The Hazards of Skinny Dipping (Hazards #1)(14)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

“I was—am.”

“How can you be doing that if you’re working?”

Reed jumped in before I could respond. “Here, let me make this simple. We did a pledge exchange with Delta Mu. Juliet was my assistant today. End of story.”

“Your assistant? If you laid a hand on her—” Dylan slammed a fist on the counter.

“You’ll do what?” Reed didn’t seem fazed by Dylan’s antics.

“What? You don’t think I can take you?”

“No. But that’s beside the point. I haven’t touched her.”

Dylan scowled. “Let’s go, Juliet.”

“Oh, um.”

“You can go. I’ll see you on Monday.” Reed wasn’t asking.

“I’ll wait for you outside.” Dylan walked out.

“Sorry…he’s just…”

“An ass. I know. What I don’t get is why you’d agree to go out with him. But what do I know?”

“Yeah… it’s complicated. I’ve known him forever.”

“Gotcha.” His disbelieving look was at odds with his words.

I pulled my t-shirt over my head before walking out. Reed winked at me, and I looked down. My tank top was pulled down almost completely exposing my bra. I fixed it.

“Thanks for…well, thanks for making today much better than I expected.” I’d actually had some fun. Plus, I had a job.

“Don’t you mean, ‘thanks for the cool day?’”

“So funny.” I folded up the t-shirt. I’d be stuck carrying it around the rest of the night.

“You’d better go before he comes back in here. I don’t think I can stop myself from punching him the next time he talks to you like that.”

“Why do you care?”

“Because he has no right. It’s wrong.”

“All right… I’ll see you soon.” Who knew Reed was such a gentleman? I smoothed my skirt and walked out.

Chapter Seven

“Is this all a plan to make me jealous?” Dylan put a hand on my lower back and pulled me toward him.

“No.”

“Are you sure?” He brushed his lips against my ear.

“Yes.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“You should. I really needed a job.”

“Why?”

“Because I need money…”

He mumbled something under his breath.

“What did you say?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Okay…”

“Do you want to come back to my house? Like I said, we’re having a little party.”

“Could we do something else? Coffee maybe?”

“You want me to take you out for coffee?” He stopped in front of his car. A black Audi SUV.

“Is that a problem?”

“Of course not.” He opened the passenger door for me. “I just thought you might like to get to know my friends.”

I waited for him to get in. “It has nothing to do with trying to get me back to your room?”

He grinned. “I was hoping that would happen no matter what we did tonight.”

I looked out the window. It was dark and hard to see the stores lining the street.

He started the engine and put a hand on my leg. “I’m glad we’re on the same page. I was worried when you skipped out on me that you regretted it. I know I don’t at all…I’m ready for it to happen again.”

Damn my body’s response. Even knowing how lackluster the first time had been, I wanted him. It had to have just been a fluke, and the foreplay had been good…“I need you to be honest with me.”

“Sure.”

“Are you just looking for someone to hook up with? I know it sounds weird, but a one night thing I can do, but I’m not interested in a friends-with-benefits setup.”

“I don’t want that either. I have no intention of sharing you with anyone.”

“But will I be sharing you? Obviously, you don’t owe me anything exclusive but—”

He put his hand on the back of my neck. “You’re the only one I want. I already told you I’ve wanted you for a while. Now that I’ve had you, I’m not interested in settling.”

He ran his fingers down my neck, and something about it drove me wild. Maybe it was thinking about what else those fingers could do. “We can skip the coffee.”

“Are you sure?” He gave me an amused smile.

“Yeah. We can get some next time.”

“Or tomorrow morning…that is, if you actually stay the night this time.”

“That really upset you, didn’t it?”

“Of course it did. I asked you to stay, but you didn’t. I had no idea where you went.”

I shrugged. “I’m sorry.”

“Apology accepted. Just don’t do it again.”

I didn’t say anything while Dylan drove the short distance to his house. He parked right out front, and met me on my side of the car. “Get used to waiting for me to open your door.”

He wrapped an arm around my waist and led me up the front steps. He opened the door, and loud voices greeted us. The house was set up completely differently than it had been the night before. Large couches filled with people took up what had been open space.

“Juliet!” Jana ran over and hugged me. It took me a second to recognize her with her hair curly. She usually wore it straight.

“Hey.”

“Finally, I’m not the only Delta Mu.” She turned back to the group. “Everyone, this is my favorite pledge, Juliet.”

Favorite? I doubted that. She must have been trashed.

As Jana steered me toward her seat on the couch, Dylan intercepted. “You’re the reason I had to wait hours to see her.”

“It wasn’t my fault. Blame Amanda. By the way, Juliet, I’m so sorry about that. I heard the guys weren’t too bad, though.”

“It was fine.”

“And it won’t be happening again.” Dylan said it as if he actually had authority over the decision. Who knows? Maybe he did.

“And the girls who weren’t there today will have to do something later on. It will all even out in the end.” Jana finished off her drink.

“Great.” I knew I didn’t sound enthusiastic, but I was too busy trying to calm my nerves. I hated the effect Dylan had on me.

“What can I get you to drink?” Dylan nodded toward a guy—who I assumed was a pledge—holding a tray.