Page 2 of Property Of Chrissy

“I would, but I have this dinner I have to go to for my dad. He’ll be mad if I’m late. I’m sorry. I’m really not trying to get out of returning the favor; I just can’t right now.”

Here the hottest guy I’ve ever laid eyes on is asking to spend some time with me and I’m not going to be able to. Again, maybe my alarm bells should be going off and I should be driving away, or asking what exactly he means by“spending time with me,”but nothing about the kind, beautiful man is giving me the creeps or making me feel nervous. He isn’t at all scary like my own father. But then again, I’ve seen all the true crime shows and some of the worst criminals seemed like the nicest people to everyone who knew them, so I should behave smarter than this. Thankfully, there are a ton of cars on the road right now and I could flag someone down if I needed to.

“I didn’t mean right now, angel.”

Oh, he’s talking about spending time with melater. Well, in that case, I can play it smart by making sure we’re in a public place. Although, everything I want to do with the man before me would require privacy.

“Shit.” He suddenly looks alarmed. “I should have asked first instead of assuming, but please tell me you’re eighteen?”

My cheeks tip right up into a smile. I don’t think he’d be worried about my age if he wasn’t interested in me. Again, I have to clamp down my body’s excitement. I nod my answer, thankful he assumed right about my age and didn’t think I was sixteen.

His eyes seem to grow darker in response to my answer. Those same eyes begin to travel down my outfit and cause a shiver to run through my body. It feels like he’s checking me out.

“You go to Royal?” Or maybe he was just reading my shirt.

I nod reluctantly, embarrassed by my answer. I’m at the uppity private high school that’s known for its undefeated football team and all the rich assholes who go there. I don’t want the gorgeous man before me to think I’m like them. I’m not. And if I had my choice, I would be attending the public school with the nice people. The people I feel more comfortable around.

“I graduated from Rickshaw High five years ago. You guys were our number one rival then. Thanks to me, we took home the championship my senior year.”

So that means he’s approximately twenty-three years old if he graduated five years ago. I was right about him being in his twenties. But I never pegged the dangerous-looking man covered in tattoos who drives a really cool motorcycle to have been a football player. He is not at all like the snooty jocks I know. Then again, he went to the public high school.

I cross my arms, raising my brow teasingly. Finding myself in full on flirt mode. “Thanks to you? I happen to cheer on the sidelines if you hadn’t noticed,”—I look down at my uniform and back up— “and there’s an entire team involved in the game. It’s never just one guy playing on the field.”

He lets out a deep rumbly chuckle as he steps closer, making it harder for me to think and breathe. And making me have to tilt my chin even farther back to look up at him. Man, he really is tall. And those eyes…

“Oh, I noticed, angel. Definitely noticed. What I meant was I scored the winning touchdown. And you’re right, babe, it was thanks to the entire team, but I was trying to impress you so you’d take notice yourself. Guess I just sounded like an arrogant ass instead.”

The butterflies in my stomach start fluttering in a swarm. He’s trying to impress me.Me.The biggest dork at Royal. Honestly, if it weren’t for my last name, I wouldn’t have even made the cheerleading squad. But my dad’s reputation has people bowing down before him and giving me certain privileges they’d rather not. Not that I’m not good at cheering, I just don’t fit their usual mold. Sure, blonde, pretty, and rich are all part of their checklist, but they also want bitchy, shallow, and conniving. All of which I’m not.

“You didn’t sound like an ass; you just sounded a bit cocky.”

His nostrils flare, and he takes another step toward me, removing even more of the oxygen in my lungs. One more inch and we’ll be touching.

“I am cocky, angel. But it’s not just the head attached to my shoulders that’s big.”

Oh wow. This totally hot guy is flirting with me. Again, maybe those red flags should be flying all around me, but they refuse to even raise in my thoughts. I’m completely drawn to this guy, and the only thing raising is my temperature. I’m about to break into a sweat.

“Look, babe, you need to get going so you’re not late to that dinner, and I have to get to work, so why don’t you give me your number and we’ll table this conversation for the next time we see each other.” We’re going to see each other again. It’s not even a question.

The wild giddiness in me wants to burst out on a giggle, but I have to play it cool. I don’t want to act like the total desperate dweeb I truly am. Because the real Chrissy Pratwick does not get asked out by boys. Not unless they want something from me, more like want something from my dad. Therefore, I’ve never had a boyfriend before. But given this stranger doesn’t know my last name, for once, I’m being judged for me and not for who my father is.

“Um…okay.” I pull out my phone with shaking hands and hand it over to him. He takes it from me and starts typing. I hear his phone ring from his pocket and realize he must have just called himself. When he hands me my phone back, there’s a sweet smile plastered on his face. His hand comes up and lightly grips my waist, giving me a gentle squeeze.

“Relax, angel. You don’t have anything to be nervous about with me. I promise I don’t bite. Well…” He pauses and a sexy, sly grin forms on his perfect kissable lips. “Maybe, I’ll nibble a little. But only if you want me to and only when you’re ready.”

Okay, this guy is so far out of my league. I’m about to pass out from the heat coursing through my veins. Would me asking him to nibble on me right now come across as too desperate? Probably. I need to play hard to get. I need to keep my inner dweeb locked down and not act so thirsty.

“We’ll see, Mr. Cocky. It’s still to be determined whether I let your lips anywhere near me or not.”

His grip on my waist tightens and he yanks me right against him in one quick movement. And, wow, he was not lying about being cocky.

“You’re definitely going to be letting me get my lips on you, baby. And once I do, I promise I’ll have you begging for more.”

Yep, I’m pretty sure he’s right about that one because I’m about to drop to my knees and beg him right now to give me my first kiss.

“Now, save my number in your phone, angel, so when I call you later, you’ll know it’s me. And by the way, babe”—he grips my chin and leans down to where we’re at eye level—“if you have any boys chasing after you at school, tell them to get lost. You and I are definitely going to be spending more time together. A lot more time together. And I don’t plan on sharing. Ever.”

I’m not sure what comes over me, but the next thing I know, I’m reaching for the back of his neck, pulling him forward, andpressing my mouth to his. And as soon as we connect, I know he’s right. I’ll be begging for more. I’ll be begging for so much more.

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