“I’ve never seen my brother interested in anyone long-term before. But from what I hear, you’ve piqued his interest,” Jasmine said.
All the women’s eyes were on her. She pulled the collar of her T-shirt away from her neck, suddenly feeling flushed. “Look, I don’t really know what to tell you. There’s nothing going on between us. So, you have nothing to worry about.”
Remy placed her hand over Belle’s. “Oh, we’re not worried—we were gettin’ excited. Bently is such a good man and he deserves to find happiness after all he’s been through. You seem like a great person from what we can tell.”
“Oh.” It was all she could say.
“He’s taken care of me my whole life, and I would be remiss if I didn’t check out his potential interests. Make sure you won’t break his heart.” Jasmine winked, but Belle got the feeling that the woman meant business.
What did Jasmine mean Bently had taken care of her? Did she have even more in common with Bently and his family than she’d realized? Before she could ask, the door burst open and the men filed in.
“I want a rematch!” Mikel said.
Bently chuckled. “Nope. Not my fault you underestimated my buddy here.” He rose his fist and TJ bumped it.
Belle swallowed. The sight of her brother and Bently getting along so well made her stomach flutter.
Mikel wrapped his arms around Remy. “I got all I need right here. I’m still a winner if I come home to you, baby.” He leaned in and kissed Remy.
Andre splayed his hands over Mia’s cheek. “Me too.” His lips crashed to hers with so much passion that Belle looked away, giving them a bit of privacy.
“Ahhh, come on, ladies. You deserve real men, not these two losers.” Bently chuckled.
Andre pulled back and said, “You’re just jealous I get to go home to this fine woman in my bed every night.”
Bently’s eye’s clouded over before he glanced at Belle.
“You’re just lucky I was there to help you pull your head out of your ass in time,” Bently teased, grabbing another beer from the fridge and walking out to the fire.
Something tugged her out after him. The mix of emotions she’d seen reflected in his eyes was something familiar and recognizable. For the first time, she could see past the jokes and smiles. His mouth said one thing while his eyes told another story. The real question was, what was he hiding underneath the facade?
She walked out into the cool night air towards the crackling fire. She crossed her arms and shivered, having left her jacket in the house.
The tether between them pulled her onward. He sat on a log. Red flames reflected in his blue eyes. Heat from her core spread through her, warming her from within as she sat next to him.
“You okay?” she asked, studying him.
“Why wouldn’t I be? TJ and I won a hundred bucks each,” he answered, not looking up from the fire.
“Why do I get the feeling that wasn’t the first time you saw my brother in action?”
Bently shrugged. “Sometimes we happen to both be at the same court at the same time.”
A burst of gratitude bloomed in her chest. “He seems to like you.”
Bently tipped back his beer, taking a sip. “Most people do.”
A pang of guilt swept through her at the insinuation. “Can I ask you a favor?”
He turned to face her. Half his chiseled face was hidden in the shadows of the night. The corners of his eyes creased. “What do you need?”
Need? Someone to extinguish this fire inside me. Someone to take all these complicated feelings and uncomplicate them.
“I’d like to start over. I made some mistakes and assumed I knew you. That was wrong and unfair. I would like to become friends. If that’s okay with you?” she asked, laying it all out there. She sat in her vulnerability, waiting patiently for his answer.
He blinked a couple times before the corner of his mouth quirked up. “So, this is what it feels like.”
She furrowed her brow. “Like what feels like?”
“To be friend-zoned.”
She laughed, happy to see the humorous glint return to his eyes. “It’s all I have to offer.”
“Then I’d be happy to be your friend, Belle.” He rubbed his hand against the rough stubble on his chin. Something about the way he said it sounded more like he was accepting a challenge.
She licked her lips—his eyes darted to the movement. The tension between them grew thick with anticipation. He leaned in a little closer, his woodsy scent melding with the campfire. She shivered, frozen in place, all thought leaving her head except one. What would his lips feel like on mine?
“Are you cold?” he asked, his gravelly voice bringing to attention just how much closer he was now. He pulled off his jacket and put it around her shoulders before she could answer.
“Thank you.” Now that oak scent was intoxicating her, cloying to every cell and coating it in desire.
“You’re welcome, friend.” He smirked.
The sight sent a shock of wanton lust through her. She clenched her thighs together. She began to tremble from a mixture of hazy need and fear over how her body reacted to him. Something deep inside her whispered, he’s safe. That voice had never misled her before. That intuition was the only reason she was alive.
“I think you’re going to like being my friend,” he said.
“Why’s that?”
“Guess you’ll just have to wait and see, beautiful.” He winked.
A flutter of butterflies erupted in her belly. Excitement she wasn’t used to feeling knotted her stomach with nerves. She didn’t like being this off-kilter. She was always in control—she’d had to be. That was what scared her most about him—the disarray he thrust her into.
He’s safe.
But was she?
Chapter 14
Bently
After walking up the steps to Belle’s house, Bently took a rallying breath and knocked. The way she’d come to check on him, asking if they could be friends, it had given him the first spark of hope he’d had since everything went south at the
