Bad Boy Done Wrong

by Kylie Gilmore

  “Depends what the book says,” she said with a grin. “Do tell.”

  “Yeah, I want to hear this too,” Ally chimed in.

  “Bah. I didn’t read it either,” Josh said, meeting Zach’s eyes for a moment before shifting to the dining area. “It was all Ethan’s idea. Poor guy lacks experience. Someone should warn Hailey off.”

  “Eth’s got two women interested in him,” Zach said casually. “Looks like he’ll get experience real soon.”

  Josh narrowed his eyes at Zach. Carrie glanced back to find Zach grinning. Okay, then. She bit back a smile.

  Ally changed the subject, probably trying to hold off another Josh-Hailey smackdown. Their frenemy thing had gotten a little out of hand lately. They were a little sharper and snippier than just a casual joking/flirting/bantering back and forth. Her friend Lauren, a natural peacemaker, had tried to smooth things over between the pair, encouraging them each to be the bigger person and outsweet each other, with zero results.

  Hailey strode over, standing next to Ally, and announced for the benefit of everyone in the bar, “Welp, Ethan has a new girlfriend, Cali Boggs. She’s pretty kick-ass and it seems serious.” She flipped her strawberry blond hair over one shoulder. “Super classy too,” she added before saying in a lower confidential tone, “Good thing I realized Ethan and I had zero chemistry. We’re so much better off as friends.” She didn’t sound upset in the least. In fact, she sounded cheerfully relieved, probably because everything had worked out. Now Ethan was clearly not a sex addict, with a classy girlfriend, and Hailey could go back to what she liked best—helping other people find love. Carrie suspected Hailey had never experienced love herself, but she never wanted to make Hailey feel bad about that, so she kept her mouth shut.

  Hailey turned and took in Carrie sitting in Zach’s lap. “Hello. You two look happy.”

  “We are,” Carrie said, hoping to avoid any further embarrassing questions.

  Zach made a noise that might have been a grunt of agreement, his hand still sprawled low on her belly, the heat and intent revving her up. He knew what he was doing to her since she freely shared how he made her feel physically. She couldn’t help herself. Passion was still such a new thrilling experience that she just blurted everything in her excitement.

  Josh smirked at Hailey. “Looks like you’re running out of people to set up, princess.”

  Hailey lifted her chin. “What about you?”

  Josh shifted, suddenly uncomfortable. “What about me?”

  “In my professional opinion—” Hailey paused dramatically “—you’re a die-hard bachelor in need of a woman to soften your harsh.”

  Josh crossed his arms, making his biceps bulge. “I’m not harsh. I’m charming.”

  “Ha!” Hailey returned. “Ha-ha-ha! That must be why you’re always alone.”

  Carrie sucked in a breath. All of their friends went quiet.

  Mad, Josh’s sister, piped up from a few seats away. “Harsh.”

  Hailey bit her lip. “Josh, I—”

  “You don’t know everything,” Josh returned easily, letting her off the hook. “I pick up women all the time.” He gestured Hailey over to the guys sitting at the other end of the bar. “Move along, princess, because I don’t see you with anyone either. Let’s see your pickup moves. If you have any. Looks like you crashed and burned with Eth.”

  Carrie glanced over to see Hailey making an unusually snarly face at Josh, who pulled his phone from his pocket and snapped a picture. “That face is going online.”

  “What do you mean?” Hailey asked.

  “Facebook, Insta, the works,” Josh replied, tapping a few keys and smirking.

  Hailey leaped forward, grabbing for the phone across the bar. “Gimme that, you beast!” She always called him old-fashioned names—scoundrel, cad, and beast being the top three—straight from the old-timey romantic comedy movies she loved. Josh called her one thing—princess.

  Josh leaned back, out of reach, and held up the phone again, aiming it at her. “Keep it up. Let’s see your pissed-off princess face.”

  Hailey growled. Josh snapped another picture and showed it to her.

  “I swear I will—” Hailey shut up quickly when Josh held up his phone again.

