Page 25 of No More Bad Boys
One of his large hands wraps around my bicep, steadying me. “Hey, you okay to drive? Want me to give you a ride?”
“No, I’m fine. I only had the one—”
“Ineed a ride. I’m drunk off my ass,” Alissa blurts loudly, also coming to her feet.
True to her word, she rocks back and forth like a sapling in a stiff wind. She stumbles toward us, nearly careening into the fire pit, and comes to a stop right next to Blake. Her skinny arms wrap around his midsection.
“Can you drive me, Blakey?”
Alissa gazes up at him like an adoring child then turns her sharp little nose toward me. “He’s our designated driver. He’s a good boy, aren’t you, Blakey?”
She pats his flat stomach familiarly then lays her head against his chest. Her eyes settle on me and narrow with a challenging spark.
Suddenly, she doesn’t seem quite as drunk.
Ignoring her, I ask Blake. “You didn’t drink tonight?”
Wearing a look of unmistakable distaste, he extricates himself from Alissa’s death lock and turns back to me. “No. I uh… didn’t want anything. You sure about that ride?”
“Totally. And I’ve got to get my sister’s car home. I should probably drive Luce home, too. So, I guess I’ll see you at work.”
“Sure, but listen—”
Alissa grabs his hand, pulling him and giggling. “Come ooonnn, Blakey,” she whines.
He tosses her an annoyed glance. “In a minute, Alissa,hold on.” Turning back to me, he says, “So listen… what do you think? About what I said earlier?”
I pause, considering it. I’m definitely tempted, because I have a feeling whatever we’d end up doing, wewouldhave fun.
But I’m not sure I should say yes to a date with Blake. He doesn’t make sense for me. He’s years older, has ambitions to work at the network, which will take him away from Atlanta eventually.
He wasn’t exactly forthcoming about his past when I asked, and I hate secrets.
Plus, he issucha Kirk, light-years away from the betas and Ensign Jim’s I’ve been dating since starting college.
So I don’t answer. “Looks like you’ve got all thefunyou can handle there tonight. See you tomorrow, Captain.”
Draping herself on bis body again, allegedly for support, Alissa pulls Blake away from me.
“I’msotired. You may have to carry me,” she slurs.
With a frustrated sigh, Blake allows himself to be led toward the elevator, and I start saying my goodbyes to the group. I’m offering a ride to Luce, still watching Blake and Alissa’s departure from the corner of my eye, when I catch the top of his auburn head over the crowd.
He’s turned to look back over his shoulder. And I think he’s looking for me, because when our eyes meet, he gives me a huge, dimpled smile and lifts one hand in a high wave.
Then he whips around and catches Alissa, narrowly saving her from tripping and falling on her sneaky little fake-drunk butt.
SEVEN
Two Offers
When I get to work and go down to the basement the next morning, I’m struck by the scent of roses.
Reaching the engineering office I see why—I mean, I can’t miss them. The arrangement is huge, hot pink blooms spilling over the sides of a gorgeous, cut-glass bowl that’s sitting right on the work table.
For a second my heart seizes, and I think of Blake.
No, that’s silly. These have to be for someone else.
