Unexpected Lovers Box Set by J.B. Heller

The other tablesin Zenith’s restaurant are beginning to fill as Sam and I are leaving. Which reminds me . . . “You didn’t tell me why you were up so early yesterday—or today, for that matter.”

“I’m in the gym by five every morning. It’s a habit I can’t break nowadays.”

I stop dead in my tracks. “That sounds awful.”

Sam shakes his head at me and places a palm on my lower back, urging me onward. “You were awake when I messaged you yesterday. And you agreed to an early breakfast today, so obviously mornings don’t bother you. What’s so awful about it?”

“I’m not worried about early mornings—I can’t sleep past five myself. It’s the gym.” I cringe. “No, thank you. Everybody’s sweat mingling on the equipment. It’s nasty.”

He chuckles as we come to a stop outside his building. “It’s a great way to start the day, gets your blood pumping and creates endorphins. Win–win. Also, there are these things called sanitary wipes that the machinery is cleaned with after each use.”

I pat his chest, patronizing him. “Okay, gym junkie, whatever you say. I’ll stick to going for a dip with my girls. That wakes me plenty.”

Sam grimaces. “I’d rather be a gym junkie than insane. Of course swimming with sharks wakes you up—your subconscious is preparing for an inevitable bloody death.”

Oh. My. Goodness. This guy. I can’t contain my laughter. “You’re a hoot. But you know I’ve just made it my personal mission in life to get you in that tank with me one day,” I say with a wink.

He blanches. “The hell you will.”

I waggle my eyebrows as I walk backwards to my awaiting Uber. “We’ll see,” I say then slam the door on Sam’s response, laughing at the expression on his face as the car pulls away from the curb.

Unsurprisingly, a text chimes on my phone before I’ve reached the end of the block.

SAM: It’s not going to happen. Ever.

ME: I think it will.

SAM: I think you’re deluding yourself.

ME: Is little Sammy scared of the big bad sharks?

SAM: Little Sammy feels as strongly about this as I do.

I snicker and my Uber driver eyes me through the rearview mirror as if I’m a crazy person. Ignoring him, I tap out my reply.

ME: Are you telling me you refer to your penis as Little Sammy?

SAM: What? No! I was just making my point.

ME: Sure you were. Anyway, I’ve decided it’s my turn to pick where we go next since you chose today. When are you free?

SAM: Who’s the eager beaver now?

SAM: I could do lunch on Tuesday.

ME: I’ll be working. How about Thursday evening?

SAM: I can make that work. Where are we going?

I’m going to show him how us regular folk kick it.

ME: I’ll send you the address in time for you to get there. But you can’t Google it. It’s a surprise.

SAM: I don’t do surprises.

ME: You do now.

THURSDAY AFTERNOON …

Tom and I have been reviewing the employment contracts all day for a company we recently acquired. The salaries the CEO and VP are collecting are insane compared to the profit margin of the company. It’s no wonder it was going under.

After hours of reading, the words on the page are beginning to blur together, so I set them aside and text Hannah.

ME: So, where’s this address?

HANNAH: It won’t take long to get there. I’ll send it when you need it. Be ready by seven.

God, this woman is going to drive me crazy. If I didn’t know better, I’d think pushing my buttons was her new favorite pastime.

ME: Now is good.

HANNAH: So is seven.

ME: Hannah . . .

HANNAH: Patience is a virtue ;)

I loosen a frustrated growl and drop my phone on my desk with a thud. Patience may be a virtue, but it’s never been one of mine.

“What’s got your panties in a bunch?” Tom asks from the other side of my desk.

“Hannah is doing my head in.”

Tom smirks. “Already? Maybe you should hand her over to me. I’m sure I can handle her.”

I scowl. “Fuck off, dickwad. You’re not going anywhere near her. Besides, didn’t you hook up with her friend?”

“That I did. And I’m seeing her again tomorrow,” he says with a shit-eating grin. “Having trouble sealing the deal, cousin?”

