Page 26 of Under Pressure

“She was verbally harassing the bartenders.”

“They wouldn’t serve me. Said I’d hadtoo much.” She brings her face up to Mia’s and lets out a soft burp, then dissolves into giggles.

“I’m so sorry. We’re leaving now,” she says to the man, wrapping an arm around the girl’s waist, attempting to get her to move. “Kelsey, it’s time to go.”

“But I don’t want to,” Kelsey whines, digging her feet in.

“All right.” I’ve had about enough of this. I pluck the blonde’s arm off of Mia and pick her up, dumping her over my shoulder in a fireman’s carry. “Lead the way,” I gesture to Mia, who stares at me slack-jawed. This Kelsey girl must be startled too because she makes no moves of resistance, hanging there limply.

Mia finally springs into action and most people part for us, eyes widening when they spot me. What, like they’ve never seen a guy carry a girl out this way before? Must not be a very exciting club.

We pause at the coat check to get our things and a cold wind hits us immediately upon exiting. Mia picks up the pace, leading me toward her gray Elantra.

I catch sight of her lips, still swollen from my kisses as she opens the passenger door for me to stuff Kelsey into. Her hair is even wilder than usual from my hands running through it, the softness of her curls making my fingers itch to touch them again.

And then there’s that luscious ass, the one I have full view of right now as she bends over to buckle her roommate in. It’s absolutely perfect, despite what her old dancing teacher said.

I bring my eyes up as she straightens and shuts the passenger door, turning back to me. Normally, every emotion is on her face, but the only thing I can make out in the dim light from the streetlamp is regret.

For kissing me? Or for having to stop?

She twists her hands together in front of her, over and over until I’m tempted to reach out and stop her. But I don’t. It’s probably not a good idea to touch her at all again. Things went too far tonight.

“I have to take her home,” she says softly, biting her lip. The action only serves to make me zero in on the area.

I nod. “I guess I’ll see you next week.”

She stares at me for a moment longer. “Right.”

She walks around to the driver’s side, but before she gets in, I ask her, “Why’d she call you Amelia Bedelia?”

She rolls her eyes, some of the nervous energy surrounding her dissipating. “I’ll tell you Tuesday.”

And with that enigmatic statement, she drives off, leaving me with more questions than I came here with.

Chapter Eight

Mia

“You didn’t lookover any of the problems I left?”

My tutoring student, Matthew, looks at me sullenly, his chin propped on his hand. “I told you, my dad will get me into any school I want. I don’t need to study.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose between my thumb and forefinger, already annoyed and I haven’t been here five minutes yet. “That’s not an actual strategy. Even if he can pull strings, you still have to take a standardized test as part of the admissions process. Either this or the ACT. And it’ll seem awfully suspicious if your scores are lower than what they normally accept.”

“I’ll score fine,” he insists.

I try a different tack, softening my voice. “Your mom said you already took it once and didn’t do well.”

“I had a cold that time. I couldn’t concentrate.”

Wow, he has an excuse for everything. “Well, your parents hired me to help you get a better score. I’m trying to do that, but you have to meet me halfway.”

He kicks at his chair leg, avoiding my gaze.

“Tell me the grammar rules we went over from the last time we met,” I try, attempting to engage him in some way.

“I don’t remember,” he mumbles.

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