Page 47 of Meet Cute or Your Money Back

“Okay, but what if I’m there and I witness the kidnapping. Like…do I hop in a car and follow it so I can see where they’re taking her?”

I clamp my hands to my hips and roll my eyes to the ceiling. This fucking girl. She’s going to be the death of me. “Fine…because I know you’re not going to rest until I give you some sort of answer…yes. If you are safely able to follow the car kidnapping your sister, do so. Try to stay far enough behind them so they don’t know you’re following. Keep at least one car between yours and theirs so they can’t shoot out your tires. Take copious notes on the make and model of the car and the license plate number. And for the love of God, call the cops, or call me or Griffin or someone with authority to take over.”

Insulted, her eyes narrow. “You don’t think I can handle it?”

“No, Allie! I don’t. I don’t think you can handle following a fucking kidnapper. Have you ever fired a gun? No, scratch that…have you even everhelda gun?”

She stomps over to where she left her purse discarded on the bench and pulls out a small glock, about the size of her fist.

“Oh my God!” I immediately duck when she swings the gun around to point it at me. “What are you doing with that?” Staying out of the line of fire, I rush over to her and take it from her to make sure the safety is on when I realize it’s far too light to be a real gun.

“It’s a lighter.” She smiles, taking the gun from me and when she pulls the trigger, a flame comes out the tip of the barrel. “Bang.”

I’m not sure if I’m more relieved or annoyed at the fact that it’s not a real gun. Jaw clenched, I shove the lighter back in her bag. “It’s like a freaking Mary Poppins magic bag. What else do you have in here?”

“Oh, it’s a whole bag of tricks! Go on! Look around. I’m an open book.”

I snort and reach inside, pulling out the personal alarm she’d showed me the other night. A pack of gum. I pull out something squishy at the bottom and hold up a dog-shaped stress ball. “Isn’t he cute? I call him my fisty frenchie!”

I blink at her, certain I did not hear that correctly. “Your… you know what? I don’t want to know.” Instead of arguing with her on the insanity of that name, I drop the stress ball back inside and hold up a small, sleek pink object that was nestled at the bottom of her bag. Her face immediately turns scarlet and my stomach drops. “Is that what I think it is?—?”

“Ignore that!” She lunges at me, but I hold the object high above my head where she can’t reach it.

“You carry a vibrator in yourpurse?” There are a lot of things I would expect to find in Allie’s purse—gum, pens, maybe some candy because she’s perpetually snacky—but not this. Definitely notthis.

“Don’t judge! My sister gave it to me as a gift. Ajokegift.”

Cool. Cool cool cool. So I’m holding Allie’s vibrator in my hand. Casual. Totally fine. I am absolutely not wondering what she looks like when she uses it. Or what sounds she makes. Or if she bites her lip the same way she does when she’s thinking about taking one of my chocolate chip cookies.

“So you just…carry it around? Like lip balm?”

“She said I always need to be prepared. Like…a sexy Girl Scout.”

“Do Girl Scouts get badges for…that?” I hand it over to her like it’s radioactive and she quickly takes it from me, shoving it back into her purse.

“They should. I’d have earned the whole damn sash by now.” A cough sputters out of me. This girl. This fucking girl. “You okay there,Sir? You’re looking a little flushed.”

I’ve jumped out of planes. I’vedefused bombs. But nothing has prepared me for the casual way she has claimed her vibrator like a damn queen and made me feel likeIam the one being scandalous.

I need to get out more. Or maybe I just need to kiss her.

Nope. Bad idea. Terrible idea.

I take a step back and gesture to the mats. “Can we finish this lesson please?”

“There’s more?” she asks, genuinely sounding surprised.

“When it comes to self-defense, there’s always more. But for today, only one final test.” I make the mistake of taking her hand to pull her back to the mats. Her fingers slip into mine, soft and warm, and the moment stretches just a little too long. Her palm fits against mine, her skin delicate but steady, and there’s something grounding about it. I should let go. But I don’t—not right away.

I clear my throat and finally release her, ignoring the way my palm suddenly feels empty. “I’m going to come at you, and you need to get away. No rules. Just escape.”

She nods, bouncing slightly on her feet. “Ready.”

I lunge.

She gasps and darts to the side, but I catch her arm, careful not to grip her bad hand, spinning her back toward me. When she twists, trying to break free with the maneuver I taught her earlier, I tighten my hold just enough to keep her from escaping. Her breath is fast, her eyes wide, her body close.

Too close.

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