Page 163 of Payoff Pitch
Fallon grabs Harper’s arm and grits out, “Why don’t we go get cleaned up for dinner? Perhaps we can find some noise-canceling headphones for you.” She gives Lincoln a death stare.
I point toward my room. “I think I’ll go get cleaned up too. Nice to meet you.”
His eyes move up and down my body. It’s creepy as hell. Tanner definitely notices. I can see him getting uptight.
After I shower, I’m sitting on my bed in my towel when there’s a knock at the door. Assuming it’s Harper, I say, “Come in.”
Linc walks in. I immediately tighten my towel around my body, feeling very exposed and uncomfortable. “Oh, I thought you were Harper. Can you please wait outside? I need to get dressed.”
He gives me a smug smile as he disregards my request and steps further into my room. “Nothing I haven’t seen before, sweetheart. Tanner tells me you’re a bit of an item. Are you going to tell him we’ve had sex, or am I?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
BAILEY
I’m speechless. I have no words for this. I think I’m in shock.
“Excuse me?” I hear Tanner’s deep voice bellowing in the hallway. “What did you just say to her?”
Tanner walks into my room and takes in my state of undress. His eyes practically bug out of his head.
Linc shrugs. “Sorry, man. I know you’re into her, but we slept together a decade ago. You went to UCLA, right?”
I can only nod.
He winks at me. “Best lay I ever had. I never forgot it. And she gives great head.”
I’m not sure what Tanner is going to do right now, if his anger will be at me or his brother, but he grabs Linc by the shirt and shoves him against the door. “Watch your fucking mouth. Don’t disrespect her. Ever.”
I cry, “Tanner. I’ve never touched him. I swear. I have no idea what he’s talking about.”
He nods. “I know. You’d never stoop so low as to let a guy like him near you.” He then turns his attention back to Linc. “Why are you here? What do you want?”
“I wanted to reconnect. To spend time getting to know Hailey.”
“It’s Harper, you fuckwit, and you’ve had nine years to connect with her. Stay away from my kid. Is it money you want?”
Linc smiles awkwardly. “I’m a little low. If you’re offering, I’d be up for that. Dad has become a scrooge in his old age.”
I hear the front door open and close. Kam stops at my doorway to see the commotion, easily assessing that it’s a contentious situation. She looks Linc up and down. “You look familiar.”
Linc’s head toggles between me and Kam as things start to make sense to both Tanner and me.
Kam slowly nods. “Oh, right, I remember you. Rocco’s Tavern in LA. Worst lay I ever had. You never forget your worst. Why are you here?”
I answer, “He’s Tanner’s brother.”
She lets out a laugh. “Holy shit. That’s crazy. I guess Tanner got the sexual prowess genes in the family.” She looks down at Linc’s crotch area. “And the girth. And the length. This fucker was blowing up my phone for months. Remember when I had to block a guy who I was afraid was going to boil a bunny in our kitchen? This was him. He wouldn’t take no for an answer. What a loser.”
I remember that. She was actually a little freaked out. She showed me a picture of him so I knew to steer clear. That’s why he looked familiar when I saw him.
Tanner tightens his jaw. “I think this little visit is over, Linc. I don’t want you in my house ever again. And stay away from my daughter, Bailey, Kamryn, and Fallon. This is your one and only warning.”
He pulls him away from my doorway toward the front door. Kam walks into my room and shuts the door.
“That guy is an asshole.”
I nod. “Yep.”