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HOW TO CATCH A BAD BOY 32
Elena shook her head. There was no way she was going to let herself be stuck with him in his car for two hours. Not again. While she was mad at him and desperately wanted to punch him, her body still reacted to his presence like a fucking magnet. She still noticed him and the way he kept staring at her…. Oh God. "I don't think that's going to be possible, Lexi," she said, "Yeah, no way," Emily added, "I'm sure that Chandler and I will be able to act civil for your wedding. We are adults and we can handle ourselves without having to make up or ride together in his car," Lexi shook her head, "My wedding, my rules," she said, "You guys are riding together and I want you to be friends again by the time we arrive, got it? Even if you don't want to be friends, find a common ground," "I'm fine with that," said Chandler, much to Elena's discomfort and Emily's irritation. Emily poked a finger in his direction, "I don’t care if she forgives you, Chandler," she said, "You do not deserve her
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Needing to put some distance between them, Elena took a step backwards, "Everyone is waiting for us," she told him, "Let's go," Then she left him standing there and walked towards his car. Chandler noticed she'd also left her luggage for him and he grabbed it, gladly in fact, because just watching her walk away was worth it in his books. She might not have forgiven him, but they were a step closer to that if he played his cards right. And God bless Lexi for her decision to make her ride in his car. One more point for his future sister in law. —----------The silence in the car was deafening….so quiet you could hear a pin drop if not for the soft purring from the car. It wasn't an awkward silence either, more like they didn't know how to begin to say what needed to be said. Elena sat facing the window with her arms wrapped around her body. Her legs remained stiff against each other, and she looked like she'd rather be anywhere else but there with him. Her short sundress looked even
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"You have no idea what hearing you say that means to me," he said huskily and Elena almost grinned at the emotion in his voice, "Do you think we should give the date another try? I promise I won't screw it up this time," Elena smiled, "Maybe, but not yet. I'm not letting you off easy. Besides, It's Elijah and Lexi's wedding… I don't want us to take the attention away from them," Chandler nodded, but the desire in his eyes as he stared at her told a different story. It seemed to burn away her clothes and Elena shifted in her seat, unable to deny the fact that she wanted the same thing and felt the same way. "Fine," said Chandler finally, "We'll let them have their wedding, and then I'm all yours."—-----------Grayson Kendrick was a handsome man, Elena observed when they finally arrived at their destination. His head was filled with mostly white hair and so was his beard, but he was still strong and good looking. He was tall with broad shoulders, a strong nose, and a wide smile. App
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A small boy sat on a broken curb, looking down at a dirty, smudged ball in his hands. It was worn from play, clearly overused. His hair was dark and messy, his lashes long against the pale skin of his cheeks. You couldn't see his eyes, but in the background, two other kids played together. They were out of focus, not meant to be the focus of the shot. Staring at his shoes, also dirty and worn from use, Elena found her eyes welling up unexpectedly."Goodness, that's a bit depressing, isn't it?" a deep voice came from next to her.Elena glanced over her shoulder. Grayson Kendrick was staring at the photo, his head tilted to the side as he frowned at the image."I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you," he told her. Elena shook her head, "Oh you didn't startle me, sir. It's fine," She clasped her hands in front of her body and returned her gaze to the photograph. "It's moving, I think." Grayson hummed, tucking his hands into his pockets. The disbelieving sound made her smile. "You disagr
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If Chandler was a hunter, pulling back on his bow, then Elena was the deer about to bolt into the safety of the trees.Before she could move a single muscle to do exactly that, "Do what?" he asked with a frown. Elena grinned because she clearly thought he was an idiot, Chandler thought. "Mark your territory," she replied, "Or whatever the fuck it's called when you men do things like this. It's not necessary, besides, he's your dad," He tucked his hands into his pants pockets. Maybe it would make him appear non-threatening or some bullshit. "I know that… Which is why I don't want you getting close to him…. Before he finds a way to…. I don't know… Turn you against me, I guess," She blinked rapidly, "That's not possible," she answered slowly.Under the lights of the hallway, her hair gleamed. Her cheeks were pink, and she needed to touch up her lipstick, but damn if he didn't want to mess it up just a little bit more. "What'd you two talk about, love?"Vaguely, Elena gestured to the
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She nodded slowly, tilting her head ever-so-slightly as she studied him. "Okay. Maybe I will," she said, He pointed a finger at her. "Nope. We're not going back to that topic. None of that. No psychoanalyzing. I don't care how beautiful you look. That's not allowed."Elena smiled slowly. "You were the one who brought it up again," "Stop it."The smile spread even further, wide enough that her white, even teeth showed behind her pink lips. Clearly she was really enjoying teasing him. He huffed. "Let's go inside, okay?""Okay."Her agreement was too quiet, too pleased with herself, and that made him swear. "Be careful while you move. Some of those flowers have thorns?"Elena's eyes glowed. "Thank you for caring. That's incredibly...sweet ... of you.""Fine. You know what? Do whatever you want. Get scratched by one of them, see if I care." He leaned toward her, "And don't come to me for help when you get bruised because you didn't take me up on my practical, logical suggestion to stay