  “Video too,” he said with a smirk. “Keep it up.”

  Hailey seethed, her cheeks flushed bright pink. She pulled her phone from her purse and tapped a few buttons. Probably checking for notifications.

  Zach whispered in Carrie’s ear, “Josh doesn’t do social media. He stays off the radar.”

  Carrie immediately slipped her phone out of her purse and texted Hailey, letting her know. Girl code.

  Hailey’s demeanor completely changed as she read the text, from pissed off back to composed. She shot Carrie a grateful look, tucked her phone away, and stood next to Carrie, facing her nemesis across the bar. “Josh, our squabbling has become tiresome. I don’t want a showdown every time I come in here.”

  Josh tucked his phone in his back jeans pocket, his dark eyes lit with anticipation. “Yeah?”

  Hailey smiled her pasted-on beauty-queen smile. It popped up in high-stress situations. “I think we should go back to the beginning. Right the wrong so we can move forward.”

  Josh arched a brow.

  Hailey tossed her hair. “You owe me five hundred large.”

  Josh stepped closer. “You realize large means a thousand, right? I owe you five hundred. That’s it.” That was the grand total Hailey had previously paid Josh to be her escort at the many weddings she planned. Their arrangement had ended suddenly with the typical flare-up of tempers between them.

  Hailey lifted her chin, looked around to their friends, who were all watching and silently supporting her. Carrie gave her an encouraging smile. Hailey turned back to Josh. “Well, it’s large to me.”

  Josh snickered.

  Hailey soldiered on. “I would like that money returned so we’re on even footing.”

  Josh inclined his head. “Come and get it.”

  Hailey bristled. “No, you can give it to me.”

  “Here we go!” Mad chortled. The women shushed her. This was where things fell apart last time. Josh had the money at his apartment. Hailey refused to go there.

  Josh grinned devilishly. “I told ya it’s back at my place. All ya gotta do is—” his voice dropped low and taunting “—come and get it.”

  Hailey put her hands on her hips and retorted, “I’m not setting foot in that den of sin!”

  Josh threw back his head and laughed. Carrie had to wonder what exactly a den of sin looked like. Whips and chains? Stripper poles? Red velvet walls?

  “So you won’t bring it here?” Hailey asked.

  “Nope,” Josh replied.

  “Then I would like an escort.” She looked around to some of the men, her gaze landing on Zach.

  “Don’t put me in the middle of this,” Zach said.

  It didn’t matter. Josh was already stepping out from behind the bar, heading straight for Hailey. He stopped next to her and crooked his elbow, offering his arm in a gentlemanly way. The Campbell men were all very good with the gentleman manners.

  “Not you!” Hailey said, glaring at his offered arm.

  “Why not?” Josh asked. “I’ve escorted you before.”

  Carrie turned to Zach. “He means down the aisle.”

  “Not at our wedding!” Hailey exclaimed. “We’re not married. We’re not anything.”

  Josh let out a breath of clear exasperation. “What’s it gonna be, princess?”

  Hailey scowled. “Go away.”

  “Chicken.”

  “Don’t talk to me ever again. I mean it.”

  “Never?” Josh teased. “What if there’s a fire?”

  Hailey pursed her lips. “Then tell someone else.”

  “Tornado?” Mad put in, earning a dark look from Hailey.

  “Unlikely,” Hailey returned.

  Josh grinned. “Earthquake?”

  Hailey lif
ted her palms. “When was the last time Connecticut had an earthquake?”

  Carrie felt Zach chuckle under her. They were pretty funny. She was glad they’d gone back to their usual banter. She’d been a little worried there about hurt feelings.

  Josh kept going, looking thoroughly entertained. “Tsunami?”

  Hailey crossed her arms. “Now you’re being ridiculous. We’re too far inland for that.”

  Josh gave her hair a tug. “I’ll get you your favorite drink.” He walked back behind the bar while Hailey morphed from surprised to extraordinarily pleased.

  Ally got up from her bar stool. “Here, Hailey, take my seat and enjoy your drink. You’ve more than earned it.”

