Bad Boys Do (4 page)

“Yes, in front of my ex! He…”

Jamie saw the way she swallowed hard, her jaw clenching, and he worried she was about to cry. “Listen—”

“That girl he’s with. Allison. She’s not the first girl like that he’s dated. And marriage didn’t keep him from indulging.”

“Ah.”

“Predictable, isn’t it? But I’m not bitter anymore. I don’t hate him. I swear it’s not like that. I want to have a life that has nothing to do with him.”

“Except when it does?”

Olivia shrugged and finished her wine before setting the glass carefully on the counter. While she was still turned away from him, she murmured, “He told me I wasn’t any fun.”

Jamie ran a hand through his hair, wondering if it would be rude to leave right at this moment. He was probably justified. Surely she wouldn’t object. He’d be kind enough to drop her off at her place first. “What?”

She turned to face him. “When I caught him cheating, he told me it was because I wasn’t any fun.”

Jamie 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. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Why not?”

“It’s too early. I’m just starting to think it through.”

“Are you going to start your own business?”

“No!”

Her eyebrows rose.

“That’s not it. Honestly. It’s just that… I don’t know. I’m thinking more of expanding the current business.”

Her face remained neutral for a moment, then her mouth made a pretty O of surprise. “You’re going to add a restaurant!”

“Shh.” Jamie glanced around to be sure no one heard. “Not quite. And maybe not anything at all. I’m taking your class to explore the possibilities. That’s all.”

“Well, I think that’s great. What responsibilities do you cover at the brewery?” She turned to face the view, now that she’d wrung his secret from him.

“I manage the front room and we all have input into the brewing side.” Some more than others.

“Food service would be a lot more involved, you know.”

His neck burned with self-consciousness. Was she implying he couldn’t handle it? “Yeah, I know.”

“Well, let me know if you need help with anything.”

“I’ll be fine.”

She bumped her hip against him. “You’re right.”

Maybe she did think he could handle it. Maybe she saw something in him. “Am I?”

“Yes,” she said softly. “It is an amazing view.”

Ah. Of course. He leaned against the railing and took it in, aware of her arm only a millimeter away from his. When goose bumps swept up her skin, he had the perfect excuse to hook her arm into his and ease her closer. A whisper of a breeze swept her hair from her neck.

“I’m glad you brought me out here,” she whispered. “But we forgot to search out Victor.”

“He saw us.”

“He did? Do you think he could tell?”

He slid his thumb along her wrist. “Oh, he could tell.”

“But how?”

Jamie met her questioning eyes. She looked absolutely puzzled, and he felt simultaneously amused and dumbfounded. “Your mouth,” he said, letting his gaze fall to her lips. “Your eyes.”

She shook her head as if she didn’t understand.

Jamie smiled. “You looked aroused,” he clarified.

The muscles of her arm jumped as a blush washed over her face. “I don’t know… I’m sure that…” When she started to pull away, Jamie wrapped his fingers into hers and held her still.

“There’s nothing wrong with arousal, Olivia. Is there?”

“I just—” She shook her head again, and when she pulled away, he let her go. “I don’t even know you.”

Alarm sparked in her wide eyes. She didn’t seem to know that it was part of the excitement. Part of what had made her cheeks flush and her lips soften when he’d kissed her. “It’s chemistry,” he murmured. “Nothing to do with common sense. The opposite of it, in fact.”

“Chemistry,” she murmured. Her eyes flickered, traveling down his body, and Jamie felt those chemical reactions begin to burn again. Her mouth curved up on one side, before she shook her head and banished her smile. “Well, thank you.”

“For the chemistry?”

“For playing along.”

He was playing, all right, but it wasn’t a part. Still, if that helped her feel better about it, Jamie could let it go.

“Can I get you another glass of wine?”

“No, I think we can go now.” She winked. “Your work here is done.”

“Olivia—”

“Thank you again. For everything. But I think you should just take me home.”

Jamie sighed. That didn’t sound like an invitation. But at least he’d gotten a kiss. He’d bring her an apple on Thursday and see where it went from there.

H
E HADN’T CALLED
.

