Heat (The Grizzly Brothers Chronicles Book 2)

by Alyssa Rose Ivy

  Looking up from the bar, I locked eyes with an incredibly hot guy. At over six feet tall with brown hair and wearing a tight shirt that barely concealed his muscular arms and chest, it would have been impossible not to notice him. He smiled at me and I found myself smiling back before I snapped myself out of it. Ignoring the invitation in his smile I quickly looked away. “You swore off men,” I reminded myself.

  “Do you girls want to see your room or get some lunch first?” my dad asked, relieving me of my thoughts about the guy.

  “See our room,” I answered quickly. “Is that okay, Jess?”

  “Yeah, sure,” she said distantly. I didn’t bother looking, assuming she had found the same distraction.

  My dad laughed as he led us to the elevators. “I put you girls in a suite on the top floor.”

  The elevator reached our floor and we walked toward our room. It came as no surprise, but our suite was luxurious. Jess and I each had our own room with a bathroom and we shared a large common living space complete with a kitchenette. Two French doors in the main living area opened out onto a balcony overlooking the street below.

  “Wow Dad, you really didn’t need to give us this suite for the whole summer.”

  “Of course I did. I’m your father. Now, why don’t you girls get yourself settled and meet me in the courtyard for lunch in about a half hour?”

  “Sounds great,” I answered.

  As soon as the door clicked Jess gave me a knowing smile. “So, uh, I thought you were swearing off guys.”

  “I am,” I said defensively. Damn, she must have caught me eyeing him.

  “Don’t try to deny it. I saw you checking out that guy and he was checking you out too by the way. Totally hot, but I’ll let you have him, his other friends were cute too.”

  “Don’t even start.” My response was automatic but inside I was surprised I hadn’t even noticed his friends.

  “Oh, come on, promise me that if he’s still there you’ll go talk to him,” Jess pushed.

  “No way.”

  “Why not?” she asked.

  “Because I’m not interested, end of story.”

  “Oh no, you aren’t getting off that easily.”

  Thankfully, I was saved from further argument by a knock. The bellboy from outside had arrived with our bags. He unloaded them two at a time, leaving them just inside the door.

  “Do you girls need anything else?” Without my dad’s presence he seemed much more interested in talking.

  “I think we’re all set for now, but we might need something later.” Jess had turned on the charm.

  “Oh yeah? Maybe I should give you my number then. I’m Billy by the way.”

  I tuned out their conversation, grabbing one of my bags to move it into my bedroom. Shaking my head, I laughed. I had to admit the bellboy was cute; he had the blond surfer boy look going for him, but leave it to Jess to get a phone number a few minutes after arriving in a city.

  I heard the door click closed moments before Jess bounded into my room.

  “Oh my god, this is going to be an awesome summer.” She sprawled out on my bed.

  “Hey Jess?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Don’t ever change, okay?” I laughed.

  “Are you making fun of me?” She sat up indignantly.

  “Not at all. I just know I’m going to miss you this year.”

  “Aww, I’ll miss you too. But we’ll only be a train ride apart.” She was going to her dream school, NYU.

  “I know.”

  “And you could have gone to school in the city. You’re the one who wanted to head to Jersey.”

  “Yeah, because Princeton is really settling, huh?”

  “It is when you are only going there because your parents want you to.”

  I brushed it off, unwilling to let her know how much the jab hurt. “Let’s go meet my dad; I’m starving.” I headed to the door before Jess could argue. I’d never told her how I’d actually wanted to go somewhere more urban for school. Either she was more perceptive than I thought, or I was more transparent.

  My eyes drifted to the bar as we walked through the lobby to the restaurant. I sighed with relief, but couldn’t help but feel some disappointment as I noticed the now empty bar area.

  “I guess you’re off the hook for now, but next time you won’t be so lucky,” Jess said as she noticed the expression on my face.

  I didn’t even answer.

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