“What difference does it make?” he asked, giving his friend a dirty look. “She’s impossible to deal with even if she’s…well you know.”
“Is she seeing anyone?” Malcolm asked, watching Emily with a predatory look on his face. “I could overlook her personality if she looks like that.”
“Back off Malcolm, she’s not for you,” he said, a wave of jealousy washing over him. “She’s too smart for you, for one thing.”
“Since you don’t want her, I don’t see what difference it makes,” Malcolm said, a challenge in his voice. “Unless you’re claiming her, I figure I’ve got as good a shot as anyone.”
He was tempted to let Malcolm embarrass himself, but the thought of him getting close to Emily sent a white-hot rage shooting through him. “She’s off limits, Malcolm,” he growled. “Leave her alone, or you and I are going to have a problem.”
“Okay, okay, I get the message,” Malcolm said, a grin on his face. “I just wonder if you do.”
***Emily***
Emily was having way more fun than she thought she would at the parade, and it got even better when she saw Taylor coming down the street on a float. He was wearing a ridiculous outfit that included a grass skirt, and she was tempted to get out her phone and take a picture to harass him with later. Instead, she settled for waving at him when they made eye contact, an amused smile on her face as she enjoyed his embarrassment. She didn’t think it could getbetter, but just as the float reached them, the parade stopped again, and she was staring straight up at Taylor.
“That’s a nice outfit,” she called, grinning at him. “Did you make it yourself?”
“Very funny, this wasn’t my idea,” he called back, giving her a dirty look. “It’s all part of the fraternity thing, I was volunteered.”
“Well, you pull it off well,” she called back. “Those shorts really show off your legs, and that shirt, well…it’s something. I should get a picture of this to look at the next time I need a good laugh.”
She didn’t know what she expected, but it wasn’t Taylor jumping down off the float and stomping over to her. “Don’t you dare,” he growled. “I do this because all the money we raise this weekend goes to charity, and the more ridiculous we look, the more people come by our booth. So, give me a break, Torres, I don’t see you up there humiliating yourself.”
She hesitated for a second, trying to decide if she’d gone too far, then decided that Taylor was being too sensitive. “I’m sorry if I wounded your manly pride. I was just teasing you,” she said. “Honestly, riding on a float looks like fun, you’re just a spoilsport. Besides, you don’t look that bad, that skirt really does do something for your legs.”
Taylor growled at her again, then looked down at his legs and shrugged his shoulders. “Fine, I give up. Get it all out,” he said, holding his arms out. “Make fun of me as much as you want.”
“Well, now it’s no fun,” she said, trying to look sad. “You ruined it.”
“Good, now maybe you’ll shut up,” he said, a satisfied look on his face. “Now, let’s go.”
“Where are we going?” she asked, confused. “You’re in the middle of a parade.”
“You’re getting back on that float with me,” he said. “Yousaid it looks like fun, and I’m sure we can find an extra grass skirt for you.”
“No way, I’m not getting up there,” she said, then looked behind her at Valerie, who was staring at them with her mouth hanging open. “Besides, I’m here with my friends, I can’t just ditch them.”
“Bring them with you, we could use a few attractive women on the float,” Taylor said. “Come on, don’t tell me that you’re chicken to get up there.”
She looked over her shoulder at Valerie, who was already vigorously nodding her head. “Fine, but I’m not wearing one of those skirts,” she said, following him back to the float. It would look silly with what I’m wearing.”
“That’s the point,” he said, grabbing her by the hips and lifting her onto the float. “Don’t be a spoilsport, it’s all in good fun and it’s for a good cause.”
Her heart was pounding too hard to reply. The feel of his big hands on her hips had stirred something inside her, and it took several seconds before the tingle of desire faded away. A second later, he was standing next to her, so close that she could smell the soap he’d used in the shower that morning, and it felt like her entire body was short-circuiting.
Thrills rushed through her, sending a wave of warmth washing over her. She found herself thinking about what it would feel like to have those hands touch her. Shocked at the path of her thoughts, she stepped away from him, realizing too late that they were trapped on the tiny float together. A second later, it started to move, and she knew that her chance to escape was gone. She was stuck riding the parade out with Taylor.
“Come and meet Hattie,” Taylor said, a grin on his face. “She’ll find you a grass skirt.”
Before she could refuse, he grabbed her arm and pulled her to the back of the float where an older woman washanding out plastic bags of leis and waving to the crowd. “Well, now, who do we have here?” the woman asked when she saw Emily. “Did we pick up a passenger when we stopped?”
“Four of them,” Taylor said. “Hattie, this is Emily, she’s my partner for the mid-term project in Professor Whitmore’s class.”
The older woman raised her eyebrows in surprise and smiled welcomingly. “Welcome abord, Emily,” she said. Let’s get you a skirt and a bag of leis to throw; there are no free rides around here.”
“Oh, I don’t…” she tried to protest, but Hattie was already shoving one into her hands.
“Go on put it on, times wasting,” Hattie said. “You’ll look adorable, don’t worry.”
