Page 40 of Hooked on a Feeling

“You are officially the first Davenport to spend the night in jail,” Jersey said.

John met Judge’s gaze in his rearview mirror. “I am not.”

Judge coughed, and Jersey turned to his brother in the driver’s seat. “Really? When?”

“The first night I moved to campus,” Judge said. “Got arrested for trespassing and drinking.”

“And fighting,” John added.

“Oh yeah. And fighting.”

“Awesome big brothers I have,” Jersey said. “Way to set an example for us younger ones.”

“We did. We didn’t tell you.” Judge pulled into the parking lot of John’s condo, and the truck rolled to a stop.

“Thanks, guys,” John said.

“Not a problem. See you in a bit, lover boy.” Judge then proceeded to howl like a wolf.

John rolled his eyes and took off for his penthouse. He punched in his key code and went inside. He showered and shaved, contemplating if he could call in sick. He needed to grab his phone and wallet from Starr’s place before he went to the office.

The guys were right. He was absolutely in love with her. What were the odds that he could get her to move to Emerald Port permanently? He made his way to the back of the main building and saw her perched on the ladder, putting what looked like the finishing touches on white trim around the last window.

She was wearing the same clothes she had on yesterday, and like she had yesterday, she took his breath away. “Starr?”

“Oh, jeez Louise. Hey, jailbird.” She stepped down from the ladder and put her hands on her hips. “How are you feeling today? Embarrassed by your behavior?”

“Are you mad at me?”

She put her paintbrush into her cup holder and wiped her hands on her wadded-up towel. “I’m feeling a lot of things right now where you’re concerned.”

He closed the space between them and took her hands in his. “Such as?”

“I’m feeling angry that I got a ticket. I’m mad at that police officer for treating me the way he did. I’m upset that you felt you had to protect my honor. You could be in a huge amount of trouble.”

He gripped her chin with his hand. “You’re not ashamed to be near me? A man who hit a cop?”

“What? No one has ever defended my honor in quite that way.” She put her hands on his chest. “But I could have handled him myself. I wouldn’t have hit him.”

“Trust me. He’s a bully. He wouldn’t have let up on you.” He pressed his mouth against hers. “I’m sorry for fighting your battle. But—”

“But it was kind of swoony.”

“Swoony?”

“Yeah, it melted my heart.”

“I’m glad it melted your heart.” John had a difficult time letting the words come out of his mouth. “I can’t imagine my dad giving me the job after that.”

She put a hand to her mouth. “Don’t say that. No. Explain to him what you just explained to me about the cop being a bully. He’ll understand.”

“Fat chance. I gotta roll. You got my wallet and my phone?” He let go of her. “Might as well get this over with.”

“Sure. Be right back.”

John stood outside and squinted up at the Blue Horizon building. He’d made a stupid mistake, and his dad wasn’t going to let him live it down. He could already hear him. A real CEO doesn’t allow his temper to get the best of him. How can you be trusted to make quick, good decisions? And a cop? Quit thinking with your dick.

She jingled his car keys. “I took the liberty of retrieving your keys and locking your doors after you brought me that yummy salad yesterday. I was worried about leaving it unlocked in the parking lot,” Starr said. She handed him his phone and wallet. “Good luck. I hate that I’m the reason for this.” Tears pooled in her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

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