My Brother's Best Friend is My Obsession

Brandon's POV I noticed her because she wasn't looking at me. Which, admittedly, made me sound like an asshole. But there were seventy people crammed into Carter's apartment, half of them drunk, and I'd already caught three women checking whether Ivy Davidson was anywhere nearby before deciding how hard they wanted to flirt with me. She wasn't. Ivy and I were currently off. Again. Probably temporarily. Again. I should've been enjoying myself. Instead, I was holding a beer I didn't want, listening to Colter argue about football, when a woman across the room laughed. And I forgot whatever the f**k he was saying. She stood near the balcony doors. Black dress. Black mask. Soft, generous curves the dress didn't attempt to hide. Thank God. Her waist drew in before flaring beautifully at her hips. Dark fabric hugged thick thighs, and for several highly educational seconds my brain stopped contributing anything useful to society. Then she smiled. Fuck. Not the practiced smile women gave when they knew someone was watching. This one escaped. Bright. Unprotected. Beautiful. Something pulled tight low in my stomach. “Jacobs.” Nothing. “Brandon.” I dragged my eyes away. Colter followed my stare. “Seriously?” “What?” “You haven't heard a word I've said.” “Sure I have.” “What did I say?” I took a drink. “Football.” He stared at me. “Brilliant.” “Thank you.” My attention wandered back. She was gone. Disappointment hit significantly harder than it had any right to. What the f**k? “You looking for someone?” “No.” Colter's grin appeared. Pain in my ass. “Sure.” “Go bother somebody else.” “With pleasure.” He disappeared into the crowd. I lasted maybe thirty seconds. Then I went looking for her. Pathetic. --- I found her in the kitchen. Alone. She was reaching for a bottle of water on top of the refrigerator, stretched onto her toes. I stopped in the doorway. That dress should've been illegal. She reached again. Failed. Muttered something. I laughed. She spun. Those eyes hit mine through the mask. Blue. Something inside me paused. Familiar. The thought disappeared when she crossed her arms. “Enjoying yourself?” Very much. “Little bit.” Her eyes narrowed. “You could help.” “I could.” “And yet here you stand.” I smiled. There it was. Not shy exactly. Nervous. But fighting through it. Interesting. I walked over and took the bottle easily. She glared. “You're obnoxiously tall.” “You're welcome.” “I didn't thank you.” “You were about to.” “I really wasn't.” “Want me to put it back?” Her lips twitched. “Would that make you feel powerful?” Jesus. I handed her the water. “You always this hostile to people helping you?” “You always make women work this hard for hydration?” I laughed. Actually laughed. She looked startled by the sound. Then pleased. Fuck. I leaned against the counter. “What's your name?” Something changed. Tiny. Her fingers tightened around the bottle. “Mysterious Stranger.” “That's your name?” “Tonight.” “Convenient.” “It's Halloween.” “So?” “So I'm allowed secrets.” I studied her. “Boyfriend?” Her eyebrows shot upward. “Subtle.” “Wasn't trying to be.” “No.” “No boyfriend?” “No subtlety.” I grinned. She took a drink, watching me over the bottle. “And the boyfriend?” “Also no.” Good. Way too f*****g good. “You?” she asked. “Girlfriend?” “Yes.” “No.” “That sounded complicated.” “It isn't.” One eyebrow lifted. “You hesitated.” “Observant.” “Defensive.” My smile faded. She noticed that too. Who the hell was this girl? “You psychoanalyze everyone you meet?” “Only arrogant football players.” I straightened. “How do you know I play football?” She froze. There. Barely a second. But I saw it. Then her gaze traveled deliberately down my body. Slow. Jesus Christ. When she reached my face again, her cheeks were pink beneath the mask. “You look like you run into people recreationally.” I barked out a laugh. “That's your answer?” “Was it inaccurate?” “No.” “Then we're good.” She moved past me. Close. Her perfume caught me. Soft. Warm. Something familiar underneath it. I caught her wrist. Gently. She stopped. Looked down at my hand. Then up at me. Electric. That was the only f*****g word for it. Her pulse fluttered beneath my fingers. Mine wasn't doing much better. I released her. Not because I wanted to. Because suddenly I wanted to know whether she'd stay without me holding her there. She did. My voice lowered. “Have we met?” Her breath caught. “No.” Too fast. I stepped closer. She stepped backward. Once. The counter stopped her. I stopped myself before touching her. Barely. Those blue eyes lifted to mine. My f*****g heart kicked. “You sure?” “Pretty sure I'd remember your ego.” I smiled slowly. “There she is.” “Who?” “Girl who keeps insulting me instead of leaving.” Her lips parted. “You're blocking the exit.” Without looking away from her, I stepped sideways. The doorway was completely clear. “Problem solved.” Her eyes flicked toward it. Then back to me. She didn't move. Fuck. Me. I leaned closer. Not enough to kiss her. Enough to make the possibility exist between us. “Now what's your excuse?” Her breathing changed. So did mine. For one second, the party disappeared. Music dulled behind walls. People vanished. There was just this woman whose name I didn't know looking at my mouth like she wanted something she was afraid to take. Then her eyes lifted. “No excuse.” My pulse kicked. “Good.” She whispered, “That doesn't mean you're getting what you want.” I smiled. Now I was f*****g hooked. “And what exactly do I want?” She leaned close enough that her breath touched my ear. Every muscle in my body tightened. Then she whispered: “Me.” She slipped past me. I stood there like an i***t for half a second. Then turned. She was disappearing into the crowd. “Mysterious Stranger.” She glanced back. That smile. Christ. Then she vanished. And for the first time in years, I didn't want the woman who wanted me. I wanted the one making me work for it. The problem? I had no f*****g clue I'd just spent ten minutes flirting with my best friend's twin sister.