The Bad Boy's Dance (51 page)

             
“I can’t wait to see you in the hall every day,” she blurted. Derek blinked, but she continued. “I love how you fiddle with your buttons when you’re nervous, I love how smart but modest you are, I love how you have no idea that you could have any girl you want.”

              “I love you, Derek,” she exhaled. “I really, really love you.”

              A breathtaking smile spread over his face. “Say it again.”

              Jodi licked her lips. “I love you.” The words were barely out of her mouth before Derek had her pressed against the car, hand in her ringlets and warm breath mingling with hers.

              “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to hear you say that,” he whispered.

              Jodi smiled, but a fission of panic went through her chest.

              “Oh,” Derek added, almost as an afterthought. “In case it wasn’t blatantly obvious, I love you too. I love you so much that if you ever ask me to keep our relationship a secret again, I’m kidnapping you and heading to Bermuda.”

              They grinned at each other like fools, and Derek was leaning towards her when-

              “Oh my gosh,” Jodi gaped.

              “Is that Spencer?”

Spencer

              “I’m in a sexual rut!” Spencer whined, throwing himself over the table.

              Caleb sighed. “Please remove yourself from my table.”

              They’d been at this for an hour now, with Caleb attempting to finish his paperwork and Spencer routinely interrupting by bodily demanding attention.

              Phoebe clapped the flour from her hands and grinned. Spencer knew she was fond of him. “Why are you in a rut, Spencer?”

              The bell tinkled over the door to the store before he could answer. Phoebe smiled as a rush of customers entered, inhaling the sweet scent of her pastries and eagerly perusing her glass cases. Spencer pouted until she redirected her gaze to him.

              “As I was
saying
,” he began huffily, perching on the edge of Caleb’s table and crossing his ankles haughtily. “I haven’t hooked up in a
month
. A freaking month. Four weeks. Thirty days. A gazillion hours.”

              “Haven’t things been hectic for you at work, though?” Phoebe inquired, sheathing her hands in mitts as she waited for the oven to ding with her completed cupcakes.

              Spencer was a judge on a baking show. He attended events, briefings, seminars, and about a million other lame things that didn’t involve him actually eating.

              Maybe all the food had made him fat. He glanced down worriedly and relaxed when he saw his flat tummy and shaped claves. He still had it going on.

              The bell tinkled again, and Spencer reflexively glanced at the door, idly wondering when he could sneak a donut from Phoebe’s display.

              Thoughts of food flew from his mind when he registered who’d just entered the store.

              She’d only gotten sexier with age. From an off-the-shoulder black blouse to her skintight jeans and heels Spencer wanted wrapped around his waist, the girl electrified every part of him.

              “Is that…?”Caleb’s jaw dropped and he laid his pen on the table.

              Phoebe’s eyes were wide, and she had a terrified -sophomore expression that he hadn’t seen since he’d first met her.

              Brenda Curtis arched a brow when her gaze locked with Spencer’s. A sly smile was the only indication she remembered their little rumble years ago. “Well, well, well,” Spencer declared, sliding off the table and throwing his arms open. “Look who the cat dragged in.”

              Phoebe shot daggers at him. Caleb was still scrutinizing Brenda like she was a mythical creature from a far-off land.

              Brenda rolled her eyes and sashayed forward, bracing her nails against the counter as she leaned forward. Phoebe swallowed and knotted her hands in her apron. “May I help you?” she squeaked.

              “I need a dozen cupcakes for a friend’s graduation party. If you sell cake pops, I’ll take two dozen of those too. Anything but red velvet,” she added with a curl of her lip.

              Spencer was more interested in the shape of her ass in those jeans than her order. He sidled right up to her and flashed his most winning grin. “Hey there.”

              Brenda held up one finger, placed it against Spencer’s forehead, and extended her arm. She returned her attention to Phoebe. “You got that, Jenkins?”

              Phoebe nodded hastily. Caleb finally animated, coming to a stand next to his table. “Brenda.”

              She gave him a once-over and inclined her head. “Caleb.”

              And that was that.

              Spencer, once again feeling left out, rubbed his temples and scowled. He grabbed Brenda’s hand and tugged her out of the store, ignoring her indignant, “Hey!”

              When they were outside the shop, Spencer spun her to the side, pinning her against the wall and caging her in with his arms. Brenda gasped, sky blue eyes sparking with a mixture of irritation and…desire?

              “It’s been awhile, Curtis.”

              “Really? That’s what you dragged me out here to say? Oh boy, I can’t wait to see what else you have in store!”

              Spencer removed a hand from the wall to trap her bottom lip with his fingers and tug it gently. “See that mouth of yours hasn’t gotten better over the years.”

              Brenda sneered defiantly. “What can I say? I’m like fine wine. My essence only gets stronger with the years.”

              Spencer picked up her hand and pressed his lips to the inside of her wrist, never taking her eyes off hers. “I’ve always had a weakness for the sweet things in life.”

              He could have sworn he saw her eyes glaze over with lust before she yanked her wrist away. “Oh baby, you couldn’t handle me.”

              “I seem to recall doing just fine last time. Better than fine, if your rated X soundtrack was any indication.”

              Brenda didn’t so much as bat an eye. “Once behind a store at the mall hardly counts. I was eighteen, and you were twenty. Pretty sure half the performance was our sex drive.”

              Spencer frowned. He wasn’t used to sparring this much with someone who wasn’t a blood relative. And the kick he was getting from the back-and-forth with this woman was definitely something he didn’t experience with his relatives.