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Chandler ran the edge of his nose along hers, and she tried not to whimper pitifully that they weren't kissing because why, why weren't they kissing? She wanted this feeling to last forever. It was the closest she'd ever come to skydiving, to bungee jumping, free-falling through the air, and her blood sang violently in her veins at how heady it all was.He went back in with a growl, tilting his head so he could sweep his tongue against hers. They were wound so tightly around each other; her leg curled around him when he used his hand, gripping possessively around her thigh to hitch it higher. The way that he fit her hips to his, Elena broke away from the kiss with a gasp. Shooting, sparking little fires erupted when he rolled against her, pressing her back against the wall. It was wild and crazy because anyone could see them, and yet Elena had the indistinct, hazy thought that with one press of his hand, one movement of his body between her legs, she'd explode like a lit bomb.His mou
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Elena's heart broke for him. No matter what else he'd revealed, what snippets of his past he'd given her , this was the first time she felt just how deeply he'd learned how to protect himself. Him pulling away was so much more about him than it was about her. "And do you normally give speeches like this to the women you kiss or sleep with?" She asked. But she asked it tentatively, with a gentle voice free of censure. "Make sure they won't regret a night with you?"Chandler swallowed hard. His eyes searched her face. "They know what they're getting into. They're not thinking past one night, trust me.""But you think I am?"The tip of his finger tilted her chin up, and his thumb brushed her bottom lip."I think you look at me differently than they do, Elena. You look at me differently than anyone does. And if you can't quiet those things holding you back, I don't want to be the man they all think I am. Not with you. The one who'll push where you let me, who'll convince you with my lips"
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HOW TO CATCH A BAD BOY 69
"It's okay, Chandler. You were surprised and out of your element, and you should have heard it from me." Elena told him. "Don't let me off the hook, love." He dropped his hand, but his eyes were still fixed on her lips. "I'm so sorry for what I said to you, and I plan on apologizing to Emily and Daniel for walking out of their house. I have no excuse.""Okay." He smiled. "Just okay?"Elena's hands found their way up his chest, a slow trek, and she relished the heat of his skin coming through the material of his shirt. She only stopped when her palm was over his thudding heart. "Yeah. I don't think either one of us needs fancy words or big speeches about what happened. I just ... I just need you to know that I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for not telling you when I had the chance. I need you to know that I'm in this with you, even if you screw up, which you will. Just like I will too, but we'll always find our way back to each other. That's all I want."Chandler plucked her hand off his che
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The only thing that could've tugged Elena's attention away from Chandler was her sister hustling to her side with a devious grin on her face. Her eyes were bright with tears, and Elena felt her happiness for her like a sweet wave. "I know you might not want to, but talk to him," Emily told her. Elena shook her head. Yes, she missed him terribly, but she'd gone through this phase with him before. She had given him another chance, and here she was… Hurt again. Maybe they cared about each other. Maybe they even loved each other, but did it really mean that they should be together? Not everyone in love could be in a relationship, and maybe she and Chandler were like that. Maybe they'd only keep hurting each other if they remained together. Maybe their relationship was meant to be a short one. Chandler's gaze scanned the room, then came to rest on her. His chest expanded on a deep breath, and his eyes warmed in his handsome face. His dark hair was slicked back neatly, and he'd shaved. Th
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Chandler hooted with laughter. "Nothing to do with you? Pray tell, enlighten me, Future Dr. Kendrick.""I'm no shrink, but Elena is the first woman to make you want something more. And you'd have to put every part of you on the line in order to make something real with her. It's scary, and you've never done it, and you grabbed the most convenient excuse to make life easier on yourself. That excuse is bullshit, but you'll hold on to it like it's a life raft."Chandler glared mightily at him because clearly someone had used their time driving up here to prepare exactly how to knee him in the proverbial balls. Paul murmured like he was hearing a good sermon. He got a glare too.Elijah leaned forward. "What if she had been the one to show at your door?"The second he said it, his heart reacted without a single thought on his end.Racing, pounding, thumping erratically at the mere mention of her on the other side of that door. He wanted it so badly.Wanted her."What if you had the chance,
