“Yeah, you’re not a little girl anymore,” he concedes after a few moments of silence.
Well, I have no reply to that. Is he actually flirting with me?
“Well, I better head back home and shower.”
And just like that—with those eight little words—I’m now picturing him in the shower. Crap.I stare at his sweaty shirt that is clinging to his upper body and picture it being peeled off his chiseled chest and thrown on the floor. The shower. I could definitely enjoy a shower with Maddox. He gives me another of his slow, sexy grins, as if he can read the dirty thoughts going through my mind.
Great. It would be my luck he really can read minds.
“See you Saturday night,” he says as he puts his earbuds back in his ears and heads down my front porch steps. He turns and looks at me over his shoulder one last time before he takes off, jogging into the night back toward his house.
Hell, now I need a shower. A very cold shower. Why can’t I be attracted to a guy who is actually looking for a girlfriend, not just a quick fling? I sit for a few more moments lost in thought before heading back inside with the images of a very naked and very wet Maddox running through my mind.
Chapter 6
Maddox
It’s been the longest damn week ever. Jake and I were in and out of the squad car all week long. High school and college kids enjoying the last of the fall weather before it gets cold, underage drinkers, a few DUIs, a couple of domestics, and a bunch of speeders. I’m definitely ready to let loose for a little bit Saturday night after work, but Jake doesn’t know the real reason why. It’s Saturday night and I get to see Avery, hang out, and maybe share a few laughs with her.
I walk into Jack’s Pub and am assaulted by the classic rock coming from the jukebox. I immediately spot Jake and a few other friends in the back by the pool tables, so I swing by the bar and grab a beer before heading toward them. I see Jake has wasted no time and already has a few ladies surrounding him. He gives me a nod and reintroduces me to Emma and Heather. He’s got that shit-eating grin on his face, and I know he’s already secured us a couple of ladies to enjoy for the night. I can’t tell him I’m not interested incasual sex with one of the double D twins. There’s no way in hell I can tell him I’d rather go home with his little sister tonight.
“Hi there,” Heather coos at me in a flirty, singsong voice.
“Evenin’, ladies,” I reply and give them each a little nod.
Heather curls up to my side, batting her overdone eyelashes at me. I’m just not feeling it tonight. I’ve enjoyed Heather’s company a few times in the past, and we’ve always had a great time. She’s rubbing her free hand up and down my forearm and gives me a flirty wink. She’s smiling at me as if she already knows where our night is leading.
Sorry, sweetheart, not tonight.
I notice platinum-blond hair standing up at the bar, chatting with the bartender, Gabe. Gabe is a total player, and it pisses me off that he’s watching her with a hungry look on his smug face like she’s his next meal. Avery laughs at something he says, and I want to walk up there, throw her over my shoulder, and take her straight out the front door caveman-style, so I’m the only person who can hear that laugh.
I watch her for a few moments, taking in her outfit from behind that accentuates her beautiful ass. To top it off, she’s wearing sexy black boots that make her legs look endless.I want them to wrap around my waist—or better yet—my neck.
Avery turns from the bar at that moment and hands her friend, Holly, a drink. They both head our way, and I notice Gabe checking out her ass as she heads toward us. Apparently, I growl. Out loud.
“Is that guy checking out my sister.” Jake breaks my train of thought, already standing up straighter, glaring at Gabe, and looking for a fight.
“No, don’t worry about it, man. She’s not into Gabe anyway,” I reply, hoping there’s truth to my statement.
As Avery and Holly approach our group, she makes eye contact with me and smiles. Her eyes take an appreciative glance down my body, and I can feel her gaze burning my chest through my shirt. But then her smile quickly fades, and she looks away. That’s when I realize Heather is still plastered to my side. I shake Heather off me and lean in to give Avery a kiss on the cheek. I inhale as I do and, damn, does she smell like heaven. It’s sweet like sugar and vanilla, and I instantly want to know what the rest of her smells like.
Fuck.My pants are getting tight at the mental image of smelling her. All of her.
“Dude, get the fuck away from my sister,”Jake growls and trains his intense blue eyes on me.
“I’m just saying hello,” I reply, not looking at him for fear he’ll see straight through my lie. I quickly say hello to Holly and give her a peck on the cheek too, so it looks like it’s just a regular part of my welcome.
I can’t tell you what either one of the Double D twins are wearing right now, though no doubt it’s skimpy, low-cut, and has tons of cleavage pouring out the top. But Avery is wearing her favorite skinny jeans, the ones with the little holes in all the right spots, and a tight blue V-neck T-shirt, which makes her eyes sparkle even more, if that’s even possible.
“Let’s play a game,” Holly says to Avery as she heads around the table to slip some change into the pool table and rack up the balls.
“Partners?” Avery asks as she glances between me and Jake, and then back to the Double D twins.
“Sure,” I reply before Jake can decline and run off to start his night with Emma.
“Well, I know how much Jake sucks at pool, so I’ll take you as my partner,” she replies and points her long, narrow finger at me.
“I do not suck,” Jake retorts. “I just hatelistening to you cry because you lost, so I let you win! Besides, I’m very good with a stick.” He laughs suggestively and hands his beer to Emma, who is laughing and chatting with Heather. Both girls are looking at me and Jake, giving us their best flirty look. I’m pretty sure both of them are willing to leave right now and head someplace more private.
