Owned by My Best Friend's Brother

6. I'm a catch

LOGAN POV

What is Alex up to? Why did he have to drag Stella with him to the bakery last night? Why does he insist on sitting next to her every time we eat? I don't like this one bit. Stella is closer in age to me. She's eighteen and I'm sixteen. Alex is an old man! He's already twenty-four. Couldn't he find someone his own age? I've been trying to build up the courage to tell Stella I like her and to ask her out on a date. She's so damn cute! She has these lips that always look like they're puckered, even when she's upset. Those eyes, I've never seen eyes like hers. Her body is amazing, even though she tries to hide it. Aside from the day at the pool, she wears jeans and T-shirts. Someone needs to tell her that no matter what she wears, she can't hide her curves. I can't let Alex horn in, I need to ask her out now before he makes a move. He's trying to pretend he's just being friendly, but I can see right through him, he's always staring at her. I saw her first, she's mine!

ALEX POV

I tried, sort of. I made a list in my head of all the obvious reasons I should stay away from Stella. She's Cici's best friend and still in college. She will be going back to college at the end of summer where there will be guys her own age. I'm very busy with work and should focus all my energy on that. Good list, right? Then I get a visual image of her frowning while pouting with those plump lips and the list goes out the window! On top of that, she's beyond intelligent, driven and hard working. She may be shy, but based on how she stood up to me, I'm sure she's bolder than she realizes. Being the man that I am, I can't deny her body, even in jeans and a simple T can stop traffic. I have to get to know her, maybe then I can either lose the infatuation that's building or decide if this is something worth pursuing. What if she can handle the type of relationship that I want? None of my previous girlfriends were able to, they pretended they could. I can tell the difference and I get no satisfaction from them not enjoying what I want to provide for my woman.

STELLA POV

I'm starting to feel more comfortable here with Cici and her family. She lets me have "me" time in my own room. She also drags me out for family time, which they have a lot of. They do something almost every other day. When they don't BBQ and hang out by the pool, they go out shopping. On Friday nights they go out to dinner like we did last night. On Saturdays they do family outings. Today we are going to a lake and renting a boat. Every time we go shopping, her mother insists on buying me things, as much as I decline. She's already bought me some clothes and even paid for a mani-pedi when she took us to the spa. I feel so embarrassed that she's spending her money on me. I really need to hurry up and find a job. When she had me pick a swimsuit, I made sure to choose something I was comfortable in. Cici insisted it be a bikini. Luckily, I found one that we were both pleased with. It covered enough for me to be comfortable and showed enough for Cici to get off my back. It was a Halter Rainbow Color Bowknot Bikini set. The base was black but it had colors on the cups at the top and waist of the bottoms. Cici and I are packing a tote with our suits, sun tan lotion and other things we might need while on the boat. Once we are ready, we head downstairs to meet everyone.

"You girls ready?" Vera asked while checking her own bag. "Yup!" Cici cheerily replied. "Let's get going then. Who's going with who?" David says, looking at Alex and Derick, since they are willing to drive. "Why don't we take two cars? You five can go in the SUV comfortably with all of the supplies and Stella will come with me in mom's Audi." Alex suggests, but doesn't wait for anyone to answer before dragging me with him.

I looked back at Cici with wide eyes and she looked peeved. Logan looked a little upset too. Maybe he wants to go with Alex?

"She's my friend Alex!" Cici yells after us. "Yeah! What if we come with you too?" Logan added. "Car's too small!" Alex yelled back as we walked outside.

He opens the door for me and when he sees my hesitation, he smiles at me and nods his head, motioning for me to get in. I hop in and put my seatbelt on while he walks around to get into the driver's seat. I look out the window and I see Cici arguing with her parents. I can't hear them but she's pissed off. Logan is stomping his way over to the SUV. Alex doesn't even wait for them to get in the car, he pulls off heading for the lake.