“You’re an asshole, you know that?” But I’m aware he’s just being a wise-ass. I crack my knuckles then strum my fingers on the edge of my desk. “She’s different, Tommy. I’ve never met anyone like her.”

He scoffs. “Of course not. You think the women at the country club would get in a fish tank full of sharks?”

I shake my head. “It’s not only the shark thing—although, that is a big part of it. It’s everything. The way she talks to me, how she dresses, her laugh. I actually want to spend time with her.”

My cousin simply nods. He knows exactly what I’m talking about. We have the same issue when it comes to women.

After Hannah got over the initial shock of me telling her I own Zenith, she was back to making jokes at my expense and eating like there was no tomorrow. Not a flicker of wedding-bell scheming to be seen.

“So what’s the problem?” Tom asks.

“I don’t know what to do with her. Like tonight, we’re meant to be going out, but she won’t tell me where. She’s going to send me the address when it’s time to leave. Who does that?” I throw my arms out, exasperated.

Tom laughs. “I like it. She’s keeping you on your toes. Just go with it, Sam. It’s not going to kill you to hand over control for one night.”

“It’s not about control,” I huff.

He rolls his eyes at me. “Yes, it is. You can’t handle someone else holding the reins. Sit back and enjoy the ride, man.”

Tom’s always been the free spirit of the two of us. I don’t know how he does it, but if I’m going to keep seeing Hannah, I guess I’m going to have to learn.

I sentSam the address to Mojo’s Bowling Alley ten minutes ago. He didn’t reply.

We may have only spent time together twice, but it was enough for me to get a good read on him. He lives the upper-class, silver-spoon life. I’d bet my life savings he’s never been to a place like this.

That thought makes me irrationally happy. I’m so excited to see how he reacts to being pushed out of his comfort zone.

I’m leaning against the outside wall, under the flashing neon sign, when a sleek black town car pulls up. I grin when Sam steps out, frowning at the establishment I’ve chosen for our night together.

I push off the wall and stride over, but not before I glare at the group of women practically drooling on themselves at the sight of him. “Hey there,” I say, my eyes roving up and down his tall frame. God, he’s a fine specimen. Just looking at him has my bits tingling in awareness.

He raises a brow at me when I come to a stop before him. His gaze rakes over my body, sending chills skating across my skin at the hunger clear in his eyes. I swallow—hard. “Hey,” I mumble again.

“Hey,” he says in a husky tone that has my toes curling. Then, he steps forward, closing the gap I’d left between our bodies. His large palm snakes around my waist, settling in the center of my back as he tugs me into his warm chest then drops his mouth to my ear. “I think you’re trying to kill me, Hannah,” he murmurs.

My hands shoot out, gripping his firm biceps to steady myself. “Why would you think that?” I ask, my voice shaky.

“You’re more beautiful every time I see you. It makes things very hard for me,” he growls, rolling his hips into my lower belly.

My knees quake, and heat pools in my lady parts. Holy smoked salmon. He is hard—like, really hard. I almost say, ‘To hell with bowling—let’s bone instead!’ because God, he feels good. His palms skate along my spine, going lower each time.

I turn my face, my lips lightly grazing his cheek as I force words out. “We should go inside.”

Sam rolls his hips again. “We should get in my car,” he counters.

It’s an enticing offer, and I’m so damn tempted. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to gain control over my raging libido. We’re supposed to be bowling, not banging. It’s a struggle to remind myself of my three-date rule when he’s this close.

Mustering all my resolve, I step out of his hold. I slide my hands over his corded arms as I go until our fingers are our only point of contact. “Come on, horndog. Bowling first. Then we’ll see where the night takes us.” I wink and tug him toward the entry.

He releases one of my hands. “Fine, just give me a sec,” he grumbles then reaches to rearrange his package.

I can’t take my eyes off his hand as he repositions his boner. I gave him that. And I didn’t even have to touch it! My smile is so wide it hurts my cheeks.