Dirty Bad Boys Box Set: Forbidden Romance Collection

“Oh my God,” she shouts in frustration, throwing her hands in the air like a child. “Firstly, I didn’t skinny dip. I was wearing a bra and panties. Secondly, sitting in a Mexican jail is not on my bucket list. And Noah, you better believe I’m calling your mom.”

“What!” I yell back. “Mom doesn’t need to know. Leave her out of this.”

Kate shushes everyone in the car, attempting to create a Zen environment. “Look, let’s forget this night happened. We’re all grownups here. Let’s thank the Lord that nothing more happened... it could have been worse.”

“How?” Charlie shoots back. The steam is shooting out of her ears. “Tell me how it could be worse than getting a phone call that your cousin and best friend were arrested for public nudity? Do you know you’ll have to go to court? And I bet you expect me to represent both of you since I’m a lawyer.”

“I’m not pregnant,” Kate tells Charlie.

Charlie falls into silence. I thought Kate would throw me under the bus, but instead, she saves me and buries herself under Charlie’s overbearing ways. The car pulls into the driveway and as soon as it stops, I quickly get out and follow Lex’s lead. Charlie’s not shy about lecturing Kate.

“Are you fucking kidding me? You fucked him bareback, and do you even know how many women he’s been with?”

I stand beside Lex as he removes his keys from his pocket. “Sounds like you guys had fun tonight.”

“Too bad Charlie doesn’t see it that way.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of her,” he tells me, followed by a disturbing smirk.

“Oh man, that sounds dirty.” I cringe. “Any chance I can sleep in Ava’s room? Her loud snoring is exactly what I could use tonight.”

“Trust me, Noah, your cousin is headstrong. Don’t be surprised if you find me on the couch because she’s on a ‘men and their stupid dicks’ rant.”

“The Lakers are playing tonight. I’ll join you.” I laugh, trying to forget this night has even happened.

And in the short distance

ahead, I see Kate rolling her eyes at Charlie. The mouth on my cousin. She’s going on and on about how irresponsible Kate is, and what was she thinking taking me out tonight. No wonder Charlie’s a lawyer. Her ability to argue is why she’s so damn successful. Plus, a huge pain in the fucking ass.

We leave them out on the porch while Lex grabs us drinks and a bag of Doritos.

I tell him I’ll be back and head for the shower. I make it quick, not wanting to miss a second of the game. I know at some point I’m going to have to tell my mom, I know I can’t hide this forever. But for now, I need to unwind. And a repeat of the Lakers game is just what I need.

Charlie enters the room and sees both of us sitting in the recliners. She seems to have aged tonight, her face is withdrawn with dark circles starting to shadow her eyes. “I’m calling it a night,” she says, defeated.

“Yeah, you look tired,” I say, watching the screen as Lex yells something about the game above the television.

“Well, let’s see… I got puke on me when Amelia projectile vomited dinner. After getting her in the bath, I discovered that Ava took the blueberries out of the fridge and left them on the table where Addison decided they would be better squashed into the carpet.” She sighs, continuing on, “Then I get a call that my cousin and best friend were naked and having sex on the beach. To top it off, my bike, which you begged to borrow, is sitting in Malibu waiting to be collected.”

“I’ll collect your bike, but we weren’t having sex,” I answer in my defense.

“You know what?” She points at me. “I don’t care anymore. Do whatever the hell you want to do, Noah. Men and their dicks…”

And just like Lex said, the dick rant began.

Chapter Seven

Charlie was far from forgiving the next morning. Purposely waking up the household early, banging on pots and pans, and running the vacuum just to annoy me. The girls had entered my room several times, and I vowed that one day I would wake up early enough to beat them to the chase. Since I’ve been here, I’ve stopped going to the gym and running each morning, something I did almost every day back home.

I barely slept. The entire night I had reoccurring nightmares that a cast of crabs had invaded my pants and had bitten my dick off. I kept waking up in a cold sweat, checking to make sure everything was intact, only then to fall asleep and have the same nightmare.

After showering and changing into my suit pants and collared dress shirt, I follow my usual routine by styling my hair and applying aftershave. I don’t feel like shaving today, allowing my five-o’clock shadow to remain on my face.

Tired and irritable, I make my way to the kitchen, my stomach growling in the process. Even with the copious amounts of drinking last night, I crave something deliciously oily. I wonder what the chances are of Charlie frying me up some bacon.

Kate’s already at the table, fiddling with her cell. She’d stayed the night instead of driving back to her hotel room. Lifting her gaze away from the screen, she spots me entering the room and mouths something about Charlie which I can’t quite understand. Ignoring her for just a moment, I grab the pot of coffee and pour myself a mug along with a piece of toast which sits on a plate beside the coffee maker. I’m a coffee addict at the best of times, but this morning, it tastes like fucking heaven.

A second later, my cell vibrates in my pocket. I remove it and read the text Kate just sent me.