Flawlessly Flawed

by Amelia Shea

  T stared at Stone. They had been close since they both came to live as brothers. He was close to all his brothers but he and Stone shared a bond; fucked up childhoods, their time in the Marines together. They were as close as blood brothers could be. Stone knew him better than he knew himself.

  He held Stone’s stare until he nodded. “Okay, man, I get it.” He laughed. He shoved the last of the brownie into his mouth and got up from his chair, walking to the door. T looked back at his screen, trying yet again to focus on what he was reading.

  Stone knocked on the wall to get his attention and T looked up.

  “Some chicks, man? Some are worth the chase, and that little doe-eyed beauty, she might be one of them.” He nodded and walked out of T’s office.

  Chapter 5

  THREE days had passed since the incident with T. Every time Cassie thought of it she wanted to slam her head against the wall. Why had she gone to his office? She practically humped his leg, getting completely aroused, just to be shut down. She couldn’t handle him in bed—that’s what he said. Again she wanted to slam her head against the wall. Hard!

  A small amount of tender attention during a traumatic experience didn’t mean he wanted to have sex with her. Lesson learned. Cassie shook her head and rolled her eyes while in line at the coffee house. She had to stop thinking of him. Stop!

  “Next customer.”

  Cassie moved up to the counter and smiled at the college kid behind the counter. The girl forced a smile and lifted her brows in question. Right, she wanted her to order, no small talk. Customer service was on a severe decline.

  “Hi! Can I get a large maple latte, please?” Cassie reached for her wallet and waited for her total.

  The girl fiddled on the register and said, “Three ninety-five.”

  Cassie grabbed a five and reached out to hand it to her but the girl wasn’t looking at her. She was gawking over Cassie’s shoulder. This girl wasn’t going to last long. Hello? Paying customer, take my money, that’s what you’re being paid to do.

  The girl’s interest behind her had Cassie curious. She looked over her shoulder to see what was so interesting and lost her breath at the sight. Two customers back, T was standing with Bogs, who was sporting a large grin. He winked at Cassie when she looked at him. She dared a look at T who, as always, was scowling at her.

  She turned back to the girl with a strained smile. “Here.”

  The girl seemed surprised to see Cassie standing there. Wake up, tart! The girl took her money and gave her change. She moved over to the pick-up counter and stared straight ahead. The quicker she got her latte and was out of there the better she’d be.

  She could see them from the corner of her eye at the counter ordering but she kept her eyes trained on the man in front of her. She refused to make any more eye contact with him. She released a breath when the man in front of her grabbed his coffee and left. She was next. Hopefully she’d get hers before they finished ordering.

  “What’s up, baker girl?”

  No such luck. Damn!

  Cassie turned to see Bogs’ smiling face. “Hey.” She turned back and started to tap her foot. C’mon people, it’s just a friggin’ latte.

  “Whatcha doing here?”

  Oh, my God. Why was he talking to her?

  “Knitting a sweater,” Cassie retorted with an eye roll. She knew she was being a bitch but at this point, she really didn’t care. He seemed nice but if he was hanging with T, he was bound to be a dick, at least by association.

  Bogs burst out laughing. “Cute and sassy? My kind of girl. Hey, we should go out sometime.”

  Cassie slowly turned her head. Was this guy nuts? No way was she going to go on a date with T’s friend. Hell no! Cassie eyed him cautiously. Was he serious? He looked serious. She glanced up at T standing next to him. His eyes blazed into hers. His face was hard and he looked pissed. His jaw was tight and his glare was harsher than it had been.

  “No, thank you.”

  He laughed again, louder this time, drawing attention from the customers. He stepped closer to Cassie. “No thank you? Aww, man…cute, sassy, and polite? You gotta go out with me, hell, marry me!”

  The tart from behind the counter appeared but ignored Cassie. All her focus was on the guys. “Sorry you had to wait, here’s your order.” She placed two coffees and two small pastry bags on the counter while beaming up at them.

