Page 12 of The Wrong Bachelor

“It will look bad if I ride with you…”

“Then hide in the back seat,” I replied with a grin.

She turned her head to meet my gaze. My hands were still on her slight shoulders, and the movement caused a waft of her shampoo to hit me. It was a fresh and sweet fragrance that smelled like strawberries. I resisted the temptation to dip my head closer and get a better whiff. That wouldn’t be a good look.

“I’m not hiding in your back seat!” she exclaimed as she peeled my hands from her shoulders. I immediately missed the contact.

“I get it,” I said, shrugging my shoulders. “You’re worried you won’t be able to resist me once we’re in the confines of my truck. It wouldn’t be fair to the other girls.”

Her eyes sparkled with annoyance. “I can resist you just fine. You’re repulsive.”

I laughed aloud at her. “Sure I am, puddles.”

“Don’t call me that,” she growled. “We’re not six years old anymore.”

“True,” I replied. “But that doesn’t mean you're not still obsessed with dancing in the rain.”

Her glare grew darker, which only caused my grin to grow larger. “Would you prefer it if I called you something else,” I said. “I can do that. How about sweet cheeks? Or maybe honey bun? Or pumpkin?”

She was practically shaking with anger. “My name is Madison.”

“Of course it is, princess, now get in the car.” I pulled the passenger side door open for her.

Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, and I could have sworn the threat of violence was lurking in her eyes. “You going to punch me for offering you a ride?” I laughed.

Her fists immediately loosened.

“Just stop coming up with excuses and get in the car. There’s no one here to even see us right now. It will be our little secret.”

She glanced around the empty car park, and from the resigned look in her eyes, I could tell she knew I was right. She finally let out a breath. “Fine,” she grumbled.

I stood back and watched her climb into the truck. She seemed so small and delicate next to the massive vehicle as she started to pull herself up into the front seat. I was almost worried she wouldn’t make it. When she turned and caught me looking at her, the annoyance returned to her gaze. I realized that it was probably because it seemed like I was checking out her ass.

“You’re such a pig,” she spat at me.

“Takes one to know one, babe. Takes one to know one.” I slammed the door shut before she could fire back at me. I smiled the whole way round to the other side of the car. The look on her face had pretty much made my day.

5

Madison

The five-mile walk home from school was beginning to look pretty good as I sat in Cole’s car. I’d happily walk double that distance just to avoid the smug grin that had been pasted across his face since he’d gotten behind the wheel.

I decided that silence was the only way I could cope with the guy, so I sat back in my seat and stared out the window, trying to pretend the boy I loathed wasn’t sitting only inches away from me.

Watching the outside world didn’t stop me from smelling Cole though. The car was infused with the soft scent of whatever cologne he wore. It was a nice change from Jake’s car, which mostly smelt of dirty socks and empty fast food containers. Every time Jake drove me to and from school, I found myself wishing I owned a hazmat suit. That certainly wasn’t the case in Cole’s truck.

Cole also seemed like a pretty good driver. The trees weren’t passing in a blur, and I hadn’t once had to grip the corner of my seat as he whipped around a corner too fast. Jake, on the other hand, drove his car like he lived his life: recklessly fast and without giving any consideration to the consequences of his actions.

As Cole pulled up outside the front of my house, I realized we’d spent the entire journey in silence. I turned to him and found that he was watching me expectantly.

“Well, thanks for the ride,” I said, before turning and launching myself from the truck. I didn’t wait to hear whatever rude remark he might respond with.

I quickly shut the door and started toward my house. It was a relief to be home after the day I’d had, but that small reprieve was short lived as I heard the sound of a car door opening and closing behind me. I looked over my shoulder as Cole rounded the front of his truck and started to follow me.

“What are you doing?” I hissed as he walked up the hedge-lined pathway toward me. “Your house is that way.” I pointed across the street to the Kingston family's home, which was a few doors down from mine.

“I’m walking you to your door, Matthews. You got a problem with that?” he drawled.

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