Page 2 of Off-Limits Bad Boy
He nods his head.
“Ha-ha,” I say in a deadpan tone, glaring over the rim of the white mug as I take a sip of the bittersweet brew. His proximity sends unwelcome tingles dancing across my skin, an annoying reminder of the chemistry I wished didn't exist between us. And as always, I remind myself that maybe it’s not chemistry - maybe it’s pure, undiluted hatred. That makes more sense, anyway. I’ve never felt the way he makes me feel.
He lifts his shoulders in a casual motion that shifts his dark jacket, and the warm scent of leather and Kade washes over me. “Can't be too careful. Wouldn't want our underage bartender getting tipsy.” He eyes me with a look that suggests he knows exactly what effect he has on me.
“I’m not a bartender.” You’d think he’d know the difference given how many times we’ve had some variation of this conversation. The man is my own personal groundhog’s day, and I can’t seem to do things in the right order to get rid of him. But there’s always tomorrow.
“Whatever you say, Emma Riley,” he says, that damned grin lingering as he pulls back, giving me space but taking none of the tension between us with him.
What the heck did I do to make him so obnoxious toward me?
“I’m sure your brother would want me to keep an eye on you. Keep you safe, you know?” His words leave my skin tingling, even though I kind of want to splash his drink in his face.
“I’m sure my brother doesn't want you looking at me and if he’s smart, he knows you’re the one I need to be kept safe from.” I clutch the warm mug like a lifeline, trying to ignore the way my heart betrays my annoyance by thumping wildly in my chest.
“I’d never hurt you, Em,” he says, leaning in close as if sharing a secret.
I could tell him that there are plenty of things that aren’t harmful that also aren’t safe, but I’m tired of the back and forth. “Drop it, Kade.” His name rolls off my tongue so softly I almost sound like I’m asking. Almost.
He seems to notice, his attention locking on me and his lips parting as if he’s about to say something.
But Alex strolls in, his presence cutting through the tension like a hot knife through butter. There’s an easy smile on his face, and I can tell he’s oblivious to the silent battle raging between his best friend and me.
“Hey, kiddo,” he says, pulling me into a brief, one-armed hug that smells like home and safety.
“Alex.” My voice tightens, still tinged with irritation from Kade's antics.
“I’ve got plans tonight, so I'm leaving you in charge.” As Alex says the words, his gaze leaps to Kade, missing the electricity arcing in the space he'd just breezed into. “You good working with Kade?”
“Sure.” I lie through gritted teeth, plastering on a smile that feels more like the way a dog’s lips lift away from its teeth in preparation of biting someone.
“Awesome, thanks, Em.” He claps a hand on my shoulder, blind to the way my eye is twitching with irritation. “You're the best.”
Before I can respond, he walks toward Kade, pushing his friend’s shoulder. “Keep her safe, okay? Even from herself. She’s a pain in the ass.”
Kade’s amused eyes meet mine and my fists ball at my sides. “Will do,” he says to Alex without ever taking his eyes off me.
“Good, good,” he says, clapping his friend on the shoulder before making his way to the exit.
Silence lingers in his absence, but, of course, Kade has to go and ruin that, too.
“Looks like it's just you and me then.” Kade’s tone sounds... odd as he leans against the bar. His eyes hold a spark of mischief that makes my stomach flutter with a mix of dread and something dangerously close to excitement. I must be misunderstanding my own response. Surely this is annoyance and dread.
“Thrilling,” I say in a dry tone, my gaze locked with his in a silent standoff that neither of us seems willing to break.
“Come on, Emma. We make a great team.” His voice drops to a husky whisper, sending shivers down my spine, despite my resolve to remain unaffected by him.
“Let's just get through the night without any incidents,” I say, more to myself and this deep desire to stain him with grenadine. I also kind of hope that the weak humor of my words might mask how much he rattles me.
Intensity rolls off him like fog from the mountains. “I promise to keep my hands to myself.” He lowers his voice, making every hair on my body stand on end. “Unless you need help with heavy liquor cases again.”
Why? Why do his words have such an effect on me?
His infuriating grin is back in place as I try to figure out where I went wrong in life to earn his irritating commentary. The guy is a walking nightmare that I can’t shake.
“Keep dreaming, Kade.” Ugh, it’s the best thing I could think of while on the spot like this. I turn away, pretending to rearrange glasses on the shelf, all the while aware of his heated gaze tracing lines into my back.
“Is that an invitation?” His words startle me, and I nearly knock a glass off the shelf.