Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
JESSICA
“You did this on purpose.”
My brow quirks up as I give her my most innocent expression. “Me? What makes you think that?”
Mae shoots me a death glare. “Save the innocent act for somebody who will believe it, Jessica Richards.”
I chuckle softly at the use of my full name, unable to hold it back, which only annoys her further.
“Stop it,” Mae hisses, elbowing me. “But seriously, why was this necessary again? You know I don’t do cops.”
I give her a pointed look. “Because I need a third wheel, and you were teasing, so I figured it serves you right.”
“Girl, the only kind of third wheel I can be is the one in the bedroom.” Mae shakes her head, her wavy locks bouncing slightly. For somebody who doesn’t want to go on this date, she sure as hell put some effort into her appearance. “Did you see that man? Like, actually look at him? He’s fine.”
I can feel the color start rising up my neck at her comment, so I bite the inside of my cheek.
No, I didn’t look at Matthew shirtless.
Liar, liar, pants on fire.
Okay, at least I tried not to look.
But it was easier said than done.
Because, hot damn.
Although, seriously, does that man not own a shirt? This was the second time in a matter of a few weeks that I’ve seen him shirtless.
But it was a sight.
It was.
There was just something primal about seeing him like that. Standing in the ring. The sweat clinging to his golden skin, accentuating all the dips and valleys of his body. The deep V that leads to the shorts that were hanging low on his hips.
But then he got hit, and I was transported back in time, and all I could see was a much younger Matthew standing in my room in the middle of the night.
His still boyish face was covered in bruises, but even they couldn’t extinguish the fire blazing in his dark eyes as they looked into mine, anger and pain shining in their depths.
“You totally checked him out,” Mae teases, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“D-did not.”
My weak protest has her laughing. “You’re a shit liar, Jessy.”
“Why does everybody keep saying that?”
Mae rolls her eyes. “Because it’s true? You cannot lie to save your life.”
“Well, there is nothing wrong with that.”
“I guess.” Mae shrugs. “It sure does come in handy, but I digress. I think he’ll be good for you.”
“Good for me?” My brows pull together. “The man drives me crazy.”
“Like I said, good for you.”
I glance at my friend. “How is that good for me?”
“It means that he rattles you. Makes you feel.”
My heart does a little flip, but I press my lips together, determined to ignore it.
“Feel the need to strangle him, maybe. And that can only lead me to one place. Jail.”
Mae smirks. “Does it include the man in question handcuffing you and taking you there?”
My mouth falls open, which only makes my best friend grin wider.
“You’re incorrigible,” I mutter, shoving her away. “Why don’t we talk a little bit about you and your reaction to Nico Rivera for a change?”
That has her sobering up. Mae frowns. “There is nothing to talk about.”
“Mmhmm… I can totally see that.”
“There isn’t. I don’t even know the guy. Not that I care to know him.”
The doorbell rings just then.
Mae and I exchange a look, and I’m pretty sure her deer-caught-in-the-headlights expression matches mine. The air in the room is filled with tension as the silence stretches.
“Well…” I nibble at the inside of my cheek. “I guess it’s showtime.”
Mae presses her lips together in a tight line. “You’re so lucky I love you.”
I grab my bag and hand Mae hers as we walk to the door. “The luckiest considering I know your no dating cops rule.”
Mae gives me a side-eye. “No dating anyone in law enforcement, more like it.”
“Well, look at the bright side, it’s fake, so… I guess that doesn’t count?”
Mae lets out a huff in frustration just as the doorbell rings again.
“We’re coming! Just hold your damn horses.” She abruptly pulls the door open and glares at Nico, whose finger is still hovering over the bell. “Of course it’s you.”
I look over her shoulder and find two tall frames standing on my porch.
Matthew’s gaze is zeroed in on me, as if he was waiting for me to show up; those brown eyes flaring slightly when they connect with mine.
My mouth goes dry as I watch him. His face is clean shaven, and the bruise on his jaw colors his skin in shades of blue and purple.
His hair is styled in that perfectly messy look that makes you want to sink your hands in it and tug at it as he kisses you.
Not that he’s going to kiss me.
Or that I would want him to kiss me.
Because this is fake.
As if he can read my mind, the corner of his mouth tips upward. The forest-green polo that he’s wearing accentuates the faint ring of green surrounding his pupils.
“Hi, Doc.”
“No. I changed my mind.”
Blinking, I shift my gaze back to my friend, just in time to see her start to close the door in Nico’s face, but he’s faster, his palm pressing against the hardwood.