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Pinching the bridge of his nose, Chandler willed his mind to stop cycling around those thoughts because it didn't matter. It was like two months of his life, and that was it.He'd get over it. He'd get over her.His phone lit up again, and he sighed. "I don't know what he could possibly want to say to me."The recliner squeaked as Paul leaned forward. "I'm curious too. Hello?""What are you doing?" he yelled. "Give me that phone."When he tried to swipe for it, Paul flipped him off. "Elijah? Yeah, this is Paul. I am with the grumpy asshole."Even though his leg screamed in protest, Chandler stood from the couch and towered over Paul, holding out his hand and giving him his most forbidding glare.Paul ignored him. "Hmm. Sure, yeah. Makes sense." He continued. "Give me the phone, Paul.""Great idea, Elijah. Yeah. I like it."When he handed Chandler the phone, he exhaled heavily. Then he saw the call was already disconnected. Chandler blinked. "He hung up?""Guess so."His eyebrows lift
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"Emily," Elena warned. "You paused. Why did you pause?"She scrunched up her face. "Did I?"Elena sat forward. "Oh my gosh, what is it? Are you moving out of town? Are you leaving? Are you sick?""Slow your roll, crazy," Emily said on a laugh. "I'm not sick, good grief."Her heart settled back into a normal rhythm. "Well, it's something.""I didn't want to say anything with all the feelings and everything that's been going on." Emily gestured to Elena. "But…. I'm pregnant," "What?" Elena shrieked excitedly, and hugged her sister tightly. "Congratulations. You should have told me since," "Well, I was going to… But then I screwed up so I had to fix things first," Elena beamed at her, "You and Daniel are going to be so happy, and I'm going to be the best Aunt ever," "So you're coming right?" "Do you really have to ask? Of course I am coming." She hesitated for a while, then added, "Will Chandler be there?" she asked carefully. "It's not that I'd ... I don't know, avoid going if he w
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Emily braced her arms on her thighs and leaned toward her. "Okay, talk to me. Tell me everything. I mean, maybe not like, sex details. But ... what happened while you were gone?"Then she patted the bed. Elena's entire being settled back into place as she and Emily braced their backs against the wall. She curled her hand around hers with their legs stretched out straight onto the bed, and Elena unloaded for the next thirty minutes.After a bit, Emily leaned her head on her shoulder, and Elena set her head on hers, and they fell quiet before she got to the scene in the driveway. She didn't even attempt to wipe the tears coming down her face during that part."I'm so mad at him for leaving," Elena said, voice hoarse from talking. "But I get it. I don't want to, but I do.""I don't."Elena nudged her. "I don't need you to vilify him."Emily laughed under her breath. After the driveway showdown, dinner was a shitshow. Elena cried in the balcony while Elijah, Daniel Emily and Lexi yelled
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Elena froze, and she had to clench her teeth tightly to keep from screaming at her that there was no conceivable way she could have known that when they'd never freaking talked about it.Emily, like a rabid dog, saw the pause in her motion and pounced on it. "I thought you guys talked about it, okay? And I just ... I was trying to make conversation because seriously, I was trying to be nice to him. I wanted to get closer to him because I thought it'd make you happy, and honestly, I was starting to like him. I just wanted to have a conversation."By telling him I had a crush on his brother! Elena wanted to scream. Her eyes pinched shut. This was killing her.Because no matter how pissed she was, she could feel it seeping through her skin, how miserable Emily was.She was sad. She was frustrated. She was scared.Between the two of them, Elena was always the one who caved first. Who tried to keep the peace. Who let things slide. And she didn't want to let this slide because she was mi
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Chandler dropped his chin and breathed deeply. "Could you?""I don't hold your past against you. Because it's irrational and unfair, and you know it." She said, "That's not what I mean." He lifted his head, held her gaze, and the resolve Elena saw there chilled her to her core. "Could you overlook it if I told you that I showed up that night to take a shot with Emily?" Words were gone. Her mouth was sand-dry at what that did to her.He kept talking, quiet, dangerous words that did horrible things to her heart."If I told you that I thought about being with her, touching her, kissing her, and for even one moment, I was disappointed that I got you instead."She sucked in a startled breath."Yeah," he said slowly, softly. "You couldn't overlook it either. Because that look in your pretty brown eyes, baby. It feels like I just punched you in the gut, doesn't it?"Her eyes filled with tears, and she hated them. She hated that he was right. And for just a moment, one fleeting, fast one, s
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"What did Emily say to you?" Elena asked quietly. It was taking everything in her not to march up to him and shake the answer out of him."I can see it." Chandler said, Elena's head tilted at his strange answer. She felt like a fish that had been plopped unceremoniously out of its bowl. It was hard to breathe because she had no concept of how to navigate this. "See what?"He exhaled slowly, finally turning to face her. "You and Elijah."Her stomach was now the thing giving her all the ominous feels because it turned dangerously. What the hell did her sister say to him? "Elijah and I," she repeated quietly. "Chandler... I—" Denial trapped in her throat. Nothing else came up. Because she couldn't lie.And he saw that on her face.He nodded. "You'd look great together. And it's probably really fucking stupid on my end that I never even considered that you were into him.""I don't want Elijah," she argued. Carefully, she approached him with her hands held up. Don't spook him, Elena, beca