"You don't mind riding with me, do you?" He asks, still looking at the road. "Um.. no." I didn't sound too sure. "Are you sure little one?" He chuckles. "Well, I'm just curious why you want me to ride with you.... Alone." I replied quietly while admiring the inside of Vera's car.

He didn't say anything, so I turned to look at him and he looked like he was thinking. Almost as if he's taking a test or something. I giggle because I didn't think I asked such a complicated question and he turns and narrows his eyes at me.

"Why are you laughing at me?" He seemed serious at first, but then he smiled at me. "Sorry, I just didn't think it was a hard question." I shrugged. "It's not, I'm just not sure if I want to give you the answer just yet." He says while putting on some music.

"Okay." I muttered. "Stella, I'm not sure how to say this..." He pauses and goes back to thinking.

I decide it's best if I let him think it out. Maybe Cici is right and it's really hard for him to have a proper thought. I wanted to laugh so hard at my little quip but I decided it would disturb him from the thought he was forming.

"The more I get to know about you, the more I like you. Is it alright that I want to keep getting to know you? Maybe you could get to know me too?" He sounded unsure, like he was trying to convince himself it was okay to get to know me and I him.

ALEX POV

It was hard for me to give her an answer. Even though I've decided I want to get to know her, my brain still scolds me, telling me she's too young and inexperienced. Then I look at her and my brain shuts off and I instinctively want to be with her, alone if possible. I want to ask her questions, find out if we're compatible.

"I think that's okay." She shrugs and her cheeks turn pink.

Why do I think that's sexy? When have I ever thought a woman blushing was sexy, never that's when. She may be shy and inexperienced when it comes to relationships, but in all other respects, she's more mature than most women my age. Hell, by the time she's my age she may be my boss.

"You know a lot about me. Why don't you tell me about you?" She suggests. "Ok... I'm twenty-four... I am the CFO of the hotels my family owns." I pause to think of anything non-work related I can tell her about me. "I have an apartment in Santa Clara near my office. I graduated from Berkley at twenty-two. I thought that was impressive before I met you." I laughed. "It is impressive." She giggled, a melodious giggle I might add. "I don't really have too much time for hobbies, but when I do I like to do anything physical. Like any sport." I sighed and tried to think of anything else that might help me seem more interesting.

When nothing came to mind, I decided to throw the ball in her court.

"What do you do for fun?" I asked her. "I don't really have time for fun... but when I have a little spare time I like to bake. Although I suck at it." She laughed.

The sound of her laugh made me laugh, it was so infectious. The lake came into view and I had something I needed to ask her before I got into the parking lot. Before my brain takes over and tells me not to, I need to ask her.

"Stella, would you have dinner with me tonight?" I asked while pulling into the lot.

She looked a little shocked by my questions, she kept blinking and her mouth was agape. I think I might have broken her. I pulled into the parking spot and I could see my parents pulling into the lot behind me.

"Um.. can I ask why you want to have dinner with me?" She asked and looked down at her hands. "I'm very attracted to you, and I don't just mean physically. I'd like to go on a date with you." I confess.

I have never had to explain to a woman why I asked her out. They are usually just happy I asked them out. I know that sounds egotistical, but realistically, I'm a catch. I have my own place, money and car. I don't just have a job, I have a career and soon the family business will go to me, my brothers and cousins. We are in the process of opening up three additional hotels, two in Santa Clara and one more in San Francisco. The point is, I'm successful. It's actually a little nerve-raking to have to put myself out there. I'm not used to this. More than that, I don't like it. The fact that I'm willing to do this for her, sounds warning bells in my head that I'm ignoring.

"Okay." She shyly replies.

I felt a surge of excitement when she said yes, but I'm also at odds with myself. I've had plenty of girlfriends and none of them had me fighting with myself. My brain always won over any measly feeling I may have had. I always knew that if push came to shove I would end any relationship that got in the way of my goals. I never truly let a woman have a place in my heart. If it got too hard or too complicated, I was out. Had another woman asked me why I asked her out, I would have told her I had no idea. With her, not only did I know, but I knew I had to tell her.