8

She jiggles my foot some more. “I wouldn’t count on that.” She stands, but now she’s got my attention, so I sit up quickly.

“What’d he say? Did he say something?” I bite my lip, wishing I didn’t sound so eager.

“He said lots of things, but you’ve been too busy having a pity party to hear them. Come on down for dessert.”

I flip over onto my side, hating that she’s right. “No. I’m too tired.

Teagan’s coming to get Mick any minute. Tell him I said goodbye.” “You sure?” she says at the door.

“Yes,” I say, not sure at all. I’m probably making a big mistake by being so rude, but my heart won’t let me leave my room. I’ve gotten my hopes up with guys before, but any of them that got close enough to be near my family never stuck around much longer after that. I’ve pretty much come to terms with the fact that I’ll never have a serious relationship with a guy until I’m grown and gone from this place. Thoughts of rooming with Teagan float through my mind again.

I’m still fantasizing about what color I’d paint my bedroom at her house when there’s another knock at my door. “Go away!” I yell. “I said I don’t want dessert!”

The door pushes in and I turn over to blast the intruder with threats I fully intend to follow up on. They all go unsaid as I see Mick standing in my doorway, holding two plates with cake and forks on them.

“Room service,” he says, coming in and putting one down on my side

table.

I sit up in a hurry, doing what I can to smooth the sides of my hair down.

Rolling around on my pillow has done nothing good for my ponytail, which, I can tell by the poofs of fluffy, raggedy hair I feel above my ears, has gone rogue. Great. I look like the Joker now.

“I’m not in the mood for dessert,” I say, swinging my legs over to the side of my bed.

He sits down next to me, digging into his own piece. “I’d taste it first, if I were you. This is some good stuff.” He shoves a giant bite into his mouth and smiles.

“You’re evil, you know that?” I ask. I can’t stop the smile from coming to my lips.

“I’ve been called that before.” He shrugs. “At this point I’m taking it as a compliment.”

I lean over and pick up my cake plate. “Why are you here, Mick?” I keep

 

my eyes on my fork and cake, knowing that if I look at him, I’ll chicken out. “Just having some fun, some good food. Hanging out with friends.”

A bite of cake freezes halfway to my mouth. “What friends?”

He nudges me with his elbow. “Come on, man. Don’t be like that. We can be friends, can’t we?”

My heart skips another couple beats. I shake my head as I eat my cake. “I guess.” Do I even want to be friends with him? I don’t know. It feels risky.

Like, really risky, and that says a lot coming from me.

“Good. I’m working at the club tonight if you want to come hang out. I’ll buy you a drink.”

Another bite of cake disappears down my throat as I consider his offer. “Maybe. I’m not sure what I’m doing yet.”

“Then come.” He nudges me again. “It’ll be fun. DJ Foxx is going to be there tonight. She’s awesome.”

“She?”

“Yeah. I’ll introduce you if you want. She’s from New York City. You’d like her.”

“Oh, yeah? Why?” “Because. She’s tough.”

I look at him to try and figure out what he’s getting at, but he’s too focused on his cake to notice. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

His fork stops partway off his plate, headed to his mouth. “Nothing.” He’s trying to act all innocent, but he doesn’t fool me. But I’m not in the mood to hear all about myself right now, so I play along.

“Whatever. Maybe I’ll see you. Maybe I won’t.” I don’t know if I can handle seeing him out at the club. It’s hard enough sitting next to him at a family dinner. When he’s in the club all dressed for the night, he’s too much. I know because I’ve seen it once before. And until his brother played super- asshole that night, I was ready to do a serious panty-drop just looking at him.

He shoves the last of his cake into his mouth, stands, and pulls his phone out of his pocket. It’s then that I realize it was buzzing. I’d thought it was my pulse. Being near him is making my system go offline. I quickly smooth my hair down while he’s distracted with the phone call.

“Yeah. Okay, I’ll be out in a second.” He puts his plate down on my desk and wipes his face off with the back of his hand as he slides his phone into his pocket. “Do I have anything in my teeth?” he asks, giving me a huge grin.

I smile and point. “Yeah. Chocolate.” “Where?” He leans in closer to me. “Everywhere.” I can’t stop smiling.

 

He gets even closer. “Get it out for me.”

“Go away,” I say, pushing on his shoulder. I don’t use a whole lot of force because honestly, I don’t want him going anywhere right now. I just caught a whiff of his cologne and he couldn’t be more charming if he tried. I think a little piece of me just fell in love with him. Today’s been a hell of a day.

He moves so quick I don’t even see it coming. Once second he’s grinning chocolatey teeth at me and the next his lips have pressed into mine. A quick smooching sound and he’s gone again, back to standing in front of me. “See you around, Quinlan.”

He’s through the door before I can get my shit together enough to respond. “Don’t call me Quinlan!” I yell at his back.

Jumping up, I run to my window as Mick calls out goodbyes to my whole family. I can hear Jersey banging around and shouting with happiness. He’s obviously had too much cake.

Rebel’s car is parked out front, but I can’t tell if Teagan is inside or not. Dammit. I don’t want to come across as desperate by texting or calling her as he’s walking out. He’ll totally know I’m going all girly on him and trying to analyze his every move, his every breath. Of course I am going to do that, but not yet. Not when he could find out that’s what I’m doing. I’m just going to have to stew for at least an hour before I call a meeting with Teagan and get her insight.

I watch Mick walk down the sidewalk towards the car, admiring the way he moves and the way his lean frame fills out his clothes. His shoulders are broad without looking freakish. He’s smaller than his brother but oh so much sexier in my book. I totally want to see him naked after watching his butt in those jeans. My insides turn to mush as I imagine what it might be like to see him completely nude. To feel his skin on mine…

I’m completely unprepared for him to turn around and catch me gawking.

He grins and waves at me, walking backwards down the sidewalk.

I scramble to grab the cord to the blinds. They fall halfway down before stopping again, and I scream with frustration as I catch him laughing at me. My face is totally on fire.

Giving up on the blinds, I stumble away and drop back down on the bed.

My cell phone is in my hand a second later and I set my timer. In T-minus thirty minutes, I will be calling Teagan and figuring out what the hell my next move should be and even if I should have a next move where Mick is concerned.