Swimming For Seduction (Sexy As Sin)

4. Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Ricki

Tyler’s smile fades as he looks at Cory who appears to be doing everything he can to look busy behind the bar. Before either of them can speak, the guy at the other end of the bar calls for a refill and Cory rushes toward him with obvious relief.

“Did you drive here tonight?" Tyler asks as returns his attention to me. When I nod, he lets out a huff. “And how were you planning on getting home?”

He strolled in here all smiles and laughs until he looked at me. I’m not sure if the change is because of me in general, or the fact that I’ve obviously been drinking.

“Uber?” My answer comes out sounding more like a question since I’m caught off guard. When he just raises a brow, I shrug. “You’re not in uniform. You don’t have to ‘serve and protect’ right now. Can’t you just let it go?”

“No,” he scoffs. “I can’t just let it go. Cory is serving minors and one of them doesn’t have a safe ride home. I could call this in and have someone on duty come arrest him.” Tyler studies my wide-eyed gaze for a few seconds before his lips tilt up with a mischievous smirk. “Or you could let me drive you back to your dorm.”

Before I can spit out any of the vitriol going through my head about extortion and blackmail, Livvy speaks up from my other side. “You’re the best, Tyler. Isn’t he the best, Ricki?”

I turn to face her when her elbow connects with my arm and the pleading look on her face has me caving. Of course, I don’t want Cory to get into trouble for serving me alcohol. I just wish there was some other way to avoid it than getting into a vehicle with my new nemesis.

“Sure,” I say through my clenched teeth. “He’s the best at something , I’m sure.”

“Thank you,” Livvy mouths before she giggles at my eyeroll as I hop off of my bar stool and walk toward the exit.

“Smart girl,” Tyler whispers in my ear and a chill runs through me despite the warmth of his body at my back as he reaches around me to open the door.

If I were really a smart girl, I’d be trying to befriend him to pave the way for me to meet my brother on my terms. But every time I’m around him, all I want to do is push his buttons. Something about him just ignites my rebellious streak.

Tyler

I’m glad Livvy spoke up when she did because I could see the argument in Ricki’s eyes. She wanted to mouth off and then I’d have no choice but to follow through with my threat. I know Cory often serves Livvy at the bar even though she doesn’t turn twenty-one for a few more months, but this is the first time I’ve caught him serving anyone else underage. I’ll definitely be having a conversation with him about it soon. But for now, my focus is on getting Ricki back to her dorm.

“Give me your keys,” I say as I stop next to the only four-wheeled vehicle in the parking lot. I laugh at her confused expression as her eyes dart around the lot only to see motorcycles. “I’ll take an Uber back to pick up my bike,” I tell her.

“Or you could just let me take an Uber home,” she barks as she crosses her arms in front of her chest.

“Not happening,” I insist as I hold out my hand. “Keys.”

I could let her take an Uber home, but then I wouldn’t get the chance to be alone with her, and I’m not passing up the chance now that I have it. Something about her draws me in and I’m almost desperate to know more about her. Why is she so combative? Why doesn’t she know her brother? Why is she in Thorngrove if she doesn’t want him to know about her? Why do sparks fly every time we’re in the same vicinity?

She turns to eye my bike where it’s parked next to her small SUV. My Ninja is smaller than Cory’s GSX-R or Slade’s Indian, but I’ve done enough upgrades that it’s almost as fast and it handles like a dream. When Ricki’s gaze meets mine with excitement, I shake my head.

“No way,” I tell her. “I’m happy to give you a ride another time, but not when you’ve been drinking.”

“It’s not like I’d be the one driving.” Disappointment seeps into her sharp tone and I almost give in, but my protective instinct won’t let me.

“A passenger on a bike can cause a crash just as easily as the driver,” I tell her seriously. “I said I wanted you to have a safe ride home and letting you on the back of my bike intoxicated is definitely not safe.”

“Fine,” she relents with a huff and finally pulls her keys from her pocket to drop them into my hand. Once we’re both buckled, she turns to face me before letting out a curt, “Thank you.”

I laugh at her sour expression as I pull out onto the road. “That tasted bitter, huh?” I glance over to see her scowl when I stop at a red light. “It’s okay. I’ll sweeten you up eventually."

“I doubt that,” she says, but I don’t miss the grin that’s fighting her clenched jaw.

I use the rest of the short drive toward the dorms to try to get another reaction out of her, but there are no more grins or words from her other than the occasional direction. I’m beginning to think I’m wasting my time when we pull up to her dorm and I see the name of the building… Sheppard Hall .

“It must be fate,” I tease as I point toward the bold blue letters over the entrance, earning me an eyeroll.

“Ugh! You’re insufferable,” she huffs as she opens her door and steps out of the vehicle.

“Oh, I could make you suffer, alright,” I say under my breath as I round the back of the SUV to walk her to her door like the gentleman my momma raised me to be.

Despite the attraction between us, I don’t think I’ll ever break through her shell with my country boy charm. So, I’ll just have to find another way in. Since she’s obviously in some kind of rebellious phase, it shouldn’t be too hard to keep catching her in trouble. Maybe if I help her out of trouble enough, she’ll let her guard down.

“I’ll be seeing you, firecracker, ” I say as she steps through the doorway.

“Not if I see you first,” she shoots back before slamming the door between us.

Just like our first encounter, my dick turns to stone at her meanness, and I shift uncomfortably as I wait for my ride back to Ball Busters.