              A few customers leaving the store shot them strange looks, but Spencer was too preoccupied with the frustrating blast from the past in front of him. “We could go for another spin, test that theory out,” he offered, wiggling his brows.

              Brenda snorted. “Is that what you pass for charm?”

              Spencer was reaching the end of his rope. “No, but this usually does the trick,” he snapped. Stepping forward, Spencer tugged her chin up and kissed her.

              She was unresponsive for a moment. After a few seconds, however, her hands were in his hair, yanking him closer. Spencer grabbed her hips, propping her against the wall so she could wrap her legs around his waist. He moved even closer, deepening the kiss. It was wild and hot, a battle of wills in the most erotic way possible.

              Brenda panted as Spencer broke away to trail a line down her throat and press his mouth to her sensitive pulse point. Blonde hair mussed and pink lips swollen, Brenda was a sight for Spencer’s sore and sex-deprived eyes.

              “Get a room!” someone shouted across the street. Spencer casually shot them the bird. Brenda wiggled free from his hold, quickly fixing her appearance. She shot him a venomous glare and stormed back into the shop. Inside, Phoebe had boxed Brenda’s orders and was waiting with a cautious smile.

              Spencer watched her quickly pay, sign the recite, thank Phoebe, and grab the boxes. Then he watched as she struggled to carry the boxes.

              Opening the door as she staggered forward, he plucked a box from her load and sighed, beleaguered. “I thought we’d at least get to the fourth date before we went grocery shopping.”

              “I will cut you,” Brenda growled, moving towards her Lexus in a cloud of fury. She snatched the box from Spencer’s grip and gingerly placed it in the back seat.

              As she rounded to the driver’s seat, Spencer took advantage of her lapse in judgment and hopped into the unlocked car.

              Brenda closed her door, started the engine, then braced her hands on the wheel. “I want to do you but I also want to do you in.”

              “Mm, I’m down,” Spencer approved, sticking his feet on the dashboard and grinning.

              Brenda banged her head against the window for a few seconds.

              Spencer hoped she didn’t give herself a concussion.

              “I’m dropping these off, and then we’re heading to my place,” Brenda decided. Every atom in Spencer’s body shot to attention, but he ignored the blood rushing through his veins.

              He tucked a strand of her hair behind an ear. “Finally.”

              Brenda reversed and easily merged the car into traffic. “Just for your information, I don’t do relationships. They’re messy and ugly. I haven’t the time or patience. So if you decide to get clingy, I won’t hesitate to call the cops.”

              Spencer grabbed her free hand and clutched it to his heart. “Where have you been all my life?”

              Brenda grumbled something under her breath. The car ride was surprisingly relaxing, at least for Spencer. He flipped through her iPod approvingly, playing deejay. When Brenda got to her friend’s house, she was in and out in a second. The trip to her place was wired, full of expectant tension. Spencer scrolled through songs incessantly, anything to calm his nerves.

              No luck.

              When Brenda got to her building-a modern and sleek testament to the new contractors in town- it took less than a minute before she’d parked her car, locked it, and had a fistful of Spencer’s shirt in her hand.

              He didn’t need any more persuading. They practically sprinted to the elevator (an amazing forty seconds of pawing at each other until they reached her door). Spencer waited impatiently while Brenda took an eternity to find her key and fit it in the lock.

              When she finally got the door open, Spencer picked her up, relishing her surprised squeal, and kicked the door closed. He kissed her, losing himself in her scent, her taste.

              He tripped over a step and onto the couch. Pushing a knee into the cushions and one on the floor for balance, Spencer frantically worked to pull off her blouse while she yanked at the hem of his shirt.

              “Okay, count of three, we break and remove,” Spencer said after two more minutes of struggle.

              “Go!” Brenda burst, and Spencer wrestled his shirt off. When he looked back, Brenda was lying in her bra, blouse tossed aside. Wow, she worked fast. He paused and took a minute to just
see
her.

              Long golden strands of hair fanned around her like rays of sunlight. Her lips were pink and swollen from his kisses, and her eyes drew him in with their depth.

              She was absolutely beautiful.

              “Oh, fuck,” Spencer groaned, sitting back on his heels.

              “That’s the plan,” Brenda quipped, propping herself up on her elbows. “Got a problem there?”

              Spencer sighed and clenched his teeth when a strand of her hair curled enticingly against her bare collarbone. Of all the times to have a freaking epiphany, it had to be now?

              “I don’t…ugh. I don’t want another meaningless fling. I’ve been doing them for quite a while. I’ve had offers on the table. I just haven’t taken any. You…you’re different.”

              Brenda looked horror-stricken. She scrambled for her blouse and stood, pulling it on angrily. “Are you kidding me with this? What did we literally
just
talk about?”

              Spencer stood, throwing his hands in the air. “You think I like this? Flings are
fun.
Flings are
easy.
Unfortunately, flings are also with girls I don’t want to call back, but with you…” he paused, rubbing his forehead. “I wouldn’t waste a second.”

              Brenda pursed her lips. Her annoyed expression withered when her gaze dropped to his chest and abs, but she steeled her resolve. “I don’t do romance. It’s bitten me in the ass for as long as I can remember.”

              Spencer stepped towards her, cupping her adorably irritated face in his hands. “The thing with me is, I’d rather be the one who gets to bite your ass. Why would I let something else do it for me?”

              “That doesn’t make sense!” Brenda wailed.

              “It doesn’t have to!”