Up to Me (The Bad Boys #2)(5)
Author: M. Leighton

“I guess I need to get going then.  Back to the apartment.”

Not only do I not want her to go, but I hate where things feel like they’re at right now.  I don’t like unresolved issues.  I’ve got enough of those in my life already.

“At least let me take you.”

“That would seem strange when she knows my car was here.”

“Yeah, but more often than not, that P.O.S. won’t even start.”

“P.O.S.?”

“Piece of shit.”

She grins.  “Oh. Right.  That’s true.”

“Just tell her it wouldn’t start and I had to bring you home. If you want, I can go pull one of the spark plugs so it’ll be true.”

Her smile widens.  “That sounds like an awful lot of trouble for li’l ol’ me.”

“Don’t get a big head. I have ulterior motives.”

“You do?”  One eyebrow rises.

“Mmm hmm,” I say, winding my arms around her waist.

“And what might they be?”

“You’ll just have to wait and see.”

When I bend my head to hers, her lips feel warm and pliant, but not quite as responsive as I’ve come to expect.  Something’s still eating at her.  I’ll just have to keep at it until I figure out what it is.

I pull back and kiss her forehead.  “Get your stuff.  I’ll meet you in the garage.”

Rather than watching her go, I turn toward the front doors.  I hate the feeling I get in the pit of my stomach just thinking about her walking away.

CHAPTER THREE

Olivia

The bike rumbles beneath me as I wind my arms tighter around Cash’s waist.  I must admit to feeling somewhat better about things after our conversation.  I guess only time will eliminate the fear that I’m falling right back into the same trap with the same kind of guy.  But, if I’ve ever met a man that seems worth the risk, it’s Cash.

I smile just thinking about him walking into the garage earlier, tossing one of my spark plugs into the air.  He caught it then winked at me as he stuck it in his pocket.

He went straight to his bike and climbed on.  With a devilish grin and a shake of his head, he patted the seat behind him.  “The lengths I go to just to get between your legs.”

I laughed.  I had no choice.  His grin was so cute and engaging.  So light and carefree.  All the things I wanted to feel at that moment.  Sometimes it’s nice to be free of trouble and worry.  Even for just a few minutes.  And Cash gives me that.  Often.

Now, I’m not at all pleased to see the familiar sights of my street come into view.  I’m enjoying being close to Cash, feeling safe in his care. I don’t want the ride to end.

But it does.  Cash pulls up along the curb and rolls to a stop.  I wait to see if he’s going to flip down the kickstand.  When he doesn’t, I sigh and slide off the seat. 

Cash watches me unbuckle the helmet from beneath my chin, pull it off and hand it to him.  He takes it, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.  He doesn’t move to put it on right away.  I’m pretty sure he’s thinking about the same thing I am—how to walk away without a kiss.

After all we’ve shared over the last few weeks, after all the words and kisses and nights and mornings, it seems so strange to just walk away like friends.  In the pit of my stomach, it feels like a bad omen, that we’d part ways like this.

“Well, thank you,” I say uncomfortably, trying not to fidget.  Cash is frowning.  I feel like frowning, too.  “Um, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“You’re working your shift, right?”

I nod.  “Yep.”

“I’ll call you in the morning.  How ‘bout that?”

“Sounds good.”  At least it’s something.

The silence grows tense.

“I’ll wait until you get inside.  I don’t know why she didn’t leave the lights on.”

I glance behind me at the dark apartment windows. “Are you really surprised by anything selfish and inconsiderate that she does?”

Cash’s grin is small and wry.  “I guess not.  But damn!”

I sigh.  “I know.  But that’s just the way she is.  Some things never change.”

Silence again.

“Okay, well I’ll talk to you tomorrow.  Thanks for the ride. Have a good night.”

“You, too.”

I nod and rock back on my heels before I turn to walk up the sidewalk to the front door. I’ve only made it a few steps when Cash calls my name.  I jerk around, anticipation curling in my stomach.

He can’t stand it either.

I walk quickly back to Cash.  I feel more than a little deflated when he hands me my overnight bag, which he’d strapped to the back of the bike, behind the seat.

“Don’t forget your bag.”

I smile politely and take it from his fingers, turning once again toward the apartment.  The anticipation in my gut cools into an uneasy sensation.

How can things have changed so much, so fast?

Taryn’s comments, my mother’s voice and a whole slew of bad choices come crashing into my head like a rock slide.

I dig around in my purse for my key as I approach the front door.  I’m distracted as I slip it in and unlock the knob, turning to wave to Cash. But he’s not on his bike at the curb. It’s resting on the kickstand, motor idling. He’s charging up the sidewalk toward me.  Before I can even blink, my back is pressed to the cool metal of the door, Cash’s lips are on mine and his hands are in my hair.

I melt into him.  Relief that he was feeling the same way battles for dominance with the desire to drag him into my bedroom, shut the door and pretend nothing and no one exists outside it.

But before I can give in to that urge, Cash is pulling back, giving me room to breathe and giving rational thought the tiny crack it needs to wiggle back into my mind.

His eyes, darker than the night around us, search mine as his hands move from my hair to my shoulders and down my arms to grip mine.  “Do me a favor,” he whispers, curling my fingers over the back of his and bringing them to his mouth.

“What?”

His eyes never leave mine as he brushes his lips over my knuckles.  “Dream of me tonight,” he says softly.  He watches me, waiting for a response.  I have no words, so I simply nod.  He doesn’t need to know that no one else occupies my dreams. No one.