Dane holds up the money and smiles over at me, letting me know that once again, my drinks are free.

Hunter James. The Hunter James. This is crazy . . . Oh wow.

HUNTER BURSTS THROUGH MY DOOR wearing the biggest shit-eating grin I’ve ever seen on him. Apparently his ass was with a girl, of course, so he decided that catching up on his work wasn’t as important. It’s always the same with him.

He automatically goes to my fridge and pulls out a beer. “Damn. I really need to change my number.” He tosses the cap in the garbage and leans against the kitchen island. “I could have been getting my dick sucked and you really would have ruined the mood with your texts.”

I pull out a stool and straddle it. “And I could have been giving your job to someone more responsible than your ass.” I lift a brow as he shrugs his shoulders. “Your dick can fucking wait until after business.”

Hunter rolls his eyes while taking a swig of beer. “You really need to loosen up a bit and stop working so damn hard. Ever since that bitch fucked you over with Bryant, you’ve dedicated all your time to this fucking place and the gym. You’re not even thirty yet and you do nothing but work your ass off. Both places are extremely well run, but you always want more. It’s as if you’re looking for ways to bury yourself in work and forget about everything else around you.”

I flex my jaw at his words and reach into the fridge for my own beer now. I didn’t call his ass to my apartment to discuss this shit. “Running both of these places are at the top of my priority list. What the fuck do you expect from me?” I toss my beer cap at him as he opens his mouth to speak. “Don’t even fucking answer that, brother.”

We both sit here in silence, sipping on our beers as I let his words repeat in my head. It’s been three years, and every day my heart still feels as if it’s being ripped from my chest repeatedly. Burying myself in work and not letting any attachments form has been my life since then.

That’s exactly why I’ll do anything I can to avoid falling for Calla. She’s the most beautiful woman I have ever lain eyes on, and I can’t even manage to be in the same room with her without wanting my hands all over her and pleasing her in every way that her body deserves.

Hunter smiles beside me as he pulls his phone from his pocket and punches in a quick text.

I nod down at his phone in his hand. “Your new girl for the week?”

He lets out a small groan and adjusts the crotch of his jeans. “This girl is gorgeous. She might just be the sexiest woman I have ever laid eyes on.” He stands up and grabs two more beers out of the fridge. “I went downstairs for a few drinks and saw her sitting alone at the bar. When I approached her, I realized that she was a girl that I’d desperately wanted to sleep with in high school. She just seemed too good for me, plus she had a boyfriend at the time.”

I let out a small laugh while finishing off my beer. “Too good for you? Nah. I doubt that, playboy.”

He holds up his phone as it vibrates. “Yeah. You’re right.” He chuckles. “She’s single now and apparently is open to unattached sex. It’s a good opportunity for me to finally get to show her a good time and not have to worry about hurting her or getting tied up. Her body just screams sex, bro. I need to have her at least once, or a few times . . . you know.”

I continue to drink my beer as my little brother’s mouth continues to work as if I care about his endless fuck fests.

“And to make things better . . . she lives here.” He jumps to his feet and runs a hand through his hair. “She just moved in on the sixth floor. Calla Reynolds. Fuck, she’s so beautiful.”

What the fuck did he just say?

My heart skips a beat and I spit out the drink of beer I’ve just taken. Well shit.

Hunter watches me carefully as I set my beer down onto the black marble. “Holy fuck. You’re the one that’s not supposed to call, aren’t you?”

He starts pacing in front of me with a huge smile on his face. It’s been a long time since I have shown any kind of interest in a woman and he’s taking this time to enjoy the fact that I need to fuck just like every other man.

“Is big brother trying out unattached sex for once instead of the meet girl, fuck girl, and never see her again? You’ve been with her sexually more than once, haven’t you?”

I let out a frustrated breath and steel my jaw. “There’s no attachment. We’re both free to fuck who we want, and there will be nothing more than me fucking her brains out and pleasuring her. I’ve made that very clear.”

“So you won’t care if I sleep with her then? We kissed downstairs, but I won’t fuck her if you have feelings for her?” He tilts his head, waiting for my reply. “I guess our tastes aren’t far apart after all.”

A part of me wants to tell him to fuck off and leave her alone. That’s exactly why I have to say this instead: “Nope. You can do what you want with her, just don’t fuck her over and make her feel used. You know how I feel about that shit, and if you’re going to sleep with her . . .” I take a drink of my beer and force this last part out. “Wear a damn condom.”

“You sure, bro?” He stands up as if he’s about to leave. “Because I made plans with her tomorrow night. Now that I’ve seen her again, it’s going to be hard to pass up this opportunity, so speak now or forever hold your peace.”

I swallow hard while reminding myself that she’s not mine to protect and that this is just casual sex. Nothing more. “Absofuckinglutely.” I walk over to my door and hold it open. “Now go home and catch up on some fucking work before I kick your ass.”

Raising an eyebrow, he smirks at me and walks out with an armful of my beers.

Fucking asshole.

I fall back on my couch and stare down at my cell. I get an urge in my chest to send Calla a message, but flip my phone over instead. Self-control is everything.

No attachments . . .

JUGGLING A FEW PAPERBAGS IN my arms, I impatiently wait for the elevator to arrive. Tori and I have already taken up a load each, and being restless I offered to go back downstairs for the last load. Of course Tori quickly agreed while falling in front of the TV with a beloved bag of her Funyuns, so while she’s up there stuffing her face, I’m standing here cold and wet from the rain that decided to surprise me on my way back to the building.