Dump and Chase (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 1)

Asher: You better not, because Shelli is a super cool chick.

That’s why. Because Shelli is a super cool chick, and I really enjoy her.

Before I can type back to my brother, my phone rings. The picture of Shelli and me from that shitshow of a party comes up. While the party was embarrassing, this picture isn’t. I don’t answer Shelli right away. I stare at us for a second, thinking how great we look. How perfectly beautiful she is.

I slide over to answer and hold the phone to my ear. “Hey.”

“I’m bored. Talk to me.”

I grin. “Okay. Whatcha making?”

“Grilled cheese. The reason we have no food is because Mom and Dad went out for dinner, leaving us offspring to fend for ourselves. I asked Posey to cook, but then Maxim said they should go out, so they did and took the boys.”

“You didn’t want to go?”

“I figured you might call, and I’d rather talk to you than watch my brothers burp and fart and Posey lust over Maxim while he completely ignores it because he doesn’t see her like that.”

I cock my head. “What’s that about? Why doesn’t Posey just say she has a thing for him?”

“Who knows. She’s shy when it comes to that kind of stuff.”

“Weird, since you are not even a little bit shy.”

“Nope, I go for what I want.”

I grin as I lick my lips. “Yeah, you do.” Her soft laugh makes my body burn. “So, what did you do today?”

She lets out a long sigh. “Well, my intern supervisor says I’m too good to be an intern, so she’s gonna talk to my mom. Before Mom left, she said I need to come in for a meeting.”

“Too good to be an intern?”

“Uh, yeah. I’m amazing. I’m basically running the social media, and I can do that with my eyes closed. I need a challenge.”

“I think it’s funny your mom is making you start at the bottom.”

She laughs. “Yeah, I don’t know. But I do appreciate it. I want to start at the bottom so if Posey or the boys bitch that Mom gave me the team, I can be like, whoa, I worked for this shit.”

“Absolutely. I admire that about you.”

“Well, thank you.” I hear the ding of the microwave before she says, “What did you order?”

“Steak, potatoes, and pasta.”

“Jealous.”

“Hey, come here, and I’ll share.”

She scoffs. “Don’t tempt me. I have a plane, and I’m not afraid to use it.”

I laugh. “You wouldn’t find me complaining.” Even though I can’t see her grinning, I know she is. “Maybe when I get back, we can go have some steak.”

“I do love steak.”

“I do too, and if we need a cover, Asher is coming into town.”

“Is he? For what?”

“No clue. To drive me crazy?”

She laughs. “I love Asher. He’s so funny.”

“He’s a pain in my ass.”

“Right? It’s so funny how he picks at you.”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, he told me today that I can’t mess this up because you’re a super cool chick.”

“I mean, he isn’t wrong. Though, I kind of hope you know that and that you don’t want to mess this up.”

“Well, for your information, that’s what I said.”

“Oh, that’s good to hear.”

“I thought you’d like that.” The grin on my face hurts, but it’s there because of her. I know she’s smiling too. “I want to see you.”

“Give me a second. I’m bringing everything into my room.”

“Okay,” I say, though it isn’t okay. I want to see her now. “Do you think I’m dumb for not going out?”

“Not at all,” she says quickly. “I just don’t want you to feel like you can’t do what you want even though you’re seeing me. Do you want me to stay at home and wait for you?”

“The answer should be no, right?”

She laughs loudly. “You’re silly. I trust you. Trust me.”

“Trust is a big word.”

“It is, but the thing is, if you want to be trusted, be honest. We have no problem being honest with each other.”

I nod. “We don’t.”

“So don’t overthink it. Just do what makes you happy.”

You make me happy.

I press my lips together. “It’d make me real happy if I could see you.”

“Fine, fine. Jeez, impatient Pete.”

“You don’t want to see me?” I ask, and she laughs.

“Yes! Hush!”

My phone rings with FaceTime, and when I answer it, she’s there.

Naked.

Her hair is down along one shoulder, and she’s wearing no makeup. I want to say I see a plate of food in her lap, but it’s not what I’m looking at. It’s the curve of her wonderful breasts and those lips that have my full attention.

I struggle with my next breath as I ask, “Did you lose your clothes along the way?”

She grins, her eyes narrowing a bit. “Yup. Is that a problem?”

“Not at all.”

“Good. So when is your food coming?”

“No clue, but I don’t want that food.”