Page 8 of Dating the Bad Boy

“Depends.” I cock my head to the side, studying her. “Does the real me get to ask the real you why you picked me?”

Her cheeks heat, turning pink. “Um, well, I guess so.” She licks her lips again, seeming nervous. “I work at the car dealership in Silver Spoon Falls. I’ve seen you in there a few times, and you always seem like you’re just living your best life. I guess I just…” She shrugs helplessly. “I guess I liked that, you know?”

I study her intently, processing what she didn’t say as much as what she did. I’m a smart motherfucker. I can read between the lines. This sweet little thing is attracted to me. Enough that she requested a date with me. I’m guessing that isn’t something she does often.

“My reputation didn’t scare you?” I ask, curious as hell.

“Should it?” She blinks at me.

“According to my sister, most people think I’m the devil’s assistant.”

“I had heard that.” She grins, two killer dimples popping out. “You know what people say about me, Asa?”

“What’s that, baby?”

She lifts up on her toes, leaning closer. Her sweet scent swirls around me, and I have to plant my feet and shove my hands deep into my pockets to keep myself from putting them all over her. “That I’m a boring, mousy little good girl,” she whispers. “Maybe they’re wrong about both of us.”

“You tired of being a good girl, baby? Is that why you wanted to go out with me?”

“No.” She holds my gaze, hers earnest, honest. “I asked to go out with you because…” She licks her lips and then huffs a breath. “I’m attracted to you, Asa Steele. Maybe I shouldn’t tell you that, but it’s true.”

Well, fuck me.

There’s no way my dick is going down now. The bastard can’t even breathe in these pants, and he’s hard as a goddamn stone slab.

“Oh, yeah?” I take a step toward her, getting up in her personal space. “Well, then you should know that I’m attracted to you, too, Leslie. And I’m mad as hell.”

Her brows furrow with confusion. “Because you’re attracted to me?”

“Fuck no,” I growl. “I’m mad as hell that you’ve been watching me, and I haven’t gotten to watch you. Doesn’t seem very fair, sweetheart.” I tap her nose. “So, while you watchThe Nutcracker, I’m going to watch the fuck out of you.” I smirk at her. “Maybe then we’ll be even.”

Her gaze flits past me to the entrance to the arena and then drifts back to me. “You don’t really want to see the ballet at all, do you?”

“Baby, I don’t know the first fucking thing about ballet,” I say cheerfully. “Couldn’t tell you one move from another.”

“Me neither,” she admits, laughing softly.

“Well, shit. And here I thought I was taking you somewhere impressive for a first date.”

“Oh, I am impressed!” she promises, those doe eyes wide. “I just… can I be honest, Asa?”

“Always,” I murmur, wondering how long I have to wait to kiss her. Surely, fifteen minutes is long enough, right? Right?? Goddamn. Maybe I should have asked Caroline for some pointers or rules or something.

“I’d much rather spend the night getting to know you,” she whispers. “And I don’t think we’ll be able to do very much talking in there.”

“Shit. You’re right.” Why didn’t I think of that? Oh, right. Because not talking was my plan before I met her. I kinda figured the less she had to talk to me, the better. Bad plan, clearly. Because all I want to do is spend the rest of my damn life talking to this girl. She is fascinating in ways I did not anticipate.

I quickly run through the options, tossing out any that require us to deal with other people. I don’t want to share her. I want her all to myself for the night. But she may slap me if I suggest taking her back to my place. It’s absolutely where I want this to end, but…

“How do you feel about a little adventure, Leslie?” I ask, settling on the next best thing.

“What kind of adventure?”

“The best kind,” I smirk, slipping my hand into hers. “The kind that breaks all the fucking rules, baby.”

Her eyes light up.

An hour later,I drop a picnic basket on top of the blanket I spread out on the banks of the Falls, a secluded spot in the middle of fucking nowhere on the outskirts of Silver Spoon Falls.

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