Olivia lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling and feeling stupid for even thinking it. She’d known he wouldn’t call. She’d told herself she didn’t want him to. But now that she was faced with seeing him in class in a few hours, it felt awkward. On her part, at least. Jamie would probably just laugh.

At least she hadn’t invited him in when he’d walked her to her door. She’d left him with just one more kiss. One more slow, hot, body-tingling kiss.

She smiled. Maybe it was worth the awkwardness. She didn’t feel like a new woman or anything, but she definitely felt a few degrees brighter.

It was a good start.

Still, even if he was interested, she didn’t think she could keep walking down this road with Jamie. That man was potent. Hell, he’d been potent before he’d put his mouth on her, and then he’d gone from intoxicating to deadly. Olivia had no doubt she’d have a very good time with Jamie Donovan, but she’d be just one on a long list of women. She didn’t want to think what it would be like to watch as he walked away, taking his good time with him.

Whatever her intentions, it came as no surprise to her that when the phone rang, Olivia immediately thought of Jamie. More proof that she was already in over her head. She made herself walk slowly to the phone, then answered it without checking the ID, pretending she didn’t care who it was. “Olivia Bishop.”

“Oooolivia Bishop,” a friendly female voice crooned.

“Gwen?” she asked, just as she realized what was about to happen.

“So I talked to Marcie last night….”

“Oh, God.” Olivia put her hand to her eyes. Marcie was friends with one of Victor’s fellow professors.

“You naughty little witch,” Gwen drawled, obviously enjoying her secret. “You’re totally getting it on with Jamie Donovan. I don’t know whether to hate you or put you on a pedestal.”

“I am not getting it on with Jamie Donovan.”

“Liar.”

Olivia smiled as she shook her head. “I’m not lying.”

“Look, I admire that you’re trying to protect his modesty. It’s cute.”

“Gwen,” Olivia said, laughing. “Okay, I admit that I went to the party with him, but that is
all
that happened.”

“That’s all?” Gwen squealed. “Where the heck did this come from? You met him
once.
One time!”

“I know—”

“And you said you were trying to
ease
back into the dating world. This is like shooting yourself out of a cannon.”

Olivia collapsed onto her bed, laughing so hard she couldn’t catch her breath.

“I need all the details,” Gwen said. “Please God, give me some details!”

“I’m sorry, Gwen, but I don’t have any!”

“Just any level of story then. Put me out of my misery.”

Olivia sighed. She wasn’t going to tell Gwen everything, but if she refused to speak it would look even worse. “Jamie asked me out, and I—”

“Now, hold on. Back it up, sister.”

This part wasn’t easy, and she wished she could get away with leaving it out entirely. Instead, she decided to fudge the details. “I saw him. On campus. He asked me out and I said no, but then I remembered the party….” Gwen squealed.

“We went to the party, and that was it. End of story.”

“Oh, not by a long shot. What was he like? Did you make out? Did you see Victor? Oh, my God, please tell me you saw Victor.”

“Jamie was nice. No, we didn’t make out, but we definitely saw Victor. More importantly, Victor saw us.”

“Oh, my God, I wish you were here right now so I could high-five you.” Gwen had been an administrative assistant for Victor’s department for two years. She wasn’t a fan.

“I’ll admit, it was satisfying.”

“Oh, yeah? Just how satisfying?”

“Gwen. It didn’t happen. And it’s not going to happen. I had a great time, but that’s that.”

“He turned you down?”

Olivia rolled her eyes. “Boy, I wish you were here right now too. I’d high-five your head.”

“Come on, Olivia. Why aren’t you going to see him again?”

“It’s complicated.”

“It doesn’t have to be.”

“Well, it is. And I have to go. I’m late for my run.” Really late, actually. Not only had she overslept, but she hadn’t thought once about running until that moment. That was a first. She’d even gone for her run right on time the morning after she’d found out her husband was cheating.

“This isn’t the end of this!” Gwen called as Olivia’s thumb hovered over the end call button. “Not by far!”

Olivia stuck out her tongue and hung up.

