Dump and Chase (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 1)

“No? Hungry for something else?” she asks, moving her hand along her breast, a sparkle in her eyes.

“Yeah, you.”

With a wicked little grin, she licks her lips, and I swear I’ve never seen a more beautiful sight.

“You are trying to kill me.”

She lifts her arms, her breasts so perky. “Just a bit.”

“You’re a mean, mean woman.”

“And you love it,” she says, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

Oh, this is a dangerous game. Real dangerous. But fuck if I don’t want to play her game.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Shelli

“You know exactly why I did it. I want you to be with me.”

I roll my eyes as I turn onto the interstate to head toward Luther Arena. I have a meeting with my mom, but first, I had to speak to Nico. I’ve had plenty of chances to call him since what happened between him and Aiden, but I wanted to sit back on it. I was too emotional before. I was mad he would make Aiden assume something and ultimately ruin a relationship I truly want. While I know Nico wants to be with me, I thought he cared enough for me not to hurt me. Breaking up Aiden and me would crush me.

“It’s not the same for me,” I say as calmly as I can. “I told you that back in Carolina. I told you the same thing at dinner. I don’t want to be with you, Nico, and I don’t say that to hurt you. I’m just being honest.”

“That’s shit, though. I know you want me.”

“No, I don’t,” I stress. “From the rip, we were just fucking around. You knew that. I told you that—”

“But I love you.”

I want to groan with annoyance. “No, Nico, you don’t. I promise you don’t. You just think you do because you like the way I make you feel. Sexually, not emotionally.”

“Whatever. I love how you make me feel emotionally.”

“For that to be true, you’d actually have to listen to me.”

“I do!”

“What’s my sister’s name?”

He pauses. “Which one? Don’t you have four?”

I sigh heavily. “No, I have one sister and three brothers. That’s what I mean. You know nothing about me except I give great head and make you squeal.”

“Shell, that’s not true. I know you have a wicked left hook.”

“But can you tell me the name of the last show I was in?”

He pauses for another second before he laughs. “It doesn’t matter. It’s all in the past. I want a future with you.”

“We don’t have a future,” I say, shaking my head. “And I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t ruin what I have with Aiden.”

“You have nothing. He’s a jackass. He doesn’t even treat you right.”

“Yes, he does. Maybe not at first, but that’s because he was being an idiot.”

“He’s still an idiot.”

“You don’t even know him, and I can’t believe you told him you fucked me.”

“I did.”

“You know what I mean. How you implied it.”

“Whatever, Shelli. This is bullshit, and you know it.”

“It isn’t,” I try, but he isn’t having it.

“Whatever—”

“Nico, I care for you. You’re a wonderful guy, and you’re going to meet someone someday who will make you forget me completely. But when you do, ask her about herself and learn from this. Make her happy because you care, not because she can please you.”

“Whatever,” he says again, and then the line goes dead. While I feel like that had to be done, I didn’t want it to end like this. I truly care for Nico, and he’s also my cousin’s fiancé’s best friend, so I’m sure I’ll see him again. I don’t want bad blood between us, but more than that, I don’t want to mess up what I’ve got with Aiden. He’s so wary when it comes to what we’re building. A lesser woman would give up and run, but I believe in this. I know he’s still figuring it out. While I am hopelessly and unconditionally in love with him and I’m sure how I feel, I know Aiden will get there. I just need to give him time. I need to be patient because I truly believe we can have the kind of love our parents all have.

The thought of having that makes me grin and gives me that little fluttery feeling in my belly. I want it. I’ve watched my dad love and worship my mom my whole life. The same with Lucas and Fallon. They’ve all had such beautiful love stories, and I want Aiden and me to have that. I want him to realize that he can have it with me because I know I have it with him. No one has ever come close to how he makes me feel, and it’s not because I have some fantasy version of us. I have truly loved him my whole life. I believe I was made to love him. I just hope he was made to love me back.