  What? She had been in front of them. Where the heck was her latte? Cassie stepped to the counter, pushing her way past T and Bogs.

  “Excuse me?”

  Tart girl turned to Cassie losing her smile. “Yeah?”

  “Where’s my order? I was here before them and I’m still waiting.”

  Tart girl appeared confused but still kept her attitude. “What did ya order?”

  Cassie lost it; she friggin’ lost her shit. “Oh, my God, are you kidding me? I ordered a maple latte like ten minutes ago, before them.” She pointed to T and Bogs.

  She huffed as if Cassie was being difficult. “If you’ll be patient, I’ll make it now.” She stormed away.

  “Mmmmm…this shit is good.”

  She looked over to Bogs who had a mouthful of brownie. T was standing behind him still watching her.

  “Not as good as yours, baker girl, but damn good. I might have to grab another one.” He smiled and wiggled his eyebrows. “I bet I get mine before you get your coffee.” He chuckled and walked to the counter.

  Tart girl came over and put the latte on the counter. “Caramel latte.” She stared at Cassie and then gestured to the cup. “Your latte.”

  Through gritted teeth, Cassie seethed. “I ordered a maple latte, not caramel.”

  Tart girl huffed again and placed her hands on her hips. “Why are you being so difficult?”

  What? What? Oh, my God, save me, help me, I’m seconds away from jumping this counter and drop kicking Tart Girl.

  Cassie heaved a loud breath, looking up to the ceiling. “Really?” She released a mocking laugh. “Seriously?”

  “Who are you talking to?” The tart stared at her and then looked up.

  “Please, I just want what I ordered and paid for, is that too much to ask?” Cassie snapped.

  Tart girl scowled at her. “Let me get my manager.”

  “For what?”

  “We aren’t supposed to deal with irate customers.”

  Cassie flinched, utterly confused. What the heck was going on? She took a deep breath and released a loud sigh. This day was going to be crap, she knew it. Forget this, forget them, she was done, and it was only nine-thirty in the morning.

  “Ya know, forget it, this is just ridiculous, I can’t even…” She surrendered. Stupidity one, Cassie zero. Cassie turned to the door and rushed out stomping down the street. This was the most asinine confrontation she’d ever had. If this was any indication of the day she was about to have, she’d be smart to go home and crawl back in bed.

  * * * *

  T watched Cassie storm out the door. The whole scene was fucking hilarious. Seeing Cassie get flustered and then angry reminded him of a little puppy pulling on a chew toy. Her talking to the ceiling…He almost lost it and burst out laughing. God, she made weird so fucking cute. And talk about feisty, she may be small but the chick had fight in her. He didn’t understand why she gave up and walked out without her coffee. She turned a bright shade of red going back and forth with the dumb bitch behind the counter. Maybe she was embarrassed. That thought heated T up. No reason for her to be embarrassed, she didn’t do shit wrong.

  He looked at the girl behind the counter. She let out a giggle and muttered, “What a bitch!”

  For some reason, unknown even to him, that pissed him off. He stalked up to the counter. “Hey.”

  She turned around and smiled when she realized who was talking to her. This angered him more. She sauntered up. “Hi.”

  “Get me her latte,” he snapped.

  The stupid bitch f
linched at his tone. He glared at her before she put her head down and walked back to the coffee station. He watched her to make sure she didn’t do anything to the coffee. She put on a lid and came back, her face showing her embarrassment.

  “Here ya go.”

  T grabbed the coffee. “You suck at your job, you might want to find something that doesn’t involve dealing with people.”

  He stalked out, Bogs laughing behind him. Pushing the door open with his shoulder, he walked out and looked up and down the street. She had probably already left. Another scan up the block, he saw her. Small, with white-blond hair sticking up in every direction and wearing a sundress and sandals, toned tan legs. That fucking girl was too pretty, he couldn’t figure out why he never saw her with a guy. In the two weeks he’d spent at her place, he never once saw her with a guy, or heard her talk about a guy. It was just as well she hadn’t brought anyone around, seeing her with another guy would have pissed him off. Tina had made a fucked-up comment about her not being into men. However, the way she came onto him, reacted to his touch, she was very much into guys.

