Crazy Beautiful Love (The Martelli Brothers #1)(3)
Author: J.S. Cooper

“Why wouldn’t I? I just told you I tried to steal a cop car.”

“But that’s different.” I started the engine and sighed. “You did it for fun.”

“This is your career?” She sounded surprised.

“Yes,” I bit out and pulled away from the curb. “This is my career.”

“Well, no wonder you’re better than me at stealing cars.”

“Where do you live?” I studied the road ahead of me. I didn’t understand this girl. Why didn’t she have more common sense?

“Are you attracted to me, Logan?” She pressed her fingers against my arm, and I turned to look at her quickly. She was giving me a sultry look, and I almost did a double take. What was going on here?

“Where do you live, Maddie?”

“I don’t want to go home,” she said softly.

“Where do you want to go?”

“To your place.”

“I don’t have my own place.”

“Where do you live?” she asked.

“With my dad and two brothers.”

“Do you have your own room?”

“Yeah,” I replied.

“So let’s go.”

“Why?”

“Do I have to tell you why?” She laughed. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“How old are you, Maddie?”

“Twenty.”

“Let me take you home.” I gritted my teeth and ignored the stirrings of lust in my pants. It would not be a good idea to take Maddie home. She was trouble, I could sense it in my bones. They didn’t come any crazier than Maddie. Yes, she was beautiful, and yes, she was fearless, but she was not someone I needed in my life.

“Come on, Logan Martelli, take me home.”

My breath caught as she said my whole name and I looked at her with suspicion. Had she known who I was the whole time? “How did you know who I was?”

“Who doesn’t know the Martelli family in River Valley?” She spoke matter-of-factly. “I mean, I only just figured it out a few minutes ago. You don’t look like I pictured.”

“How did you picture me? Like the big, bad wolf?”

“Something like that.” She nodded. “You’re younger than I thought. How old are you?”

“Twenty-five.” I paused. “So, what’s your address so I can take you home?”

“I don’t know if I should give you my address. What if you come back to steal from my house?”

“I wouldn’t—” My face flushed as I responded to her angrily.

“I’m joking, Log.” She touched my arm again. “Can I call you Log?”

“No.”

“I’m joking. I want to go home with you.” She shifted in her seat and moved even closer to me. “Please.”

“No.” My voice was resolute, and I was saying that “no” to her and myself.

“Please.”

“You don’t even know me.” I shook my head. “You shouldn’t go home with strange guys.”

“You shouldn’t let strange girls into your car.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“So can I. Please.” Her voice broke. “I don’t want to go home tonight. I don’t want to answer any questions.”

“I can’t take you back to my place.” I shook my head. There was no way I was taking this girl back to my house. Not only would my dad and brothers wonder what was going on, it would go against my own rules. I never brought women back to our place. It was something I had never done. And I wasn’t about to start with her.

“You think I’m pitiful, don’t you?” Her voice cracked and I could barely hear her as her face was pressed against the window. “You think I’m just this beautiful girl, with nothing better to do than just steal cars for fun. And now I’m practically begging you to be with me, and you’re disgusted with me. Do you think I’m crazy?”

“Yes.”

“I can’t believe you said that.” She turned towards me, laughing. “I guess the pity act doesn’t work on you, does it?”

“What do you want, Maddie?” I turned to look at her again. “I’m tired and…”

“Shhh.” She leaned over to me and kissed my cheek. Her hand reached up to my face. She twisted my face towards hers and I felt her lips press down on mine. Her lips were soft and firm as she kissed me, and I felt a warm surge of electricity run through me. She pulled back after a few seconds, and I sat there immobile. She sat back in her seat and smiled to herself. “I live on Manor Road. You can take me there, or we can go somewhere else. Your choice.”

I stared ahead and didn’t answer her. My mind was spinning with questions. She lived on Manor Road? That meant she was rich, really rich. The sort of rich that made the Forbes’ Richest People in the World list. What was she doing trying to steal a cop car? And what was she doing with the likes of me? And how brazen was she to kiss me? I grinned to myself as I thought about the kiss; I could still taste her on my lips. She was trouble, plain and simple. The only possible outcome to this evening was to take her home. Take her home and never see her again. I’d warn her that a life of crime wasn’t the way to get attention from her rich parents. Obviously, she was crying out for attention. Maybe her daddy worked too many hours and her mom was too busy servicing the pool boy and getting her hair done. Maddie was lost and crying out for help. I couldn’t do anything to help her. Not a damn thing. She didn’t need to get messed up with a Martelli.

I stared straight ahead and pressed my foot on the gas, ignoring the thumping of my heart and the heat in my face and pants. Maddie was not the girl for me. I wanted nothing to do with some rich girl who was looking for a joy ride. I could sense the exact moment the grin spread on Maddie’s face. As I passed Manor Road and kept driving, I wondered what I was doing. But I ignored the niggling thoughts in my mind. I’d worry about everything tomorrow. Tonight was special, it was crazy, it was beautiful, it was full of wonder. Tonight, I was going to just be with Maddie, and tomorrow, I’d worry about all the other shit.

Chapter 2

Logan

“I can take you back home if you want.” I looked at Maddie as we walked across the grass. “It won’t be comfortable.”

“I see a blanket in your hand. Where did you even get a blanket from?” She laughed and pointed at the Disney Princess blanket in my hand. “I’m sure I’ll be fine.” She paused and said casually, “Do you bring a lot of girls here then?”