Page 1 of Seduced By My Brother’s Best Friend (SEALs of Aster Falls #2)

(Alex)

______

Just as I’m about to knock back a glass of beer, the door to the bar swings open, and the person I least expected walks in. I squint my eyes, sure that I must be seeing things.

“Holy shit,” I say under my breath before getting to my feet and approaching the newcomer.

I didn’t know that people could actually look clean until I met Fallon Wright. And not clean, as in neat. Clean as in chaste, spotless. The sort of person you would see and immediately think they are approachable and friendly.

Fallon has silky blonde hair and the clearest green eyes I’ve ever seen. She embodies the girl next door persona—a good girl in every sense of the word. I would know. I literally watched her grow up. I watched her blossom from a teenager with braces and acne into a gorgeous woman, albeit timid.

“My night definitely just got more interesting,” I say in greeting.

She looks up at me and frowns. The frown is automatic, almost reflexive. It’s a reaction I’ve been getting from her for the past five years.

“Go away, Alex,” she mutters, pushing past me.

I roll my eyes before turning and following her. She takes her seat, which is directly beside mine. I smile before sliding back in.

“So, tell me, what is Fallon Wright doing in a bar alone? Don’t you have church or something?”

“Go away, Alex,” she repeats, facing forward and trying to ignore me.

She takes off her light blue puffer jacket and takes a deep breath.

“Play nice, Fallon,” I tell her. “But seriously, what are you doing here?”

“I came for a drink,” she replies after a beat.

I look her up and down. “You. Came for a drink. God’s favorite daughter?”

I tease her a lot over her goody-two-shoes attitude. Although she’s not Christian, so the God part is a little out of pocket.

“Stop calling me that,” she snaps before burying her head in her hands and groaning. “All I wanted was one night to myself before I went to Jersey. You just had to ruin it by being here.”

“Should I be offended?”

“Yes.”

I study her, taking in her face and her calm green eyes.

“Have you ever even had a drink before?”

She glares. “Stop being an ass. I’m 25 years old, Alex. Of course, I’ve drank before.”

“All right, have you ever gotten drunk before?” I counter.

She looks away before shaking her head. I smile. Just as I thought.

Fallon is a prime example of a sheltered daughter that lived her entire life trying to please her parents.

Ergo, she never got to be a rebellious teenager.

She never got to live. She’s moving away tomorrow and heading to New Jersey for her big fancy accountant job.

I know all this because I’m best friends with her elder brother.

I also know that her job and new life in the big city won’t change how she lives. Boring, easy. She’ll be away from her parents, but she’s inbuilt to act the same way she always has. This must be her last night of freedom before starting her big job, and I’m going to make it worth her while.

I’m just about to say something when the bartender walks up.

“What can I get you?” he asks.

She sits up straighter and smiles at him. “One drink, please,” she says politely.

I chuckle lightly.

“What kind?” the bartender asks.

“We’ll have two shots of vodka,” I tell Mike.

He walks away to grab our drinks while Fallon turns to me.

“Whatever you’re up to. No.”

“I’m going to get you drunk,” I announce.

She frowns. “No. I just came to have some drinks. I did not come to get drunk.”

“Come on, Fallon Wright,” I say, throwing my arm over her shoulder. “Live a little. It’ll be fun.”

She pushes my arm off and glares. I give her an innocent smile as she ponders my words for a minute before letting out an exasperated sigh.

“Promise to take me to Damien’s if I get drunk. Not your house,” she enunciates. “My brother’s.”

“I promise.”

Five shots of vodka later, I’m starting to think I have severely underestimated Fallon Wright.

“How are you not even buzzed or tipsy?” I ask her, fighting not to slur my words.

She shrugs. The only evidence she has taken any alcohol tonight is the redness of her cheeks. Otherwise, she looks fine. Not drunk at all.

“I guess I just have a naturally high tolerance,” she states.

I tilt my head in confusion.

“Damn,” I say under my breath. “How much do I have to get you to drink before you get drunk?”

“Nothing! Because I’m not drinking anymore. I played your game, you lost, and now I’m going home,” she states before getting to her feet.

She places a few dollar bills on the counter and grabs her jacket. I still can’t fathom how she’s okay. I get to my feet to go after her, but I can only walk a few steps before stumbling into her back. She turns and catches me.

