Page 41 of Bad Boy Crush

“Purple is my favorite color,” the young girl, her eyes on the teddy bear, said.

“Is it?” Lou smiled. “Do you like stuffed animals?”

“A lot!” the girl exclaimed.

“This one needs a home. My house is too small. I would hate to leave him at the festival by himself. Do you know anyone who might be able to take him?”

The girl’s eyes lit up, her smile with them. “Mom, can I?”

Her mother met eyes with Lou. “If you’re sure?”

“Positive.” Lou took the bear from Ant and set it on the girl’s lap. The massive stuffed animal nearly took up the girl’s entire chair. “He suits you.”

“I’m going to name him Eddie.”

“I think that’s perfect. Thank you for taking Eddie. Now I won’t have to worry about him finding a good home.”

“Thank you so much!” The girl hugged the bear’s neck.

“Yes, thank you both,” her mother said. Then she and her daughter wheeled through the crowd, the purple bear in tow.

“I hope I didn’t hurt your feelings by—”

Ant ended her words with a kiss. A full-body, arms-wrapped-around-her, tongue-sweeping-into-her-mouth kiss. When he pulled away—far too soon, in her opinion, his eyes were molten with desire.

“Sweet.”

After she collected her bearings, she said, “I—I was told no more kisses until I asked.”

“I lied.” Then he snatched up her hand and kissed that too.

* * *

Ant hadn’t been nervous asking Lou out this morning. He hadn’t been nervous when he’d thrown three axes at a target and as a result, had won an oversize bear. He hadn’t been nervous when he’d laid one on her after she’d given away that bear either.

But as he drove to Salty Dog for the reveal of the winner of the contest, he had an undeniable case of nerves. His stomach was tight, his palms were sweating, and his mind was racing.

He hadn’t grown up believing he was anything special. Not his mom’s fault. She’d been busy with work. His brothers were both older and had been doing their own things at the time. They’d been off to college when Ant had been sentenced with community service. Since he was a kid, Ant had been more comfortable in the shadows. Behind the scenes. He worked well alone. He lived well alone.

He’d accepted years ago that he wasn’t the kind of guy who won first place. He’d be the first to admit that his self-worth had taken a hit when he was a kid. Out of habit, he hadn’t asked for much. Evidently, that had bled into adulthood. He’d grown into a man who didn’t know how to ask for what he wanted.

When he’d met Lou, he’d already been selling pieces to the furniture store. After they’d become friends, she hadn’t allowed his ambition to stop there. She’d told him that he was worthy. That his work was valuable. She still did. He wanted this win so badly, he was afraid to hope he’d win it. He wanted to earn her praise. Prove to her that she’d backed the right guy—that he was worth the trouble. And yeah, part of him wanted that win for himself. To be proud of himself for a change.

He stole a look at her, her hand tapping her leg in time with the music on satellite radio. She must’ve felt him looking because she shot him a dazzling smile.

“Nervous?” She stroked his fist on the steering wheel. “Your knuckles are white.”

He loosened his grip and tried to relax.

“You won.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I know it in here.” She tapped her chest with two fingers. “I can’t wait to see Hunter’s face when they unveil your wolf.”

Ant couldn’t help chuckling. “Jesus, Lourdes. The more you you are, the more I want to—” He cut himself off.

“The more you want to what?”

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