“Is that so?” Michelle’s question was filled with indignity. Her eyes cut back to me. I could see she was totally getting the wrong idea from Tyler’s description.
“No–”
“Oh, yeah. All the badge bunnies are brought back here.” Tyler laughed as if this were the funniest shit he could imagine.
“What the hell is a badge bunny?”
“Women who chase men with badges. Cops and firefighters, especially.” Tyler snapped his fingers. “I remember you, you worked the event for Townsend Industries, right?”
I heard Michelle mumble something behind me before pivoting around one of the foot stools in the living room and heading toward the elevator.
“That was a great event–”
“Tyler, if you say one more fucking word, I’m going to kick your ass from here to kingdom come! You’ll never be able to play football … hell, you won’t even be able to play rock, paper, scissors by the time I’m done with you!” I shouted. I didn’t have time to register the shock on the woman’s face or the continued mirth Tyler’s eyes displayed because I was too occupied staring at Michelle’s back.
“Michelle, wait!” I called, sticking my hand in between the closing doors of the elevator.
“I’m going home,” she stated sternly, arms folded over her breasts.
“Listen, Tyler’s a loser. Has no idea what the fuck he’s talking about.” I was talking fast since the firm line of her mouth let me know she wasn’t playing around.
“I’m not one of your damn badge bunnies!” She stomped her foot. I had to admonish myself from thinking how fucking beautiful she looked, even angry.
“I don’t have badge bunnies,” I retorted. She gave me the sharpest look I’d ever seen on a woman.
“Who the hell do you think you’re lying to? A man who looks like you, is a goddamn hero for a living,andis one of the heirs to one of the wealthiest families in the country has badge bunnies, groupies, and woman of all types clamoring for his attention.” She exhaled a sharp breath, her chest heaving up and down.
I decided to take a risk, because fuck it, risks were meant to be taken, especially when the stakes were as high as they felt right then. I wasn’t willing to lose Michelle, especially not because of some misconceived notion of who she thought I was, in part thanks to my shithead brother.
“Don’t come near me!” she hissed, but I didn’t listen.
I pressed the button to stop the elevator where it was. I stepped into her personal space, crowding her until her back was against the wall.
“I’m not taking you home.”
Her eyes squinted but she didn’t say anything.
“Tyler’s an ass.”
“You said the same thing about your other brother, too. Maybe it’s you who’s the ass!” she snarked, and my lips curled into a grin. I was definitely liking this feisty side of her just as much as the sweet-natured side she more readily showed.
“You might be right on that. And as I recall, I called Aaron a prick. Not an ass.”
Her eyes pivoted back to me. She still remained silent, but her face softened a little.
“So all of the men in your family are either pricks or asses?”
My eyes rolled up to the ceiling and I pondered for a moment. “Pretty much,” I conceded.
“Then why should I even contemplate seeing you again?”
“Because we might be asses, but we Townsends are nothing if not loyal.”
“Even Aaron?” she questioned, raising an eyebrow.
“Especially Aaron.”
My brother was a grade A jackass, but the one thing I would never question about him was his loyalty.
