Say You're Mine: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Southport Love Stories Book 4)

by Sarah J. Brooks

  “Do you need any help? I have the afternoon free. And I’m definitely a hands-on kind of guy,” I offered.

  Skylar’s eyes lit up. “Are you serious? Don’t offer if you don’t mean it, because I’m very near to tears here and I’m about to drag you inside and set you to work.”

  I laughed. “I wouldn’t offer it if I wasn’t serious. Put me to work, Miss Murphy.”

  She waved me inside. “Well, come on then.”

  I followed her into her house. She hadn’t lived there long. There were still piles of boxes in the hallway and her living room was in a state of chaos. “I know it looks like a bomb went off in here, but Kyle just finished with the floors and I’m trying to move the furniture without scratching the finish, which is damn near impossible for one person,” she complained, putting the plant down on the window sill.

  “I’ll be the big manly man and move the heavy stuff while you direct me.”

  Skylar swatted my arm playfully and I grinned at her. We smiled a lot when we were together. It was a nice feeling.

  Skylar wasn’t kidding when she said she couldn’t make up her mind. She had me move the couch and the chairs three more times before she settled on how she wanted it. She stood in the corner of the room and watched as I deftly maneuvered furniture. I looked up at her when I was finished to find her staring at me with an expression that I had seen on many women’s faces over the years.

  “For a desk-bound lawyer type, you sure are in shape.” Her smoldering eyes took in my now bare chest and arms. I had taken off my shirt after the first round of musical furniture. “Even Kyle had a hard time carrying that couch, but you moved it easily.”

  She handed me a glass of water and I drank it greedily. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and put the now empty glass on the coffee table. “What can I say? I like to work out.”

  Her gaze swept the length of me and I felt hot all over again. “You sure do hide a lot under all those suits.” She bit down on her bottom lip and I felt my groin tighten.

  “Skylar…” Her name sounded strangled in my mouth. I could feel where this was headed. I knew the way she was looking at me, what she was thinking.

  We were on the same wavelength completely.

  “Is there anything else you need to be moved?” I asked, hating to kill the moment, but needing to at the same time. Because if I didn’t…

  I turned back to look at her, she was standing so close. The warmth of her was intoxicating.

  “Skylar?” I said her name again. I loved saying her name.

  Then I reached for her. And she reached for me. We came together in a chaotic clash of skin and lips and teeth.

  I attacked her mouth like a man drowning. She clung to me, her fingers gripping my naked skin. We kissed like we never wanted to stop. I knew she didn’t want to, and I didn’t either.

  Her hands ran down my chest and I groaned in the back of my throat. I wanted her so badly I could hardly stand upright. In a rush, we dropped to our knees, still kissing. Still touching. I couldn’t get enough of her. I ripped her shirt over her head and threw it across the room. The sight of her bare breasts had me almost blowing a load right then and there.

  I palmed her left breast while working on the button of her jeans.

  This was moving fast. Faster than I meant it to.

  If I didn’t put a halt to this quickly, I was going to be balls deep inside her before I knew it.

  And god, I wanted to be balls deep inside her.

  “Skylar,” I moaned her name. She was kissing a line from my mouth to my ear lobe, sucking it into her mouth.

  I unzipped her pants and reached inside. She was soaking. Fucking hell. The second I touched her I was undone. I knew that I was quickly approaching the point where I wouldn’t stop. That I couldn’t stop.

  I needed to stop.

  Now.

  I withdrew my hand and sat back on my heels. I ran a shaky hand through my hair. “I’m sorry, Sky, I have to go.” I got to my feet and put on my shirt. Skylar stood up, watching me with a closed-off expression. Her mouth was tender and raw from our kisses and god, I wanted to kiss her again.

  I didn’t want to hurt her, but I knew this couldn’t go any further. Otherwise, she’d want to get to know me…

  Not able to help myself, I reached out to her. I wanted to pull her close. I wanted to make her smile again.

  She evaded my touch. “You’d better go then,” was all she said, her voice clipped and cool.