“Alexander,” she groans.

I smile. “I like it when you call me that.”

Damn, damn, damn. I must really be drunk if I’m actually admitting that to her. But in my defense, I had already downed two beers before she arrived.

She squints at me in confusion for a second before sighing. Then she leads me over to one of the booths.

“Stay here while I get you some water. It helps with drunk people, right?”

She doesn’t wait for an answer before walking away. I run my hands through my hair and groan.

Fuck. My last night with her, and I’m fucking drunk. This night can’t get any worse.

Of course, you should never think that. A commotion has my neck snapping up. I look up to see Fallon pushing off a big burly guy with neck tattoos and earrings. My blood instantly boils. I grit my teeth and get to my feet, taking slow, measured steps toward the scene.

“Get off!” Fallon says angrily, shoving at the guy’s chest. He refuses to listen.

“She said to get the hell off,” I say before pulling him off her and punching him in the same movement.

Fallon gasps.

“Alex,” she calls, but I barely even hear her.

I pull my arm back and deliver another punch to the man’s jaw.

He lets out an agonized sound before clutching it.

His dark eyes turn murderous, and he steps toward me like he’s about to return the favor.

I’m ready to kick him in his torso when Fallon suddenly gets in between us. She stands in front of me.

“I’m so sorry.”

For one moment, I’m confused about what she’s saying. Then I realize she’s apologizing to that fucker, and my eyes widen.

“He’s acting like this because he’s drunk,” she’s still saying.

I move to push her out of the way, but she turns to me and glares. “Alex, stop.”

Gritting my teeth, I take a step back and cross my arms. Unbelievable.

“He better be careful next time,” the asshole threatens, rubbing his jaw and walking away.

“What the hell, Alex?” Fallon asks me, whirling around.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now? That asshole gropes you in the middle of a bar, and you apologize. Are you stupid?”

Her eyes narrow. “He was bigger than you. Excuse me for not wanting to watch you get hurt.”

“I could have taken care of myself. You didn’t have to be such a pushover,” I snap.

I look into her eyes one last time before pushing past her and walking out into the night. The cool night air against my face completely erased every last inebriation I had been feeling. I’m walking towards my car when Fallon appears in front of me.

“You’re not drinking and driving,” she states.

“I sobered up,” I say without looking at her.

“No. No way in hell, Alex. I’m driving you home.”

She grabs my keys from my jacket before unlocking my car and heading into the driver’s seat.

I roll my eyes before following her. My house isn’t too far from here, and she’s definitely overreacting, but she’s also right.

I usually don’t drink and drive. I must be out of it tonight, and it’s all because of her.

She has the ability to throw me off completely.

We’re silent for all of five minutes before she speaks up.

“You didn’t have to do that back there. I could have taken care of myself.”

“No, you couldn’t have. And you telling that asshole, sorry, proves my point. You don’t have to be so nice to everyone, Fallon. Nobody gives a shit.”

“I give a shit. And I don’t need you to protect me.”

We finally pull up on my street, and she parks in front of my house.

“Yeah, well, you don’t have to worry about that. You’re leaving, right? Shiny, new life in New Jersey.”

“Why do you sound upset? I’m a nuisance, remember? Your best friend’s annoying little sister.”

I roll my eyes. “I said that once ten years ago, and you’ve never let me forget it. Is it so hard to accept that I will miss you?”

“Yes, because the only thing you do is taunt me, Alex. All the time.”

“Doesn’t mean I don’t care about you,” I say sincerely.

I finally look at her. She’s staring at me, too, those green eyes fixed on my face, confused, nervous. I should leave. I should walk out of the car and let her drive it to her brother’s place, where she’ll probably spend the night. But I can’t bring myself to do that.

“Fallon, you’re leaving tomorrow,” I start.

“Yeah,” she nods.

“Which means I’ve only got one shot at this.”

“What?”

She can only blink as I reach over to her side of the car and place my hand on her cheek.

“I’m going to kiss you,” I say softly.

Her breath hitches, but she doesn’t push me away like I had expected her to. A hopeful part of me actually thinks she looks expectant.

Maybe, just maybe, she wants this too.

Too late to turn back now.

I lower my head slowly and finally take her lips in mine.