“I know you can, but what kind of date would I be if I let you pay?”
Her eyes shifted to Paul. “Okay, fine. But only so he doesn’t question it.”
I paid the bill and held her purple and red jacket so she could slip her arms in.
Red, like the scarf she’d worn that night.
The scarf I’d used to tie her up before making her scream.
“You’re laying it on a little thick, don’t you think?” Her question dragged me back to the crowded bar. I shifted so she wouldn’t see the effect she had on me.
“Nope, you get the full boyfriend experience when you fake date me.”
Her eye roll was so exaggerated that I couldn’t hold back my laugh.
“Careful, Red, or your eyes will get stuck.”
Her cheeks flushed as she slapped my arm. “Shut up.”
“Come on, I’ll walk you to your car.”
A quick glance in Paul’s direction and she agreed.
This guy, Paul, made her uncomfortable, and that pissed me off. I vowed to find out everything I could about him.
Without telling her brothers, because I valued my testicles and knew Madi’d remove them without prejudice if she found out I’d told them.
And she would find out because there was no way her brothers wouldn’t stick their noses in her business under the guise of protecting her.
Rock. Hard place. Me, right in the middle.
When I opened the bar door and put my hand on her back, Madi stiffened but didn’t pull away.
“You can let go now,” Madi said as we approached her purple jeep.
“Purple?” I asked as I dropped my hand.
“I like it.”
“At least you can’t lose it in a parking lot.” Unlike my black SUV. They were everywhere.
“I wanted something fun.”
“It suits you.”
She opened the door but hesitated before climbing in. She was standing close enough for the scent of her floral shampoo to tickle my nose.
“Thank you, Matt. For dinner and for, you know.”
“Any time.” The temptation to kiss her was all-consuming. “I should kiss you goodnight, you know, in case he’s watching,” I stammered.
Smooth Robinson. Real fucking smooth.
“Um.” She licked her lips as her eyes traveled to my mouth. “He probably can’t see us.”
“But what if he can?”
I didn’t care that it was a bad, possibly life-ending move—I wanted to taste Madi’s lips.