  I picked up my phone. I hesitated. I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to stay. I wanted to spend time with her.

  I had to go.

  “I’ll see you later,” I said to her as she followed me to the door.

  “Sure.” She gave me one last, penetrating look, then closed the door behind me.

  **

  Being so close to her, I couldn’t help but remember what it felt like to touch her. To kiss her. And from the way her neck flushed every time I stood near her, I knew she was thinking about it too.

  Adam and Meg were laughing about some funny thing Tyler had said. Skylar chuckled along with them. I smiled. But neither of us was really giving our attention to our friends.

  I was too focused on being in the same room with her.

  I didn’t think pursuing her was a good idea, yet I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Our lives intersected in so many ways, it was impossible to avoid the intense attraction I felt. But it didn’t matter what I felt because Skylar made it pretty damn clear she wanted nothing to do with me.

  And I deserved it. After that day at her house, she had effectively shut me out of her life. I had tried to call her. More than once. Okay, probably at least a dozen times. She never answered. When I saw her around town, she made sure to go in the opposite direction.

  I had rejected her. And in turn, she was rejecting me right back.

  It fucking sucked.

  Meg brought out the tiramisu cake after we finished dinner. Skylar gave me a quick look and I smiled before she could turn away.

  “Sky, it’s your favorite,” Meg gushed. “That’s so sweet of you, Robert.” She gave her friend a look that I couldn’t read, and Skylar gazed blandly back at her.

  As Meg cut the cake and gave us all a slice, Tyler started getting fussy. Meg lifted him out of his booster seat. “It looks like mister is ready for bed. If you guys don’t mind, I’m going to go bathe him.”

  Adam started to stand up. “Let me come with you.”

  Meg waved him off. “No, you stay with our guests. I won’t be long.” Tyler started sucking on his fingers, tucking his head beneath his mom’s chin. “He’ll be passed out before I have him in PJs at this rate. I’ll be back down soon.”

  Adam stood up and kissed his wife and then tenderly kissed his son’s head. The image of the happy family made something in my chest ache. I had never thought much about having a family of my own. Given my lifestyle, a wife and kids didn’t quite fit. I had the benefit of growing up in a loving household, so it made sense that should be something I would want for myself.

  And maybe have one day. When I was more successful; when I had more money saved up. When I could be sure Mom and Sam were taken care of.

  That was a lot of ‘when’s.’

  I glanced at Skylar to see that she was watching her friends with a sadly wistful expression. I looked away before she realized I was watching her like a weirdo.

  Once Meg and Tyler were gone, Adam cracked open three more beers and passed them around the table.

  “I shouldn’t. Some of us have to drive home.” Skylar pushed the beer away.

  “Robert can give you a ride,” Adam suggested—the king of obliviousness.

  Skylar shook her head. “He’s been drinking too, smarty-pants.”

  “I’m not remotely drunk, Sky. I can take you home if you need a lift,” I offered.

  “That’s okay. I’ll be sober as a nun by the time I head out.” She got up to fill her glass with water and I felt the sting of disappoi
ntment.

  “Whatever, suit yourself. It’s a waste of good ale,” Adam complained. “So, Sky, the boys and I were talking, and we need some more digital marketing done. Is that something you could handle for us?” Adam asked once Skylar sat back down.

  I raised an eyebrow at my partner, and he shrugged slightly. We hadn’t talked about anything of the sort.

  Skylar finished her beer and tossed the bottle in the trash. “Marketing isn’t really my thing, Adam. I can help you with some graphics, drive more traffic to your site, but that’s about the extent of my expertise.”

  “Yes, graphics would be great! Maybe something we could use in online ads. Meg suggested we target social media to drive up business,” Adam went on excitedly.

  “That’s a good idea. That’s where most advertising is successful these days.” Skylar nodded.

  Adam turned to me. “Rob, can you talk to Skylar about some ideas for graphics? You came up with that great tagline for advertising. Remember?”

  “Legal expertise with you in mind? That one?” I asked.

