Hammered with You: Book 2 (Ross Brother's Trilogy) Page 4

  His eyes widen. “You won’t even give this thing between us a chance?” I try to ignore the hurt in his voice.

  I shake my head sadly. “I don’t see the point.” Which is true. What I don’t say is that I don’t feel like having my heart broken by someone who is way too far out of my league.

  “I know that you can feel this connection or whatever it is between us.”

  “Lust comes and goes Ben. Your brother is dating my best friend. We need things to not be weird with us. Hence, why we need to forget all about that night.” Only a little part of my soul is crushed when I say that.

  His nostrils flare and he takes a giant step back. “If that’s how you want it to be, fine. You get your wish. I’ll leave you alone from now on and forget that night ever happened. Have a wonderful evening Jessie.”

  He spins on his heel and calls out his goodbyes to Kellie and Mason before walking out the door, without so much as a glance in my direction.

  “Bye.” I whisper sadly into the empty kitchen.

  I take a few deep breaths to get myself under control. This is for the best really. He is way too good for someone like me I tell myself.

  I barely finished high school and only went to a trade school. He owns his own business. He grew up in a family that isn’t a complete and utter embarrassment of drunken abuse.

  Yes, it is much better this way. I know my place in life and it is definitely not with someone like him. My horrible date was right about one thing. Guys like Ben Ross do not date and marry girls like me.

  I take another deep breath and plaster a smile on my face before walking back into the living room to get my other bag.

  “Alright, I’m heading out too. Tonight has definitely had a lot more excitement than I’m used to.”

  “You’re not kidding.” Kellie mutters while giving me a curious look. But luckily she just gives me a hug instead of voicing any questions.

  “Night Lovebirds!” I chirp, forcing a smile on my face.

  “Night.” Mason says with a genuine smile as he tugs Kellie under his arm.

  “Good night Jess, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Her words sound normal enough but her eyes are telling me that she has some questions that I’ll be answering. Oh what joy.

  I give a quick wave and high tail it out of there as quickly as possible. Hopefully, she’ll have a late night with Mason and totally forget about me by the morning.

  My hopes are immediately dashed the moment Kellie walks in the next morning and focuses her laser like eyes on me. I mean sure, it could be that I’m the only one here right now, but I don’t really think that’s it. Her next words confirm my suspicions.

  “What was with you last night?” She questions as she places down two coffee cups from The Sweet Grind.

  Bless her soul, I need the extra hit of caffeine today. My mind wouldn’t let me get any sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, all I would see and hear was Ben telling me that he was going to forget all about me.

  I walk over to her and grab the cup marked as a chai latte with two extra shots. I sure as hell know that the pumpkin spiced latte is not for me. Yuck!

  I bring it to my mouth and take a much needed sip. I barely refrain from moaning. I swear the ladies who make these coffees are magical. I have never tasted anything as good as what comes out of that coffee shop.

  “I’m waiting.” Her tone snarky and eyes overly observant for this early in the morning.

  Okay, it’s only ten in the morning but for me it’s early. I swear that I don’t really come alive until late afternoon.

  “I’m aware but I’m trying to enjoy this magical elixir of awesomeness. You’re really killing my vibe.” I close my eyes and drink some more.

  I know that she isn’t going to drop this but a girl can hope.

  I can hear her shuffling around the shop doing a few things while I have my eyes closed. I’m obviously trying my best not to adult today. Kids have the best ideas. Close your eyes and ignore all of your problems.

  “Still waiting.” I can hear the chair at the front desk squeak. Damn, she’s getting herself comfy.

  I slowly open my eyes and turn to look at her. I can’t even be mad at her. I would be a thousand times more annoying if our roles were reversed.

  I sigh and keep my coffee cup in front of me. “Nothing really. Just having an off night.” Not a total lie. It was definitely an off night.

  She rolls her eyes at me. “Uh-huh. Okay, better question, what was going on between you and Ben?”

