Bad Boys Do. Victoria Dahl

grimaced. “Jesus Christ.”

      “And you know what? I’m not fun. But that doesn’t mean I can’t try to be.”

      “You want him back?” Jamie asked, his voice so loud that she blinked in shock.

      “No! That’s not it at all! I’m just trying to enjoy my life. Figure out who I am. I was only twenty-two when I met him. I’m not that girl anymore. So who am I?” She met his gaze head-on and, for the first time, she let him see something of herself. Something warm and vulnerable. “Am I the kind of woman who goes on a date with someone like you?”

      “Someone like me?” Jamie ordered himself not to feel primal satisfaction at the way her eyes warmed.

      “You’re young. Handsome. Purposefully charming.”

      “I like to think of it as naturally charming.”

      “Oh, it’s natural,” she said, her mouth quirking wryly. “But you use it to great effect.”

      “I like people.”

      She smiled then, chasing the sadness from her face. “I know you do. And you’re the definition of fun. So I thought …” Color climbed up her cheeks.

      Whether he was angry or not, Jamie couldn’t help his interest in this woman, and the color in her cheeks intrigued him. “You thought what?”

      “I’m trying new things. Like the book club. So I thought …”

      “You thought you’d try me out, too?”

      She flashed a surprisingly wicked smile. “I thought I’d try a date with you. And, unfortunately, I thought I’d do it in front of Victor. I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry. It was a momentary impulse. I’d already changed my mind when you weren’t at the brewery, but then you walked in….”

      He shrugged. “I’m not saying you shouldn’t have shown him up. But I would’ve appreciated a warning.”

      She touched his arm. “I really am sorry. Let’s leave.”

      “I don’t know. You’re already using me. I’m all dressed up. We may as well make the most of it.”

      “Jamie—”

      “Hey.” He took the hand she was gesturing with and curled it against his chest. “Just answer one question. Are you interested in me or not?”

      Her fingers squeezed his. “I’m interested in you. But I think—”

      “That’s all I need to know right now.” He eased a little closer as she brushed her hair behind her ear. A nervous gesture. “Exactly how jealous do you want to make him?”

      “I don’t want to make him jealous. I just want him to stop flaunting his girls in front of me. It’s rude.”

      “Rude,” he said with a smile. “You know what? You’re right. It’s definitely not polite. So how deep do you want to drive the point?”

      Her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

      “A kiss? Just to teach him a lesson in etiquette?”

      “Etiquette, huh?” She laughed and the sound danced over his skin. But when she was done laughing, the question still hung between them, and she eyed him with a different sort of nervousness. “You mean out there in front of everyone?”

      “No. Right here.”

      “But … how will he know?”

      He watched as she licked her lips, her tongue flashing just quickly enough to make him want more of it. “Oh,” Jamie said. “He’ll know.”

      “Well, if you think it’ll work …”

      “I know it’ll work,” he said softly, easing closer. She looked like she’d be easy to startle, and he didn’t want to do that. Just as he’d expected, she shifted a little, drawing her head back a fraction of an inch.

      He smiled. “Where are you going?”

      “I don’t know. I just …”

      But her words died when he touched his mouth to hers, a careful touch, barely a kiss at all.

      “Okay,” she sighed, her eyes closing. “Just a kiss.”

      Jamie closed his own and kissed her again. A longer taste, but still soft. But this time when he drew away, she closed the space between them, and this was a real kiss. Her lips parted just enough that he could feel her breath and the warmth of her mouth. He kissed her top lip, then her bottom, touching his tongue to that plump, pink flesh.

      She sighed again, whispering the sound against his skin, and Jamie couldn’t wait another moment to taste her. When he slipped his tongue into her, she was hot and sweet with wine. But he still held back, barely rubbing his tongue over hers, allowing himself time to enjoy it. They were in a kitchen at a stranger’s party. There’d be nothing more than kissing, and he wanted to feel every moment of it.

      A few endless heartbeats later, Jamie drew back, slightly dazed as he opened his eyes to the glaring lights of the modern kitchen. Olivia looked dazed, too, blinking as if she was waking up. Her pupils were dilated, her cheeks flushed, and her lips were red as cherries. Her ex wouldn’t be able to miss that, even if he wanted to.

      “Wow,” she whispered. “You’re good at that.”

      “I like kissing.”

      “I think I do, too,” she said, and he couldn’t help but laugh.

      “Come on. We’d better get in there before it wears off.”

      “What wears off?” she asked, but Jamie shook his head. She couldn’t know how beautiful she looked like this. Warm and blushing and—for once—not the least bit rigid. It was almost like seeing her naked. Almost.

      He took her hand and led her out to the party and all the stiff, bored people pretending to enjoy themselves. “You come to a lot of parties like this?”

      “Not a lot. Not anymore. Now I get to choose which ones I go to, but unfortunately, they’re all like this. Everyone trying to impress each other. Everyone on their best behavior. What kind of parties do you go to?”

      “I don’t go to parties. I work.”

      “Not as glamorous as it seems?”

      “Oh, it’s glamorous as all hell, Ms. Bishop, but the hours are long.”

      “Don’t call me that,” she said, smacking his arm.

      “Come on. It’s totally hot that you’re my teacher.”

      “Just barely your teacher,” she said, throwing his own words back at him.

      “Just enough,” he corrected.

      Olivia laughed, bumping her elbow into his ribs as they walked toward a wall of doors that opened onto a deck. Jamie had already scoped out Victor Bishop’s location, and the guy was definitely looking tense. Jamie offered him a smile.

      “So why are you taking the class?” Olivia asked as they stepped onto the deck.

      Jamie felt so relaxed that he almost answered honestly. Then he remembered that he was keeping a secret and snapped his mouth shut.

      Olivia tilted her head. “What?”

      “Nothing. I’m just brushing up on business basics.”

      “No, you’re hiding something.” They’d reached a railing that overlooked a spectacular view, but Olivia propped her back against it and faced him. “Why are you really taking the class? Seems like you’ve got the brewery thing down pat.”

      He looked past her. “What a gorgeous view from here.”

      “Spill it.”

      Shit.