Page 65 of Never Kiss the Bad Boy

I lean toward her. “Now that I’ve reminded you why you love me… I mean like…” I wink at her dramatically. “What’re you doing today? Other than an infamous, probably already viral on social media Costco trip, I mean. Like, are you busy?”

“Are you trying to get me back to your place? Now?”

I wasn’t, but it’s not a half-bad idea. I might even venture that it’s an all-good one. “Always. But I actually have something else I need to do today, and I thought you might like to come along.”

“Am I dressed okay?”

She’s wearing black leggings that show every luscious curve, an oversized T-shirt with a tiger on it, and her work tennis shoes. Her hair is up in its usual bun, and her face is bare. She’s dressed for hauling bags of rice and beans, not going on a date, but it’s perfect for what I have in mind.

“You look gorgeous, as always. But I need to get my truck and Peanut Butter, so can we run by my house?”

Her angry glare returns instantly. “That’s the biggest line I’ve ever heard.” She throws her voice low, imitating some guy that sure as shit isn’t me, “Oh, yeah, just one little stop, it’ll be super-fast… come on in for a second and then we’ll go.”

I hold my hand up. “Boy Scout’s honor. I won’t try to get you inside, or get inside you. This time.” I add the caveat at the end just in the nick of time to not make myself a liar later.

“Too bad,” she teases, tilting her head and giving me sexy eyes.

“Besides, come in for a second? I’m insulted.” I curl my lip like that’s downright offensive but then point at her pretty face and add, “And you’re gonna make me lose every single one of my Boy Scout patches if you keep flirting like that.”

As she pulls out of the parking lot, she asks, “Were you really a Scout?”

I give her a devilish look and spread my thighs a bit more, giving my cock room to breathe. “Nope. Never even been camping, but I’ve pitched a few tents.”

I don’t miss her eyes dropping to my crotch or the way her breathing speeds up.

CHAPTER 21

DANI

The drive to Kyle’s doesn’t take long, and though I try to get him to tell me where we’re going, he stays tight-lipped about it, which only makes me more curious. We trade vehicles, and as I climb into the passenger seat, he whistles, bringing Peanut Butter barreling out of the house and straight into the back seat of the cab.

The dog plants his paws on the seat, nearly falling over it into the front in his excitement, but I manage to steady him and he lays his head into my offered hand, leaning into my scratches. He’s definitely a cuddle-bug, that’s for damn sure.

“Do you know where we’re going, sweet boy?” I ask the dog, wondering if he’ll tell me when Kyle won’t. To his credit, he barks in answer, but unfortunately, I don’t know what he said.

“Don’t tell her, man. It’s a surprise,” Kyle jokingly scolds, and Peanut Butter huffs out an annoyed snort as he lies down across the back with his legs stretched out behind him.

“Now, I’m extra curious. Dog park?” I wonder aloud, but Kyle grins and mimes locking his lips and throwing away the key.

I’m not the pouting type, so I clack my teeth in his direction, threatening to bite him. But he laughs at my attempt at being menacing. “You’re acting like that’s something I wouldn’t want. You can bite me anytime, almost anywhere.”

I snarl, curling my lip up. But the truth is he’s putting dirty, sexy thoughts in my head that do their job at distracting me from my curiosity about our destination.

“Fuck, you’re gorgeous when you’re mad at me.” The compliment is delivered with another of his cocky smirks.

“That probably says something unflattering about my anger management and your lack of self-preservation.”

“Nah, you’re pretty when you’re not mad too.”

I tilt my head, charmed by his flirting. At least enough to stop asking where we’re going until he pulls up in front of a nondescript house on the other side of town. “Stay here for a second, ‘kay? Just picking something up.”

He’s driving me crazy on purpose, so this had better be worth it.

He hops out and walks up to meet the guy coming out the front door with a big box in his arms. I can’t hear them, but I watch closely as the man sets the box down and opens a flap so Kyle can peer inside. They talk a little bit, and then the guy gives the box one more look, his eyes welling up. He nods to Kyle and then shuffles back inside as Kyle brings the box to the truck.

I hop out, opening the back door for him, both so he can put his box inside and so I can try to suss out what’s in this mystery box.

It’s then I hear the whimpering.

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