  I grimace and know that she catches it when her eyes light up. “Something is going on between you two?”

  “No. Not anymore.” I say grimly while holding onto my cup like it will protect me.

  “I’m going to need more information.” She states before taking a sip of her pumpkin spice grossness.

  I walk over and take a seat in one of the chairs that we use to do hair in. Admittedly, they’re extremely comfortable. Kellie didn’t spare any expense when it came to making sure that all of her customers had a great experience here.

  “We kind of, sorta had a drunken one night stand a few weeks ago.” I rush out.

  Kellie blinks at me wordless a few times. She leans forward and places her arms on the reception desk. “Okay, not really where I thought this was going. But you most definitely have my undivided attention now.”

  “Lucky me.” I reply drily and ignore the nasty look that she shoots my way. “Anyway, nothing more to tell. He saved me from a horrible date, we drank a shit ton and we went back to his place completely hammered. We had sex and I ducked out the next morning to avoid any weird awkwardness.” I shrug.

  She tilts her head at me with a frown. “Was the sex horrible? Is that why you left so that it wouldn’t be weird?”

  Thinking back to that night, I can feel my face begin to heat up. “Ah, no, the sex was probably the best that I’ve ever had. The man definitely knows what he’s doing.” I cough at the last part.

  “Then why in the hell did you sneak out? If he was that good, you should’ve been trying to get some banging morning sex.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me. “Get it? Banging?” She chuckles like an idiot at her own joke.

  “Yup, I caught it the first time around.” I sigh wondering why I didn’t just call out so that I didn’t have to deal with this conversation. “Plus, we were both hungover, so I highly doubt anything sexy would’ve been going on.”

  “Still doesn’t explain why you snuck out.” She huffs.

  How can I explain this to her? I realize there’s only one way and that’s the truth. My eyes close as I recite it. “Because I’m not used to having a one night stand. I’ve only had sex with guys that I was already dating. I don’t know what the fucking protocol is... okay?” Alright, that last part came out a little bit more aggressively than I had meant for it to, but whatever.

  “Okaaay.” Kellie says while eyeing me with a weird expression on her face. “So, then what happened after that?”

  I pick at the invisible lint on my pants. “Basically, he tried to call me and I always ignored the calls. Then last night he said that we should try dating and I told him no. That it would be better if we pretended that night never happened and he finally agreed.”

  Kellie purses her lips while her eyes turn into thin slits “Ben wanted to actually date you and you said no?” She says slowly.

  “Pretty much.”

  “Why didn’t you want to give him a chance? He’s a really nice guy and actually successful.”

  I snap my fingers. “And that’s why it just wouldn’t work out.”

  “Okay girl, you’ve totally lost me. How is him being nice and successful a bad thing?”

  I lean my head back against the head rest and swing the chair so that I can still see Kellie. “Because, Kel, guys like him do not date girls like me. We are way too different for it to ever work out. His house was like organized to within an inch of its life. Can you actually picture me organizing shit like that?”

  She grimace
s but tries to quickly cover it with a smile. “He could teach you how to be more organized and you could teach him how to live in the moment.” She pauses and gives me a thoughtful look. “What did you mean when you said that guys like him don’t date girls like you?”

  I toss my head backwards against the head rest. “He came from a good family, went to college and owns his own business. I’m literally trailer trash who somehow made sorta good with her life. We’re apples and oranges Kel, that’s all there is to it.” I say with a sad smile on my face.

  “How we grew up doesn’t get to define us as adults.” Kellie says fiercely. “You left your awful family and made a great life for yourself. Do not sell yourself short, ever!”

  She was right I had made something of myself.

  I give her the first genuine smile that I’ve had all day. “I’m not Kellie, but I’m a realist. I love chaos, tattoos, horror movies, junk food and being as lazy as humanly possible. That just won’t vibe with Mr. Business Suit and you know it.” I raise an eyebrow at her in challenge.