As late as it was, she didn’t immediately rise to change into her running gear. For a moment, she simply sat and savored this feeling. This strange new feeling of having a close female friend. It was almost as exhilarating as kissing Jamie, though the happiness confined itself to less interesting parts of her body. It was really…
nice.
And Olivia felt stupid for having ignored this need for so long. She would’ve been happier married to Victor if she hadn’t dedicated herself so completely to him.

And maybe she would’ve seen the truth about him before she’d wasted so many years.

Regret tried to rear its ugly head, but she slapped it down. She’d spent a year wallowing, and she was done. This year was going to be
hers.
The year of Olivia. And this summer would be the kickoff.

She was teaching two classes this summer to bring in a little money, but both were light on prep and time commitment. She’d taught both before and they were non-credit classes. Even the group of students she’d agreed to mentor this summer were pretty self-sufficient, so aside from office hours and class time, she was free to do as she pleased. But what did she please?

As she brushed her teeth and pulled on shorts and a top, Olivia considered the day’s options. Class only lasted until two. Afterward, she could go through the unpacked boxes still lurking at the back of her bedroom closet. Or she could go through the financial planning package she’d been meaning to review. But neither of those sounded like the actions of a woman jumping into life. Neither sounded like a day for the kind of woman who’d take a younger man to a work party and then make out with him among the kitchen staff.

Smirking as she tied her shoes, Olivia made her decision. Today she’d drive to Denver. She’d have dinner downtown by herself. She’d have a glass of wine with her meal. Or two glasses. And then she’d go to the art museum and take as many hours as she wanted to stroll through the galleries.

In addition to being fun, irresponsible and exactly what she needed, this trip would distract her from thoughts of Jamie. She’d had a great time with him, but she hadn’t been fair. She’d used him, and he wasn’t going to call her again. That was fine. She had a whole life to build. And now that she knew she had chemistry… Well, that opened up a whole world of possibilities, didn’t it?

But four hours later, her little pep talk had worn off and she was standing in front of him in the classroom, feeling as awkward as she’d expected. Jamie just smiled down at her.

She gave him one subtle nod and then tried not to look at him again as she began her lecture on start-up costs, financing and insurance. Dry stuff, certainly, and it likely didn’t apply to his plans, but he seemed to be taking detailed notes, if his flying fingers were any guide. Or else he was deeply involved in an online conversation. Hard to tell these days.

By the time she’d taken the last questions from the class and sent the students on their way, she wasn’t the least bit surprised when Jamie started down the stairs instead of up. But her heart still tumbled as if she’d just received the shock of her life. Ridiculous.

He set an apple on the corner of the table. “Good afternoon, Ms. Bishop. You look pretty today.”

Her face felt tight with self-consciousness. She’d thought of him when she’d chosen this dress. It was red. Too red for class, but the tiny white daisies gave her the excuse that it was perfect for summer. And she loved the way the fabric gathered along the bodice to make it look as if she had nearly average-size breasts. The padded bra helped too, but Jamie would never get her clothes off to prove any different.

“Do you want to get some lunch?”

She looked up sharply, tearing her eyes away from his ridiculous little gift. “It’s two o’clock.”

“All right. Do you want to get some coffee? A beer? Ice cream?”

“It was wrong of me to drag you into that situation. I do thank you for going, and I appreciate your not holding it against me. But…this isn’t a good idea.”

“That sounds like an awfully solemn declaration over an innocent little ice cream cone.”

The man made “innocent little ice cream cone” into a filthy promise. His green eyes danced.

She wanted to shrink into herself, so Olivia set her shoulders back and made herself stand taller. But her gaze still fell to rest on the apple. “That’s because it doesn’t feel innocent. Not to me.”

He shifted and her eyes rose, and now his face didn’t look amused at all. “Doesn’t that make it important then?”

It did. Too important. But she’d be damned if she’d say that. “I’m not an eighteen-year-old girl out spreading her wings. I need to be reasonable.”

“I’d say you’ve got more than enough reasonable. You said you wanted to be fun.”

“I do, but—”

“Try it, then.” She had no idea how his gaze could get any warmer, but it did. “I can make anything fun, Olivia…even you.”

