Dirty Toe Drag (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 6)

“No, I do,” I say way too fast. “I just don’t want to get the wrong idea.”

“That’s why I’m being up front. We’re going out as friends.”

“But we’re not friends,” I remind her. “I’m friends with your brother. I’m attracted to you.”

“Do you want to go or not?” she asks, completely over my shit.

She strikes her hip, and I nod, licking my lips. “Yeah, I want to go.”

“That’s what I thought,” she calls to me as she walks away, and I feel a chill run down my spine.

I don’t know what is about to happen, but I am damn glad it’s happening. It’s dangerous and I could get in some serious trouble, but there is no way in hell I’m turning her down.

Chapter Eight

Stella

Oh Jesus, what am I doing?

I’m not entirely sure, but I just couldn’t let him go home. I could see it all over his face the moment he walked in. And I don’t mean the bruising; I mean the kicked-dog look. I knew he’d spent the day with Aiden and Boon Hoenes. I saw Snapchats of baby Zac lying on Wes’s chest. It was sweet and made my ovaries come to life. I don’t know why since I am not having kids anytime soon, but they did a little dance seeing him with a baby. When he came into the bar, though, he looked lonely, and it made me sad. I felt for him, and I really wanted to make his day better. I flirted a lot, teased, and then for some reason, I invited him to Lake’s.

I’m playing with fire; I know this. I’m on the verge of catching fire myself, but in my heart, I couldn’t let him go home alone. Since I’m not going with him, I figured a very public party would suffice. He won’t be alone, and I’ll get my fill of all things Wesley McMillan since seeing him in the bar is never enough. I feel it’s balance, almost like eating only cupcakes and then half his meal. Balance.

When I round the corner of the restaurant to the back, Wes is standing beside my car, and I know I’ve made a mistake. He looked good in the bar, don’t get me wrong, but leaned up against my car, his hand in his pocket as he looks at his phone, the glow of the screen illuminating his face, he’s extra fine. He’s so big—not that I’m little, but I’m a modest 5’5” on a good day. He’s like a foot taller and as hard as a rock…everywhere. I know this. I felt this, and good God, I want to feel it again. I can’t. We’re being friends, yet, I’m breathless looking him over. He’s wearing jeans and a tee, but it’s the messiness of his hair that does it for me.

Hell, who am I kidding? He does it for me.

He must have heard me coming, because he looks up, a grin pulling at his lips. “Figured you’d drive since you know where we’re going.”

I nod. “That’s fine. Do you want to take your car to your house first?”

“I walked,” he says just as I reach him.

“Oh, I didn’t know you lived so close.”

He points over at a row of townhouses to the left of Brooks House. “Right there.”

“Cool!” I exclaim. Overly exclaim, really, and instantly, I feel like an idiot. I can’t look at him to see if he notices, so I unlock the doors to my Mercedes. He opens my door for me, and I flash him a wide smile. “Thank you.”

“Didn’t know I was a gentleman, huh?”

“I know you’re not.”

His grin is absolutely sinister.

Oh, dear. This is going to be a long, hard night.

Without a word, he shuts the door behind me before heading around and getting in himself. I throw my things in the back, and then I start the car. I haven’t had a guy in my car ever, so I feel a bit self-conscious. Emery says I’m an awful driver. What if he thinks the same? Why do I care? We’re being friends. Nothing more. God, who am I kidding? If he were to even kiss me, I’d climb him like a tree.

“So, whose party we going to?”

His question brings me out of the imaginary tree I want to climb as I back out of my parking spot. “My friend Lake’s. He has a house outside of the city with lots of land. He invited our whole class, basically.”

He nods as I turn onto the road. “How’s school going?”

“Good. I’m somehow keeping my grades up, even though I’m working full time.”

“That’s awesome. Good job.” He adjusts his seat, leaning it back a bit. “Not that I would know anything about that. I didn’t go to college.”

“No? You went straight into the NHL?”

“Sure did,” he says proudly. “I always wonder if I should get a degree. I could get hurt at any time. I would have absolutely nothing to fall back on. Actually, I have my good looks.”