“Don’t act like a brat.”
I bite the inside of my cheek, trying to hold back my chuckle, as I stare at them.
Nico’s face is serious, but I can see a twinkle of amusement shining in his eyes as he looks at my fuming best friend.
Mae grinds her teeth as she tries to push harder against the door. “Who’re you calling a brat?”
Nico shrugs, not seeming in the least bit worried. “You, since you’re apparently determined to act like one.”
Mae’s mouth falls open, but she quickly closes it, pressing her lips together. “Well, then by all means, you can go back from where you’ve come from and avoid my bratty attitude, Mr. Oh-High-and-Mighty.”
He just lifts his brow. “And miss spending the night in your lovely company? I don’t think so.”
“I told you I’m not interested.”
My brows shoot up at that little tidbit of information. She never mentioned that particular part to me; then again, Maisie is apparently determined not to talk about Nico at all.
Mae lets go of the door and crosses her arms over her chest. “Hopefully after this, you’ll be done stalking me.”
“Stalking you? You wish.”
She eyes him from head to toe. “No, honey, you wish.”
His eyes narrow, the two of them locked in a staring contest.
“Are you kids done now?” Matthew asks, breaking the silence.
“No!” they say in unison.
He just looks between them and shakes his head. “At least you agreed on something.”
A soft chuckle bubbles out of me, which makes Mae turn around and shoot me a glare. “Oh, now you find this funny.”
“Don’t look at me. This whole thing started with your brilliant idea, so you don’t really get to complain.”
“Of-fucking-course,” Mae grumbles under her breath. “Because that’s just my luck. Ugh, let’s just get this over with already.”
Slipping out of the house, I lock the door. A shiny black Ford truck is parked behind my car, along with a sleek bike.
I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “Maybe we should just take my—”
“No.” Matthew’s tone leaves no room for argument as he places his hand on the small of my back. I close my eyes, fighting a shudder.
“Well, I’m not getting on that death trap,” I mutter.
His touch is barely discernible, but there is no denying the steady presence skimming against my spine, the warmth of his skin seeping through the fabric separating us.
What the hell did I get myself into?
“Not today.”
I tilt my head back and shoot him a glare. “Not ever.”
Matthew just hums, clearly amused. “We’ll see about that. But this is a date, and while it might not seem like it most of the time, I know how to mind my manners.”
Matthew opens the back door for me, and I slip into Nico’s truck and slide to the other side so Mae can sit next to me. Only, when I turn around, it’s not Mae who’s sitting in the open seat.
“What are you doing?” I hiss softly so only he can hear me.
I don’t know what, if anything, Nico knows about our little… situation.
“Putting on a seat belt.” He clicks his in place and then leans against me so he can do the same for me. “It’s required by law. Can’t be getting into trouble.”
“I know that! I meant, what are you doing here?” I point at the seat he’s occupying, although, really, his presence takes over the whole back seat. He’s just too big. Too hard. Too much.
He leans back, his legs spread wide, his knee bumping against mine. And sitting in such close confines, I can smell the familiar spicy scent of his cologne filling the space. Overtaking it. Enveloping me.
“That’s what people on a date do, Trouble. Did you date such losers that you’re unfamiliar with the concept?”
I grind my teeth, holding back the answer that’s on the tip of my tongue.
I tilt my head toward the front of the truck where Nico and Mae have climbed inside, completely stuck in their own world, their fight still going strong. “Do you seriously think that’s a good idea?”
“They’re stuck together for the rest of the night; might as well get it all out before we go out in public.
” He eyes them for a moment before leaning toward me and whispering, “Although, I’m not sure if they’ll kill each other or rip their clothes off and fuck each other’s brains out. What do you think?”
My lips part, heat rising into my cheeks at the crude words. Matthew slowly turns, those brown eyes fixing on me. The corners of his eyes crinkle as a self-satisfied gleam shines from their depths.
He’s enjoying this.
He loves to rattle me.
A memory sparks from the back of my mind, where I had kept it firmly locked away. It seems that more of them are slipping past my defenses now that he’s back.
Matthew sitting next to me in the quiet library, his brown eyes boring into mine. His softly whispered words. The smiles he gave so rarely, except when he would say something that would make me blush.
Soft fingers skim over my cheek as Matthew extends his hand and tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear.
“Wh-what are you doing?”
“Fixing your hair,” he whispers, his voice low.
I swallow hard. “We said no touching.”