  She rolls her eyes and tosses her head up. “Okay,” She holds up a hand to stop my smirk. “I’ll admit that you’re a tiny, a smidgen really,” She holds her thumb and index fingers mere centimeters away from each other “An itty bitty amount correct. You two are definitely night and day. But I still don’t think that you shouldn’t not even give him a chance. Especially if you like him.”

  “I never said that I like him.” I huff and cross my arms.

  She gets up and goes to the door to unlock it, flipping the sign to open she tosses over her shoulder, “You didn’t have to. You get a little sparkle in your eyes each time you talk about him.”

  The words sound traitorous. “That’s the horrible lighting in this place.”

  She whips around like she’s possessed. “Take that back!” She freaking growls and places a hand on her cocked out hip. “You know darn well that the lighting in here is the bomb! I paid a ton of money to make sure that every single light in this place is flattering.”

  And she’s right. This place really does have bomb lighting. She made sure to be really thorough when selecting each and every single light. The girl practically lived at Home Depot’s lighting department. But it’s just too much fun to screw with her about it.

  I purse my lips and look her up and down. “I’m pretty sure even florescent lighting is better than what you have in here.” I’m so going to hell for that comment but I just can’t help myself.

  The look on her face is pure outrage. It is taking everything in me to keep a straight face. She is turning the funniest shade of red that I’ve ever seen.

  “I can’t even speak to you right now.” She starts to walk towards the back before spinning on her heel. She points her index finger at me. “But don’t think for one second that our previous conversation is over. You may have just gotten yourself out of it for today. But just remember; there’s always tomorrow bish.” She turns around again and walks to the back without another word.

  I ignore her while looking at my reflection in the mirror. At least I have a little bit of a reprieve from her questions.

  Truthfully, I just don’t have it in me to replay what may or may not have been a mistake. A normal, sane woman would not turn down a man like Ben Ross.

  I take another long hard look at myself in the large mirror and smile. Welp, I’m anything but normal, that’s for damn sure.

  Even though I’ve toned down my look today, meaning I’m in ripped up blue jeans, kitten heels, and a sheer white shirt that hangs off of one shoulder, I’m still not like anyone else around here.

  Don’t worry, my hair and makeup are still on point though. Never will I be depressed enough to have ratchet ass hair and makeup. Since I was a teenager, both of those things have been my armor if you will. I’ve just added clothes and tattoos onto that armor over the years. But the two main components will always remain, no matter what.

  They gave me the strength to continue on my path when it seemed like the whole world, my family included, was against me. It allowed me to walk around like I couldn’t care less what anyone else said or thought about me.

  It allowed me to leave my bed on days when I wanted nothing more than to crawl under my blankets and hide from a world that has never been particularly nice to me.

  I give myself one last look and make sure to plaster a happy smile on my face. I’ve found over the years that people stop saying mean shit to your face if you act like it doesn’t bother you.

  I start getting my station ready for my first client of the day. While doing this, I try and fail to ignore the ball in the pit of my stomach telling me that I screwed up this time. That I’m going to regret tossing Ben aside.

  But you know what? I’ve never really made great decisions to begin with. Might as well as just stay true to myself and make another bad one. I’ll get over it... eventually.

  Chapter 4

  Ben

  It’s been a few days since Halloween and Jessie saying that she wants nothing to do with me.

  Okay, fine, she didn’t exactly phrase it like that, but she may as well have.

  And I’m fine with it. She did both of us a favor really, is what I tell myself.

  I have way too much going on in my life to add a relationship to it. Was our night together amazing? Absolutely, which is why I went brain dead for a while and tried to pursue something.

  But now that I’ve come back to my senses, I understand that she was right. Neither of us would really be a good fit for one another.

  When I feel like the time is right for me to make some room in my schedule, I’ll start dating again. Ideally, someone like me who has no need to get all crazy over the relationship and see it in a logical way.

