Page 22 of Bad Boy Next Door
“Ready, Nick?” she asked, and he nodded.
Nick was coming in the car, too. My girl parts sang hallelujah, but my brain took control. “I’ll take the bus.”
“Don’t be silly,” Melodie said. “Are there even busesrunningthis time of night?”
“Yup. There’s one leaving soon. It connects with one that goes out to the airport, and I can catch one there that gets me within four blocks. I’d better get going or I’ll have another thirty-minute wait for the next one.” I started for the door.
“You’re coming with us.” Nick planted himself in front of me.
“No. I’m not.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Look, obeying your every command is not part of our deal.”
“Deal?” Melodie asked.
“This has nothing to do with any deal,” Nick said. “It’s my job to keep the dancers safe.”
“I’m not a dancer.”
“Waitress, then. If you’re taking the bus home, so am I.” His chest expanded as he drew a deep breath.
I could tell by the way he’d set his jaw he was not going to bend—and in spite of how stubborn I could be, I didn’t want to take the bus when there was a ride on the table. Melodie would be in the car. I could control my libido.
“Great.” I turned to Melodie. “Thanks so much.”
* * *
Jade
Islid behind the driver’s seat of Melodie’s car. Of course she had a vintage VW Beatle. Of course.
“This Bug was my grandma’s,” she said. “It’s from the sixties.”
I tried not to grin as Nick wedged his body into the passenger seat that was pushed so far back it was flush against the seat next to mine. Even still, his legs were bent into his body and he had to keep his head bowed. No way was he going to be able to put on a seat belt. Then I realized these old cars didn’t even have such a thing. Not the shoulder strap kind, anyway, and not even a lap one here in the backseat.
Melodie started up the car, and the engine rumbled behind me. She peeled out of the parking spot and swung around a corner, throwing my body in the opposite direction.
My right boob struck Nick’s shoulder.
I looked for something to grab onto to keep it from happening again.
Still horny, I hoped what promised to be a rollercoaster ride home would be the cure.
“How do you like Shitty Melrose so far?” Melodie asked as the car shot up a steep hill, throwing me back in my seat.
“I can’t get over the space, especially for the price,” I said. “Or is that just mine and Nick’s?”
“Been spending some time at Nick’s?” She looked into the rearview mirror and winked.
“Look out!” I yelled and she screeched to a stop at an intersection, barely missing a car crossing in the other direction.
“Traffic,” she said. “Don’t usually see many cars on the road this late at night.”
“Early in the morning,” Nick said.
“So, Jade,” Melodie continued, “what brought you to Shady Oaks, anyway?”
