Free Negligee Behavior by Shelli Stevens Page A

awhile. So don’t get any ideas.”
    She narrowed her eyes and swallowed the slow burn of anger that rose in her throat.
    “Ideas? What makes you think I was getting ideas about him?” Marco couldn’t even figure out that she wanted him , yet he’d deciphered she wanted to get his coworker into bed? Men were idiots.
    “Everybody’s interested in Sebastian. The guy’s a fucking chick magnet. It’s the accent.”
    “It’s more than the accent. He’s hot,” she replied before thinking about it. Marco’s scowl deepened. Eek, wrong thing to say. Change the topic, Brandy . “I bet you guys get a lot of business from the women. Two hot, single men working a bar?”
    “One would think. I guess the word hasn’t gotten out yet.”
    “How long has the bar been open anyway?”
    “Only about six months, but we’re doing okay.”
    Sebastian returned with her water and gave them a speculative look. He twisted the lid off the bottle and poured it into a cup.
    “You two know each other?”
    “Yes. I’m Brandy, by the way. I hijacked his bike,” Brandy answered before he could. She picked up the water and took a sip. “He’ll tell you all about it while I run to the bathroom.” She stood, winked at Sebastian and then made her way to the back of the bar to find the restrooms.
    Marco knew he looked about as irritable as he felt. Rubbing a hand across the back of his neck, he waited for the question sure to come.
    “Are you fucking with me?” Sebastian asked from behind the counter. “That sweet little lass hijacked your motorcycle?”
    “Shut it. She’s not as sweet as she looks. The woman’s got balls.” His mouth curled into a sardonic smile. “For a choir teacher.”
    “A choir teacher?” Sebastian tilted his head and looked off towards the bathroom where she’d disappeared. “What, you mean like that lady in The Sound of Music ? I always sported a bit of wood over that one growing up.”
    “You’re a sick man, Sebastian.”
    “Yes. So I’ve been told.” His humor dimmed a bit. “And that’s why my Ellen’s divorcing me.”
    Anger drew Marco’s mouth tight. “That’s bullshit. You need to stop giving that crazy bitch any credence. It was her problem, not yours.”
    “It doesn’t matter anymore.” Sebastian gave a loose shrug and grabbed a rag to wipe down the counter.
    The hell it didn’t. Everyone always harped on Marco to meet a woman and put down some roots. But if anyone deserved a good woman and the picture-perfect life, it was Sebastian. He just hoped it’d happen some day to the guy.
    “So how did you say you picked up the choir teacher?”
    “She was supposed to get married yesterday and got cold feet or something. I was on the Strip coming home from work, and she comes running out of this chapel.” He shook his head, a laugh rumbling in his chest. “And she just jumped on the back of my bike, man, didn’t even ask.”
    “Ah, that’s classic. Sounds like some kind of cheesy romantic movie or something.” Sebastian nodded, and gave him a curious look. “But let me ask you. You didn’t feel the need to tell her to get right back off your bike? Or drop her off somewhere? I mean you said yesterday , mate. That’s quite a bit of time you’ve been spending together.”
    It sounded a little strange when his friend put it that way. Still, he didn’t like where the line of questioning had gone. “It’s not like that. I just felt sorry for her.”
    “Ah, that’s quite a bit of niceness for someone who just feels sorry for someone.”
    “I’m not nice.”
    “I think the teacher would disagree with you.”
    “Fuck off.” His temper spiked.
    “I’m back, did I miss anything?” Brandy approached from behind and then climbed up on the bar stool and grinned at them. “Am I being labeled the crazy-psycho-hijacking-bride yet?”
    “Not quite. More like the little lost kitten who needed saving. What are you going to do about your fiancé?” Sebastian asked. “Do you