  I definitely don’t want to end up like my brothers. Well, Kellie is great and has made Mason a lot better. But one look at Noah these days and it just reiterates that I want nothing to do with love right now.

  “Doesn’t anyone actually work around here?” Ah, speak of the monkey’s ass.

  Of course, you can always count on Mason to be a smart ass. “We all work here big brother.”

  It’s so difficult to keep my head firmly transfixed on my computer screen. I would love nothing more than to give Mase a huge smile right now.

  Pissing off Noah has been a great pastime for the two of us lately. Not that it’s been very hard, mind you, but still. A lot of enjoyment has been had recently.

  “I was talking to those two.” He points at Elle and another employee Cody.

  “We are both on our lunch break, Mr. Ross.” Elle says primly but her eyes are shooting fire at our brother.

  We would normally never tolerate an employee giving any of us dirty looks, but well, Elle has earned it. Noah couldn’t be any more of an asshole to her if he tried. Hell, even if I saw her putting eye drops in his coffee, I would just turn around and keep an eye out for her at this point.

  I also secretly enjoy the way his cheek and eye twitch whenever she calls him Mr. Ross. She doesn’t do that to Mase and I. You can tell that it pisses him off even if her tries to pretend that it doesn’t.

  “And it didn’t occur to either of you to go somewhere else?” Noah growls out like a junkyard dog.

  I should keep my mouth shut, I know that I should, but I really can’t help myself. Still looking at my screen while pretending to type, I say, “Lunch dates can be fun.”

  I can feel Noah’s angry glare on my back from across the room but I don’t dare look in his direction.

  “That’s a great idea, Ben.” Elle gives me a smile full of teeth.

  “Thanks for looking out.” Cody says appreciatively while looking at Noah apprehensively.

  “Yes Ben, you’re just full of great ideas.” Noah hisses at me.

  Once Elle and Cody take their leave, it’s just a waiting game. Waiting for what? For Noah to blow a gasket. The room even feels several degrees warmer thanks to his anger.

  I just keep pretending to work b
y typing away. I’m a little alarmed when I realize that I’ve been typing Jessie’s name over and over again like a teenager girl with a crush.

  For Christ’s sake, my little infatuation is now invading my work. I’m going to need to remedy this at some point.

  Soon as, we’re all done screwing with Noah.

  “What the FUCK was that?” Noah’s voice booms from across the room. He starts pacing like a caged beast.

  Mase looks up with fake shock written all over his face. “What do you mean?”

  Noah goes to reply when Mason’s phone rings. He holds up a finger and tells us that it’s Ma. We all know better than to not answer her calls. It’s just not worth the aggravation that she’ll put you through later on. Best to just listen to whatever she wants.

  Noah and I hear Mason ask her if everything is okay and both of our heads swivel in his direction. He says goodbye shortly afterwards.

  “Is everything okay?” Noah asks sounding like his normal self once again.

  “Yeah, Max got into a fight at school and Kay has to go deal with it, so Ma is stuck with the other little animals. Which means, I’ve got to go get Ella, since Kellie can’t just leave.”

  He starts packing up his stuff and I just nod my head while smiling at him.

  He’s taken to the role of father better than anyone could’ve ever thought. Not that he’s Ella’s real dad, but Mase is a million times better than that schmuck.

  “Jesus, I didn’t realize it was that late already.” He pauses for a moment. “Why are Eleanor and Cody, just now going to lunch? It’s almost three in the afternoon,” he complains.

  “A customer had them in a meeting most of the day going over all of the final touches.” I tell the grumpy idiot while shaking my head at the fact that he still refuses to call her Elle like she requested.

  Mason says his goodbyes before walking out the door, leaving me and Noah all alone.

  Noah plops down in his chair. I can see dark circles beginning to form underneath his eyes. He looks like he hasn’t slept in a week.