Brandon’s getting ready to close up. He curls his arms around me. “I haven’t seen you enough today.”

“Lots to do,” I say. “The shop’s getting a lot more well-known.”

“Mmhm.” He buries his face in my hair. “I can’t wait to get you home.”

“We should wait,” I tell him.

His hands slide down my back, not stopping until they reach my ass. He grips me tightly. “Why?”

I don’t know. I try to gather my thoughts. Brandon’s touch is making that impossible. I lean into his embrace as his lips find mine in a fierce kiss.

His hands are electrifying on my body, igniting a wildfire of desire in me as they run everywhere. He slides them up under my shirt, his palms warm through the lace of my bra.

I press forward as his thumbs circle around my nipples. I run my hand up his thigh, groping for his growing cock.

“I’ve been thinking about you all day, Josie.” Brandon’s eyes are sparkling when we have to come up for air. He trails one hand down between my legs.

He bends down to suck at my nipple through my bra. I close my eyes, only for them to fly open at the sound of the bell above the door ringing.

Brandon’s just as startled as I am.

That’s what we still had left to do. Close up shop.

I hastily tug my top back down as two guys saunter in. They’re as tall as Brandon, with just as many tattoos. Their imposing presence takes over the shop.

I hope they didn’t catch what we were doing.

The one with the long brown hair sweeping against his shoulders speaks up first. “Hey, B,” he says in a low, smoky voice. “Long time.” 

Brandon’s jaw falls as he stares at them. “Hey, guys,” he finally manages.

There’s something in his tone that makes me glance over at him. He doesn’t sound like himself at all.

“Josie.” Brandon’s voice goes tight. “This is Kyle and Cash.” He swallows hard. “Friends of mine.”

Cash snorts. “Friends,” he says mockingly. Kyle shoots him a warning look. The tension in the room spikes up immediately.

“Nice to meet you, Josie,” Kyle says with a charming smile. I stare at him until I realize what I’m doing. He’s a very attractive man.

“You too.” I turn to greet Cash, but his expression stops me cold.

 “Don’t mind him,” Kyle says. “We’ve had a long flight.” 

“Flight?” I glance at Brandon. “You didn’t mention you were expecting visitors.”

“I wasn’t.” Brandon’s usual easygoing manner has been replaced by a tense alertness. “Not at all.”

“Yeah, we decided to come by unannounced,” Kyle says, a glint in his eyes. “Sometimes life’s more fun that way.”

There’s an underlying edge to his words. Nothing about this feels fun. Brandon’s not himself at all. Cash is prickling with a weird hostility that seems to be directed at me.

What the hell is his problem?

************

Amped Up releases into KU on Tuesday!