    “Yeah and you love
it,” he retorts.
    I just shake my head.
    Cruz laughs and
comments. “You might want to let her eat. She could use a little
more weight.”
    “That's what I've
been telling her; she's always worried about her weight.”
    “Skinny women are
just that, skinny,” Cruz says.
    “Exactly,” Bryant
responds.
    “Uh, hello, I'm
sitting right here.” They both look at me and shrug.
    “Effin men.”
    I offer to pay my
portion of the bill when I finish my salad. They both look at me as
if they are offended.
    “What? I'm capable.”
    “I know, Bree; I
asked you to dinner.”
    “Okay, Bryant,” I
nonchalantly say to him.
    “I got this, man,”
Cruz offers.
    “It's cool. I got
it,” Bryant says. “You pay for drinks tonight.”
    “Fine.” Cruz
pockets his wallet.
    “Let me walk her to
her car, and we're good to go.”
    “That's cool. I'm
going to hit the john.”
    Bryant escorts me out
with his arm around my shoulder, and his head leaning on mine. I
glance over toward the restrooms. I can see Cruz's face. It’s
serious and his jawline is moving. If he grinds his teeth any harder,
he will gnaw his gums.
    “All right, Bree, if
I'm not too wasted, can I come by?”
    “Sure, Bry, don't get
too drunk. If you do, call me, and I'll come get you.”
    “Okay, but I won't;
you know I won't. You look good tonight by the way.” Win!
    “Thank you.” I
flutter my eyelashes.
    “You do that too
much; your eyelids will get stuck in one of those positions.”
    “Whatever,” I
chuckle. He kisses me on my cheek.
    “Tonight, m'lady.”
    Just as he turns, Cruz
comes over to my car. “Let the lady go home, lover boy. She'll be
fine.”
    “She will be as soon
as I get back to her. Let's do this!” Bryant bellows out.
    “Let's.”
    My heart is on the
floor of my car. Cruz turns around, and mouths, “Ends
tonight.”
    I'm not sure how I feel
about Cruz taking some kind of ownership over me. Well, not me, just
the lower part of me. She seems to be excited. Tonight’s
conversation invades my thoughts on my drive home. I can hardly
focus. Cruz’s demand for me to cut sexual ties with Bryant. The way
Bryant seemed hurt by us not making our friendship a relationship.
It’s a lot to settle within my head right now. Again, Cruz’s
presumptuous demands; where does he get off? I'm not sure I can send
him an email without being bitchy because of his brazen attitude.
I'll CC Bryant just
in case; that way it'll be more professional.
    * * *
    I'm home and showered in less than
an hour. I sit at my desk in my room and fire up my laptop. As a lady
of my word, I copy Tony’s profile and attach it to the subject line
of the email.
    Good evening gentlemen,
    As I promised, Tony's profile is attached. You can contact him on
Monday.
    I will also email him the details of the business and what is
expected.
    Then you can schedule a meeting with him.