Excitement leapt through her. She should’ve felt insulted, but she only felt the anticipation. The possibility. “You’re just a kid. You don’t understand—”

“I’m nothing like a kid,” he said, his voice suddenly low and quiet. And she knew he was right. She knew it. But there was something so bright and pure about him. Something that said he still enjoyed being in the world, unlike the rest of the miserable population just making their way through. That was what drew women like moths. It was certainly drawing her.

Olivia crossed her arms and looked to the side, sweeping her gaze over the empty chairs, the dark carpet, the sickly gray of the walls that glowed under fluorescent lights. This place was the biggest part of her life and the thing was…she’d never even wanted it. How sad was that?

“Coffee,” she said.

He raised one eyebrow. “Coffee? All right. Coffee’s pretty fun, but…”

“Just coffee. I have plans later.”

He conceded with a gracious wink. He didn’t even complain when she told him she’d meet him at the café. In fact, his smile implied that he knew exactly why she’d said it. Not because she was going to drive straight to the Denver art museum afterward, but because she was afraid of what would happen if he drove her home again.

In the end, she had a surprisingly nice time. Jamie was easier to talk to than she’d expected. Oh, sure, talking to strangers was part of his job, but when they dared to step into political waters, he was thoughtful and informed. And he made her laugh. They sat on a shady patio. Olivia had a skinny latte. Jamie had an iced caramel macchiato with extra whipped cream.

When he walked her to her car, she felt as nervous as a teenage girl. With good reason, because when she opened her car door, she was caught between the door frame and the car, and Jamie leaned close.

“Can I call you?” he asked.

“Jamie…” She couldn’t keep this up, but she couldn’t resist forever.

“Just say yes,” he whispered. And then he kissed her, and her mouth was too busy to say anything at all.

H
E’D LEFT HER WITH A KISS
. One damn kiss and nothing more. But even that made him smile. He’d never tell Olivia this in a million years, but dating her definitely felt more…grown-up than he was used to. Less like a hookup and more like time with an interesting woman. Not that he wouldn’t hook the hell out of her given the opportunity. That one kiss had left him hard as a rock. Granted, it had been a long, deep, wet kiss.

“Hell, yeah,” he murmured as he pulled into the brewery parking lot. He walked around the whole building before going in, to be sure all the doors and windows were secure and the sidewalks were clean, but when he walked through the front door, he was still lost in thoughts of Olivia.

“Where the hell have you been?” his brother, Eric, asked before Jamie’s foot was even across the threshold.

All the pleasant warmth suffusing Jamie’s muscles snapped to ice. “I told you I’d be in later on Thursdays from now on.”

“You said you’d be in at four. It’s almost 4:30.”

Jamie felt his blood swell. Heat rose to his skin. He wanted to snap back. He wanted to yell that he’d put in sixty-two hours last week and he’d fucking come in thirty minutes late if he felt like it. There wasn’t even one customer in the front room, for God’s sake.

But he couldn’t say that, because the last thing he wanted was for Eric to start asking questions about where Jamie had been, or why he’d suddenly decided to take Tuesdays off instead of Mondays, or why he needed to come in late on Thursdays. So Jamie used all his strength to hold those words in and simply muttered, “Sorry.”

Eric looked surprised. Maybe he’d been angling for a fight. But he gave in gracefully and said, “All right. Sorry I snapped at you.”

Was it really that easy? They fought like cats and dogs most of the time, which was why Jamie was keeping his ideas secret until he had them fully fleshed out. If he didn’t have everything in perfect order, Eric would shoot the plan down before the first words left Jamie’s mouth. In fact, he’d already shot this particular plan down once, but Jamie wasn’t giving up.

“Anything going on today?” he asked Eric.

“Wallace finally got in that Mexican chocolate he was waiting for. He’s going to try another round of the spicy chocolate stout.”

“Great.”

“He wants to call it Devil’s Cock.”

Jamie’s eyebrows flew up. “Devil’s Cock?”

“Yeah. With a rooster on the label.”

“And what did you say to that?”

Eric smirked. “I told him I’d think about it. After that Santa Fe show, I decided we could dare a bit more edginess. There’s not a lot of subtlety out there right now.”