Page 23 of How to Resist Prince Charming

“Nadine just got sick,” she announced. “So, Greg and I are going to take her home.”

Braxton glanced toward their table, but it was empty. Without warning, Erica kissed his cheek and added, “It was nice meeting you, Braxton. Have a good life.” Then she grinned at Lenna and waved goodbye to her as well.

As she started away, he watched her hurry to meet Greg and Nadine at the exit.

“There goes your blind date,” Lenna said needlessly.

Braxton nodded. “Yeah. I don’t think she ever wants to see me again.” Remembering Erica’s parting words, he grinned and repeated, “Hey, she never wants to see me again.”

Lenna rolled her eyes. “That’s too bad,” she announced cheerfully and then grabbed the front of his shirt. “Now take another Jäger Bomb with me.”

Unable to deny her, Braxton drank another.

Then he drank a couple more. By the time the bar closed and started kicking people out, both he and Lenna were well on their way to plastered. She leaned heavily against him and lifted her face to meet his gaze.

“I don’t...” She paused to hiccup. “I don’t think I should drive.”

“Who cares?” her friend, Trista, called. “You rode with me. Now, come on, Len. Let’s get out of here. I want to go home.”

But Lenna ignored her friend, or maybe she didn’t even hear her. She continued to stare up into Braxton’s eyes.

“I’ll see her home,” he heard himself say as he gazed right back.

For the life of him, he couldn’t think of one reason why that might be a bad idea.

* * * *

Lenna felt good.

She walked with Braxton to his car, and he escorted her to the passenger side where he manually tried to unlock the door.

“Jesus.” He winced and tried to focus on the car handle. “I can’t even get the key in the lock.”

Lenna laughed. She propped herself against his passenger side back door, because it was the closest support around, and held her stomach as mirth consumed her. “Too bad you don’t have remote locks,” she said between her giggling hiccups.

Braxton paused. After a moment of intense thought, he met Lenna’s eyes and grinned. “Oh, right.” He lifted his key ring to show her the remote dangling from his palm.

Lenna started all over again with her hiccupping giggles. To muffle the sound, she slapped her hand over her mouth, only to frown and pat around her face. “Hey, I can’t feel my nose.”

Paying her no attention, Braxton scowled at his set of keys. “So, what button do I push?” He tried one and the alarm went off with flashing lights and a honking horn. Yelping out a curse, he slapped his thumb over another button, and another, until the car calmed. Lenna dropped her arms to her sides and couldn’t stop the next round of hiccup-giggles bursting from her as if her life depended on it.

When Braxton finally discovered how to unlock the automobile, he opened the passenger door for Lenna, who was now sitting on the ground, wiping tears off her cheeks.

She looked up, still shaking with silent mirth, and met his gaze. “Are you sure you can drive?”

He nodded his head yes, but said, “Absolutely not.”

Lenna laughed again.

He shut the car door and tugged her to her feet. “Come on. Let’s find a cab.”

CHAPTER 5

By the time the taxi pulled to a stop in front of Lenna’s apartment building, she swore every nerve in her body had to be high on steroids. The Red Bull from their Jäger Bombs had definitely kicked in. But she didn’t feel like laughing anymore. No, her adrenal boost had moved on to other parts of her anatomy.

As she paid her half of the fare and slid from the back seat, Braxton followed her. “I’ll walk you to your door.”

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