  Adam pointed at me. “Yes! That’s it. It’s pretty good, right, Sky?”

  “Not bad, “Skylar conceded. “It’s a hell of a lot better than the one Jeremy came up with when I was putting the website together.”

  “What was it?” I asked her.

  “Trust me, I’m a lawyer,” she deadpanned, and we all started laughing our asses off.

  “I don’t know, I’m thinking that one might be a winner,” I replied blandly.

  “You’re right. It’s perfect,” Skylar agreed.

  “What? You guys are kidding, right? We can’t have that be our slogan. Please tell me you’re kidding.” Adam seemed slightly panicked.

  Skylar shrugged. “Why would we kid about that?”

  We shared a look then both started laughing again. Adam seemed relieved when he realized we were joking.

  “So, you’ll help her?” Adam asked me.

  “I don’t think Skylar needs my help, Adam,” I argued. Not because I didn’t want to help her—I’d sell a kidney if it meant spending time with her—but I figured she’d be insulted by the suggestion she needed my assistance at all.

  Once again, I’d said the absolute worst thing.

  Skylar tensed; her jaw tight. “I don’t need any help. I’ll be fine doing this on my own. It’s how I like it.”

  “I didn’t mean I don’t want to help you—” I started to say but she wasn’t listening. She wouldn’t hear me.

  “I’d better get home. I have some work to do this evening.” Skylar got to her feet. “Is it safe to go and say goodbye to Meg? I don’t want to interrupt her putting Tyler to bed.”

  “You’ll be fine. She’ll be more pissed if you leave without saying goodbye,” Adam said.

  She leaned down and kissed the top of his head. “See ya later, Decate.” She glanced my way but didn’t say anything.

  Once she was gone Adam gave me a funny look. “Dude, it was colder than the Arctic here. What gives?”

  “I don’t know what you're talking about,” I hedged, peeling the label from my beer bottle.

  “I thought nothing was going on between you two,” Adam prodded.

  “There isn’t.”

  “Then why did she look at you like something on the bottom of her shoe? I know Murphy when she’s taken a dislike to someone. And she seems to have taken a dislike to you. So, what did you do to her?” Adam frowned.

  “Why do you automatically assume I did something? Have you ever known me to do anything to anyone?” I countered defensively.

  Adam thought about that. “No actually. So, what’s going on?”

  I leaned back in my chair. “I don’t know what to tell you, man.”

  He looked at me as if he didn’t believe me. “Skylar is one of my best friends, Rob. So are you. I don’t want to have to take sides if you two have some war brewing. I’ve done that with Wyatt and Lena. It wasn’t fun. I’m not in the mood to do it again.”

  “There’s no war brewing, Adam,” I promised him.

  Because there wasn’t.

  I wanted Skylar Murphy but couldn’t have her.

  Skylar wanted nothing to do with me, which was just as well.

  That was the end of the story.

  Or so I thought.

  Chapter Five

  Skylar

  Working for yourself comes with some amazing privileges. I could wake up, drink my coffee, and then dress in my favorite pair of sweatpants and a faded band t-shirt. Working for yourself also comes with some major drawbacks. The lack of conversation like you’d have in an office surrounded by other people can lead to an increase in “crazy cat lady” behavior. Or in my case, “crazy dog lady.”

  I had taken to walking around the house and having detailed conversations with Edgar, who listened by cocking his head and looking adorable. The problem was he couldn’t really provide me any feedback when I was particularly stuck on a concept, which was the current situation.

  “I don’t know, Edgar. The lines don’t look sharp enough. I’m not sure this works in the market they’re targeting.” I chewed on the end of my pen, squinting at the screen, willing the creativity to come to me. I was feeling braindead today. I hadn’t left the house since the past weekend’s dinner at Meg and Adam’s, and I was starting to feel the isolation.

  Which was why I practically jumped out of my seat and ran for the front door when the doorbell rang. Not caring that my favorite pair of sweatpants had tiny, pin prick holes in the crotch, I dashed to the door, threw it open with a gusto that startled the person on the other side.

