Page 11 of Another Curvy Girl and Grumpy Vamp

My eyes narrow. Oh, no. He doesn’t get to do this. Not after pulling this stunt.Where is the last place Baden Eames would be caught un-dead at?Without thinking, I type back.

Fine. But I’m driving.

I hit send before I can second-guess it, and almost immediately, his response pops up.

I’ll meet you at your last stop. Send me the location.

Oh, I bet he will. I pull out of the gas station and drive toward a nearby spot—a 24-hour diner I know well. It’s close enough that if Baden’s lurking nearby, it won’t take him long to find me. When I pull into the parking lot, it’s not long before I spot him. The headlights of his Bugatti flash as he pulls up next to me, parking with that smooth, calculated grace that makes my car feel like a go-kart in comparison.

He steps out, and even though I want to stay mad, I can’t help but admire the way he moves—like every inch of him was crafted to draw attention. Damn it. He doesn’t say anything at first, just walks over to the passenger side of my car and waits, his eyes locked on mine. Silver, intense, unreadable. I roll down the window, raising an eyebrow. “Get in.”

He smirks, clearly amused by my defiance, but he doesn’t argue. He slips into the passenger seat, and I fight the sudden rush of adrenaline that hits me being this close to him again.

“You bought out my entire night of rides,” I say, my voice tight. “That’s… excessive.”

“It’s protection,” he replies, as if that explains everything.

“It’s overkill.”

He shrugs. “I didn’t want you driving around alone. Problem solved.”

“Problem solved?” I repeat, incredulous. “Do you realize how insane that is? Who does that?”

“I do."

I throw up my hands in exasperation. “Well, congratulations. You’ve officially out-crazed every overprotective guy I’ve ever met.”

“Thank you,” he says, his tone so matter-of-fact I can’t even be mad. I shake my head, unable to hide the small smile tugging at my lips. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I’m careful,” he corrects, his gaze softening just a fraction. “And I care about your safety.”

I roll my eyes, but the tension between us simmers in the small space of the car. “Fine. But if we’re not working, we’re doing something.”

His brow lifts. “Like what?”

“You ever been to an arcade?” I grin when he tilts his head. A lock of dark curls falls over his puzzled brows. Then his brows shoot up and his mouth tips up on one side before he shakes his head. I have to give him credit, he doesn’t bat even one of those beautiful eyelashes when he agrees.

***

We move from game to game, the neon lights casting a colorful glow over everything as Baden continues his steady string of losses. First, it’s the superhero game, where I easily dominate with a combo attack that wipes out his character in seconds. He narrows his eyes at me, probably wondering how anyone can be so good at controlling a digital hero. Then we try the latest space invader iteration, where, again, my thumbs dance over the buttons like a well-rehearsed symphony, while his movements are just a beat too slow. By the time the third game ends in my favor, I can practically feel his frustration simmering beneath that stoic exterior. He hasn’t said a word, but I can see it in the tightness of his jaw and the determined glint in his silver eyes. “You really suck at this,” I tease, nudging him with my elbow.

“What gave me away,” he replies, though there’s no heat behind the words. If anything, there’s a grudging respect in his tone. “You, on the other hand, seem to have mastered all this.”

I shrug, grinning. “What can I say? Some kids from my school told me about this place. It’s a throwback, and the first time I visited, I fell in love. It’s one of my favorite spots now.”

Baden tilts his head, studying me like I’m a puzzle he’s trying to piece together. “You must come here all the time, then.”

I laugh. “Not as much as you think. But it’s a nice escape, you know? No responsibilities, just a chance to blow off steam. Everyone needs a place like that.”

He hums in response, his gaze drifting over the flashing lights before returning to me. There’s something softer in his expression, like maybe he’s starting to understand why a place like this appeals to someone like me—someone who needs an escape every now and then. As we walk around, I catch myself eyeing the concession stand, where they’re serving up root beer floats and milkshakes. My stomach grumbles, and I mentally chastise myself. Sweets this late? I shouldn’t. But damn, that root beer float looks tempting.

Baden notices, of course. “Would you like something?”

I shake my head quickly. “No, it’s fine. I mean, root beer floats are my favorite, but... Lifetime on the hips, you know?”

His gaze flicks down to my hips, and for a second, I swear the air between us is milkshake thick. “Your hips look fine to me,” he says, voice low and deliberate.

Heat creeps up my neck, and I roll my eyes, trying to shake off the effect his words are having on me. “Well, thanks for that,” I mumble. “But really, it’s late.”

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