Page 14 of Big Girl Panties

He huffed out a laugh. "Look, man, if you're hoping she'll change and eventually look like…" He paused, biting down on his bottom lip like he was fantasizing. "The models you date. She won't. I already tried to help her. She doesn’t…”

I surged forward so fast he stumbled backward. "The problem wasn't Brooke. The problem was you were never man enough to handle all of her perfect fucking curves. You," I shoved my finger into his chest, forcing him to take a step back, "are nothing but a little boy."

I twisted, dropping my chest to hers as my hands curled around her ass. I lifted her onto the counter in one smooth motion. Her hands instinctively gripped my shoulders for balance, and the soft gasp that escaped her nearly undid me. The way she looked at me, surprised, flustered, but not pulling away, sent heat straight through my chest.

"So run along, little boy. You can see your way out." My gaze shifted back to Brooke, "The café is closing temporarily so my girl and I can take a," my eyes perused over her curves as I licked my lips, "snack break." I shoved my hips closer, forcing her legs wider as her hands curled around my waist. For a brief moment, I forgot Chris was in the room as I leaned down, brushing my lips over hers.

"This isn't over, Brooke," he growled. "You wanted this divorce, not me. You will…"

My lip curled up into a snarl as my gaze flashed from Brooke to her ex. "If you let another word come out of that mouth," I hissed in warning, "you're going to go back to work without your teeth." I released Brooke, sidestepping out from between her thighs, and slowly moved towards him. "You will lower your voice and speak to her with respect because I have zero problems sitting behind bars for murder."

"Just go, Chris," Brooke ordered, sliding off the counter. "And please don't come back. We have nothing more to discuss. If you have…"

"Yes, we…"

I surged forward again, tangling my hands into his expensive suit. I dropped my face to his. "Shut up and listen." Swallowing hard, he nodded.

"If you have a problem with your job, you'll need to take that up with my father. I am no longer the middleman."

"Do you understand, little boy?"

His head nodded frantically, and I released him with a shove. "Leave and don't come back."

He jerked the door open and stormed out, disappearing. I moved quickly back to Brooke's side. "Are you okay?"

"You didn't have to do that," I opened my mouth to defend myself. "But thank you." I snapped my mouth shut and nodded. "So, does the offer still stand to come to your next match?"

"Abso-fucking-lutely."

She cleared her throat, and I felt what she was about to say. "I feel like I should be honest with you."

"Honesty is good."

"Chris led me on the entire time we dated and even through the first year of our marriage, and I can't go through that again." My brows pulled together. "I know what you were doing today, and I really appreciate it, but from here forward, I need you to be brutally honest with me. If you want to be friends, I'm okay with that, but please do not lead me on. Don't make me believe you like me for more than a friend if you don't."

Friends. Right. I could do friends. Just ignore the fact that she was close enough to touch, that her laugh did things to my pulse that had nothing to do with friendship.

"How about we are friends, and we see where this goes?" I smiled. "Because after you get to know me, you might only want to be friends."

She laughed. "That sounds good. So, no more kissing. It confuses my senses."

"Unless your ex is around," I said. "Then I'm going to kiss you."

"Deal."

Chapter 6

The Art of Self-Sabotage

I yanked the zipper down so hard it caught. The black dress hit my bedroom floor, pooling around my ankles, the fourth one I'd tried in twenty minutes. Matt's match started in ten minutes, and I was still standing in my underwear, staring at my reflection like it might suddenly transform into someone worth showing up for.

"Brooke," Davina snapped through the FaceTime call, her face taking up the entire screen. "What are you doing?"

I shook my head, digging through my comfy clothes drawer. "I'm not going."

"I'm sorry, what?" Davina leaned closer to her camera. I was just out of camera view. "Did you just say you're not going to see the human equivalent of a Greek God who specifically asked you to watch him be hot and sweaty in public?"

"Davina…"