  Whitney put a hand to her chest like a southern belle with the vapors. “Good god, Sky, you nearly gave me a heart attack.”

  “Whitney, I’m so happy to see you!” I said with a little more enthusiasm than she was used to hearing from me.

  She cocked her head to the side in a dead ringer imitation of my dog and narrowed her eyes. “Are you okay? Should I be worried? When has Skylar Murphy ever been happy to see anyone?”

  Fair point.

  Edgar poked his head around my side, eager to see our visitor. Whitney came prepared for my behemoth of an animal and fished a treat out of her purse and tossed it to him. He caught it midair. “Well done, Edgar.” She clapped her hands.

  “Come on in.” I opened the door wider for her and she walked into my entryway. “To what do I owe the honor of your presence?”

  “As you know, Kyle’s birthday is a few weeks—”

  “Like the man will let any of us forget it,” I muttered, leading her into the kitchen where I put on a pot of coffee. Webber had been dropping not-so-subtle hints about his upcoming thirtieth birthday for the last six months. And people said women were divas.

  “Right?” Whitney laughed, sitting down at the table. “Well, I’m struggling with what to get him. I had some professional pictures taken of Katie and they turned out wonderfully. But I need to get him a few other things. And the man is horrible to shop for. Mostly because if he wants something, he goes out and buys it. Makes it a little difficult for everyone else when holidays come around.”

  “He really is a pain in the ass.” I brought the mugs over to the table and sat down. “But I’m not sure how I can help you. I plan to give him a kick in the ass for his present,” I joked.

  Whitney smirked. “Good one.” She dumped two spoonfuls of sugar into her cup and took a sip. “I need you to come shopping with me. You’ve known him for ages. You’re one of his closest friends. I’m calling in reinforcements.”

  “You want to take me shopping? Do you know me?” I made a face. Shopping was my idea of hell and everyone knew it.

  Whitney clasped her hands together in front of her in a pleading gesture. “Please, Sky. I’m desperate.”

  “You must be if you drove all the way out here to ask me to spend the day shopping with you.” I drank my coffee quickly and got up to pour myself another one. I was going to need the fortitude it seemed. “Why did
n’t you ask Meg? Or Lena? Or just about anyone else?”

  “Because Meg ends up shopping for everything but what we came there for. And Lena wouldn’t know what to get him either. It’s you, Sky. You’re my only hope,” Whitney intoned dramatically in her movie trailer voice.

  “It just so happens I was looking for an excuse to procrastinate today. Which is the only reason I’m agreeing to this insanity,” I warned her.

  Whitney let out a whoop. “Thank you, Sky. You’re the best. I thought we could hit up the new clothing store on Maple. It looks really nice.”

  “You didn’t say shopping would involve clothing,” I groaned. “Let me get changed and we can head out. But you’re buying me lunch.”

  “Of course!”

  Twenty minutes later we were parked outside of the new clothes store called Amalie’s.

  “I never even knew this was here. How long has it been open?” I asked as we got out of the car.

  Whitney lifted her eyebrows and answered me in the blandest of bland voices. “About a year.”

  “Wow, I need to get out more,” I muttered.

  Whitney patted my back. “Yes, my friend, you do. Now come on.”

  The shop was a whirlwind of shirts and dresses. It seemed to cater to everyone. There was a stack of designer jeans next to a rack of plaid, button-up work shirts. It was a strange mish-mash of styles and colors.

  “What do you think of this?” Whitney held up what appeared to be a tight-fitting graphic t-shirt with a red and green dragon printed on the shoulder and draping down the back.

  I scrunched up my nose. “Web isn’t a twenty-year-old fuckboy. Come on now.”

  Whitney sighed. “You’re right. You’d think since I’ve been married to the guy for over a year I’d have more of a clue what to get him. I just want to buy him something that isn’t a black t-shirt.”

  “How about this?” I asked, holding up a bright yellow polo that I knew he’d hate at first sight.