  He shoved his coffee and bag at Bogs, who was shoveling the second brownie into his mouth. “Hold this, be back in five.”

  “Go get her, man,” Bogs mumbled with his mouth full of food.

  T glared at him and took large strides to catch up to Cassie, walking to the street.

  “Hey!” he shouted.

  Cassie looked around her, zoning in on T, and her eyes widened in surprise. She looked around her again and then back at him. He smirked. She thought he was talking to someone else. He stopped a foot in front of her and held out the coffee. “Here.”

  She looked down at the cup and back at him. “What’s that?”

  “Your fancy crap. Here.” He pushed the cup out further.

  She slowly took the cup from his hand and her finger brushed against his. She gave him a small smile. “Um…thanks.”

  He stared at Cassie’s eyes, big and blue. She was almost cartoon-like, definitely too sweet and innocent for him. That thought made him mad. Girls like her had no place in his bed, even if that was exactly where he wanted her. He wanted her begging him to fuck her, begging for his kiss. A kiss that he wanted to give her, something he hadn’t craved with any other woman, but with Cassie he envisioned those soft lips on his, his mouth devouring her, loving her. Fuck!

  He swiftly nodded and turned back around. He could feel her eyes on him and resisted the urge to look back. Those eyes fucking killed him. They made him want to chance it, risk it with her, give into her and make her his. She was slowly breaking down walls he’d spent years building. Protecting his heart, and somehow this little pixie was wiggling her way in. Her beauty, her sweet heart, her weirdness—it was all creeping in. T shook his head, it was just a matter of time before she got in, because he knew once he gave her his heart, he’d never let her go.

  He walked back to Bogs and grabbed his coffee and bag. “Let’s go.”

  “Oh man, you guys keep dropping like flies.”

  T looked at him in question.

  Bogs snorted. “That chick, man, she got ya, T.”

  “Fuck off,” he snapped.

  “Okay, deny it, man, that’s cool. But I’m gonna love watching this fucking show, maybe even more than Stone’s.”

  Chapter 6

  THE day had been yet another day from hell. Cassie had spent the entire morning confirming with everyone from the caterers to the band. Everything was set for next Friday. The Hillard Group Gala would go off without a hitch, fingers crossed. Of course, for the next week, she was expected to live and breathe this event. She couldn’t wait until next Saturday; she would spend the entire day and weekend in bed.

  Cassie looked up from her desk when she heard the loud footsteps from the hallway. Evie was running, a box in hand, toward her with a look that said, We messed up. Cassie stood and met her halfway.

  “What’s the matter?”

  Evie was breathing heavy and panting. “We…forgot…” trying to catch her breath, “to drop off the favors for the party at Shepard’s. Just got off the phone with Roxanne.”

  Damn! Cassie let out a breath. They had been so consumed with the Gala that she forgot to get the favors for the Barrett party. She looked at her watch. The party was scheduled to start in less than thirty minutes. It would be cutting it close but she could make it. She hoped.

  “I’ll run them over now.” She grabbed her bag from behind her desk and took the box from Evie.

  “You sure? God, this is all my fault.” Her voice was laced with worry.

  Cassie smiled back at her. “Evie, it’s fine. I’ll say there was a glitch. Roxanne will understand.”

  Cassie rushed down the hall and out the door. She hoped to God Beverly didn’t get wind of this. She was waiting for Evie to mess up one more time just to can her ass. She got in her car and sped all the way to Shepard’s. The lot was almost full when she got there. Shit!

  She pulled into a spot and hopped out. There were a few people heading inside as she followed. The restaurant had closed down for this event. The dining room was set up but empty. The party was being held on the patio. She had come over this morning to make sure everything was perfect, and it was. Their client, Roxanne, had been a huge part in making it all happen. She was involved in every aspect of the planning for her brother and soon-to-be sister-in-law. She looked around but since she had only spoken to Roxanne on the phone she had no clue what she looked like. She placed the box on a table and went in search of her.

