Page 40 of Bad Boy Crush

“Now everyone will know she’s proud of you,” the man said as he handed over the purple bear wearing a bowtie.

“I am, you know,” Lou said, her arms around the neck of her prize as they walked away from the booth. “Proud of you.”

“You don’t have to say that.” The rigid set of his shoulders communicated how uncomfortable he was with the compliment. “But you’re sweet.”

“When have you known me to be sweet?” She snorted, the question not a question but a rhetorical observation. She noticed Ant was not walking with her. She and her bear faced him. “You okay?”

“Who told you you weren’t sweet?” His tone was borderline lethal.

“I don’t know.”

“Was it Liam?”

She lifted one shoulder into a weak shrug. “Probably.”

Yes, in fact. Liam had made sure to tell her on multiple occasions that she was an unfair fighter. That she had the personality of a rattlesnake when she didn’t have her way. She had tried to soften her edges, but in the end, it hadn’t been enough. He’d gone to find someone else.

“Probably?” The air between them was charged, Ant’s anger saturating the space.

“He definitely said I could be more polite.” She half hid behind her prize bear.

Ant stalked over and took the stuffed animal from her. He should have looked funny, a muscular guy holding a teddy bear, but he didn’t. He looked…really fucking sexy.

He wrapped the back of her neck with his free hand, a move that was becoming his signature with her. “Hear me, Lourdes. You are fucking sweet. Top to toe. And I’d bet everywhere in between too.”

She had to remind herself to breathe—and how to breathe—with him this close talking about tasting her everywhere.

“Seems to me we’ve put too fine a point on friends versus lovers. What if those two things don’t have to be mutually exclusive?”

And then what? her mind asked.

And then he could go down on you! her neglected erogenous zones chanted.

Now would have been a good time to ask for that kiss, since he’d made it clear she’d have to ask, but before she could cross that line and satisfy both their desires, they were interrupted by Mr. Personality himself.

“Nice bear, Renaldo.” Hunter. But of course. He took in Ant and Lou’s proximity before flicking the stuffed bear’s ear with his finger. “Finally figure out the axe throw?”

“Fuck off.” Ant’s eyes slid to Hunter long enough to make his point before settling on her again. His hand at the back of her neck slipped away, his fingers threading through her hair and leaving a sensual wake behind them.

“Excuse me?” Hunter widened his stance.

“You heard me.” Ant turned, the giant bear still in his grip.

“Uh, guys.” She stepped closer to Ant and slid her hand into his.

Hunter’s lip curled. “I guess we’ll see if Lou chose the winner after all. See you at Salty Dog in a few hours.”

He walked away, his strut better suited for a young rooster.

“What a jackass,” Ant grumbled.

“Agree.”

He opened his mouth, but she cut him off. “Do not bring up the kiss again—I didn’t know he was going to make a move.”

“I wasn’t going to bring up that kiss.” His lowered his voice. “I was going to say—”

“Excuse me,” a sweet voice said. It belonged to a dark-haired girl in a wheelchair. Her mother thanked them when Ant and Lou stepped aside to let her pass.

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