Briggs - A Carolina Reapers Nove - Samantha Whiskey Page 0,3
“Thanks. I need another one.”
His brows flew up, but he took the hundred I’d left on the counter and poured.
How the fuck had I let this happen? I was meticulous about my endorsements and never accepted anything that belonged to a McClaren. Crossland was an uptight, overprotective asshole who’d been left with too much money too young, and I’d sworn to never be under his thumb again.
I nodded my thanks to the bartender, then picked up the glass and cursed under my breath as I headed for an empty table next to one of the massive windows that looked out over Charleston Harbor. If I’d just walked out, I could have driven home like I’d planned, but now I’d have to call a service. Putting the glass on the table, I reached for my phone, but instead of texting the service at the front door, I dialed my agent. For fifteen percent, he could sure-as-fuck pick up ten minutes before the ball dropped—especially since he’d dropped the actual damned ball.
“Cormac?” Paul answered, clearly surprised.
“Who the fuck owns Lusso?” I snapped, reaching for my drink. At least I sipped it this time.
“Well, happy New Year to you too,” he quipped back sarcastically.
“Not kidding. I need to know right now.”
“Charles Lusso has owned it since his father passed.”
“The fact that I just saw someone else introduced as the new CEO begs to differ.” I took another sip, wishing the alcohol would burn the last two days away.
“Okay, hold on. I need to excuse myself from my own party.” There was a sound like a door closing, and the background noise from his end disappeared. “It was all handled through attorneys, but I just got the signed documents back this morning. It surprised me since it’s New Year’s Eve, but I guess they wanted the deal locked down. I have the papers right here.”
I turned away from the harbor and nearly dropped my drink.
Bristol was standing at my table, her hand delicately gripping the edge as she lifted her chin and smiled softly. “Hi, Cormac.”
My nervous system went haywire, both begging to get closer to her and warning me to stay the fuck away. The case of my phone cracked, and I eased up on my grip.
“Who signed the papers, Paul?” I asked, staring directly into the hazel eyes I’d never been able to forget. Blues, greens, and golds were rimmed by a darker ring that changed colors with lighting and her mood. Fuck, I hated that I knew that.
Hated that I remembered exactly how sweet she’d tasted on my tongue for the whole minute that I’d kissed her before the door had been flung open and my world had been ripped out from under me.
“It looks like…” He groaned. “Shit. Cormac, I’m sorry.”
“He’s telling you that I signed them, isn’t he?” Bristol lifted a sleek, black brow as her smile slipped.
“Bristol McClaren,” Paul confirmed. “They must have kept the sale quiet because I didn’t hear anything about it—”
“Get me out of it,” I ordered him before clicking the end button and hanging up.
Bristol sighed…what, like she’d been the injured party here?
“Did you do this on purpose?” I shoved the phone back into my pocket.
“Do what?” She folded her arms across her chest. “Give you a two-million-dollar endorsement deal? You’re welcome. Nice to see you, too, by the way.”
“When the hell did your asshole brother have a chance to buy up Lusso Men’s Wear without anyone so much as dropping a press release?”
“It’s mine!” She raised her chin.
“You’re not old enough to own a company!” I recognized just how idiotic that sounded as soon as it left my mouth, but there was no coming back from it.
“I’m twenty-one years old, Cormac.” She put her tiny purse on the table and rubbed her temples.
“You sure? Because I thought you were twenty-one the last time we met, so I’m a little confused.” I nearly fucking carded her, but I knew exactly how old she was now. My stomach turned to lead remembering exactly how I knew.
“This is not going how I thought it would,” she muttered. “The last time we met, I was a lonely kid whose parents had just died and whose brother had dragged her to yet another one of his stupid functions.”
“You told me you were a senior!” Was it getting hot in here, or was it just me?
“I was! You simply assumed it was college, and there wasn’t a lot of time to correct you after that—” She snapped her mouth