  There were a few people wandering around. Maybe she should call her and tell her she was here. That was better than asking every woman if she was Roxanne. Cassie pulled her phone from her bag and walked over to a corner. She scrolled down her contacts.

  “I just thought you’d want me here, honey.” The female voice caught her attention. A hundred percent sultry and seductive. Cassie wished her voice sounded like that.

  “If I wanted you here, I’d have brought you here. Fucking crazy bitches.” The mean growl was louder than acceptable in public.

  Cassie peeked around the corner and her mouth dropped open. A gorgeous blonde with long, straight hair and a face full of perfect makeup stood a few inches down from a big, tattooed, shaved head man. She looked up to the ceiling. Really? Here? Now? Today? The woman’s voice grabbed her attention again.

  “But I thought we had something,” she stepped closer, “special.” She gave an open-mouthed smile.

  She could see T’s profile. His face went dark and his brows knitted downward. “We fucked,” he held up his finger, “once.” The blonde flinched at his nasty words. “You’re about as special as the chick I banged the next night.”

  What a jerk! Leaving the blonde with a shocked look on her face, he turned and started in Cassie’s direction. She had little time to hide behind the corner before he saw her. She quickly backed away around anyway.

  T rounded the corner and his tense body blocked her way. “What the fuck are you doing here?” His growl was nasty.

  She was now face to face with a very angry T. Aside from the menacing scowl and snarl, he looked incredible. A gray collared shirt, unbuttoned at the collar, and tight blue jeans. He looked sexy as hell.

  He stalked closer. “Why are you here?”

  Cassie blinked out of her haze. Shit, he was yelling at her again. She was speechless, caught off guard by his tone. She took a breath and opened her mouth but he stepped into her space, leaving only a foot separating them.

  “Are you fucking following me?”

  “What? No, of course not!” Cassie stepped back, stunned. She may be slightly infatuated with him but she wasn’t a stalker.

  “You have got to be shitting me? You are following me, aren’t you?”

  Cassie gulped a breath and couldn’t speak. What was he talking about?

  His head shifted to the right and then back to her.

  Just as Cassie was about to spe
ak, he grabbed her arm and pulled her to the patio door heading toward a couple that had just walked in. What the hell was he doing? She yanked at her arm but he glared at her and she stopped. As they got closer to the couple she recognized the guy. Stone.

  “It’s about fucking time, man!” T said, dragging her behind him. The couple stopped and looked over. The girl smiled at T and then looked down to Cassie. Oh no, this must be Stone’s party. But the party name was under Barrett. This must be some mistake. The girl next to Stone was beautiful with long brown hair and soft brown eyes; she was just a bit taller than Cassie. Her eyes darted around the room before returning the girl’s smile. She craned her neck to look at T.

  “You guys go in before Roxanne sends out a SWAT team for your asses. Oh, and Bogs has already planted in everyone’s mind that the reason you’re late is because you pulled over to fuck!” T snorted.

  Cassie gasped in shock. Stone laughed while his girl just rolled her eyes. The girl seemed unaffected by his rude comment. Meanwhile Cassie was appalled that he’d be so crude.

  “Are you guys coming in?” the pretty brunette asked T, looking between him and Cassie. She was blatantly checking Cassie out. She was probably wondering what T was doing with her. He was obviously dating down if she was his date, Cassie thought to herself. The girl’s face remained slightly confused but intrigued.

  “Later, you guys go, I’ll catch up.” He turned, grabbed Cassie’s hand and dragged her back through the empty restaurant.

  He stopped and whipped around at the entrance, letting go of her but keeping his scowl directed at her.

  Cassie put her hands out as she spoke. “Listen, you’ve got it all wrong. I’m here…” She immediately stopped when he stalked toward her.

  “I’m only gonna say this once, so listen the fuck up. You stay away from me, you got that? I don’t want to see you, hear from you. You got nothing I want.”