  “Thanks so much!” Hailey exclaimed. “I really appreciate it.” She took the offered seat and watched as Josh prepared her favorite drink, a mojito.

  He served it up with a flourish. “Bottoms up, princess.”

  Hailey grabbed the glass and paused, taking a moment to announce to anyone who happened to be listening, which was all of them, that she and Josh were officially at peace. She lifted the glass to her lips and then added with a small smirk, “No more fighting because we’re no longer speaking.”

  “Even during emergency weather situations,” Josh quipped.

  Everyone laughed.

  Hailey finished taking a long drink before lifting a finger to her lips in a gesture of shushing at Josh.

  “Ri-i-i-ght,” Josh said. “Not speaking.” Then he gave her a big wink.

  The women tittered. This was a callback to when Hailey had announced he wasn’t impotent and then gave a big wink to indicate she was joking (which, of course, had the effect of sounding like he actually was impotent). These two. Really. Out of control.

  Hailey let out a long dramatic sigh. “Okay. You may speak to me in emergency situations.” She took another sip of mojito and let out a happy sigh.

  Josh snapped a picture with his phone. “Mojito orgasm face. That’s definitely going online.”

  “Go for it,” Hailey said and took another blissful sip of her long-denied drink.

  Josh put his phone away and scanned the group. “Aw, come on. Who’s the rat?”

  Zach spoke up, taking the fall for Carrie. He must’ve figured out Carrie’s texting was spilling the beans to Hailey that Josh didn’t actually do social media. “Hailey probably noticed you didn’t have a Facebook account or whatever. Nice subterfuge, though.”

  “Subterfuge,” Josh muttered, scowling at Zach. “Big word. Thanks a lot, Professor.”

  Carrie looked back at Zach. “Professor?”

  Zach just shook his head and then whispered in her ear, “Let’s get out of here. I’ve got plans for you.” He set her back on her feet and rested his hand on the small of her back like he often did when they walked together. He waited, probably to see if she was on board. She was more than ready. Her libido was tuned in to his frequency and she wouldn’t refuse him anything. Except her heart.

  “Bye!” she told her friends.

  “Have fun!” Ally hollered.

  “Bring him by next Thursday after book club!” Hailey called.

  Carrie just waved, some part of her sinking at the cheerful sentiment, knowing that next Thursday was never going to happen. But she had tonight and she fully intended to make the most of it.

  “Why did Josh call you professor?” she asked Zach once they were outside.

  “Because I’m smart. Just like he calls Hailey princess because she’s beautiful.”

  “That’s why he calls her princess? I thought he was saying she was snooty.”

  “It always comes back to biology,” he said matter-of-factly.

  That struck her as an odd way to look at it. But before she could comment on that, he leaned down and kissed her. All thoughts flew from her mind once her body got the message it was time for her bad boy. Maybe everything did come back to biology.

  Chapter Twelve

  Carrie was a nervous wreck. She had to pull herself together before her parents’ vow renewal ceremony. She was only partially ready, had to leave in twenty minutes, and couldn’t make any decisions. “Ally! Help!” she hollered from her bedroom.

  Ally burst in, eyes wide. “What’s wrong?”

  “Which earrings look better?” She had one silver hoop and one pearl earring in.

  Ally walked over and flicked her on the arm.

  “Ow!” She rubbed her arm.

  “Don’t scream help unless it’s an emergency. You ever hear of the boy who cried wolf?”

  “Look at me.” She held up her shaking hands. “I’m falling apart.”

  “Geez, sit down.” Ally grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her to sit on the bed. “You look smoking hot in that dress.”

  Carrie glanced down at the white off-the-shoulder dress that cinched in at the waist. It was new. Somehow she couldn’t muster any enthusiasm for her outfit. “Thanks,” she mumbled.

  “Hey, you’re going to be fine,” Ally said firmly. “Just be polite to Edward and then ignore him. You’ve both moved on.”

  Carrie crossed her arms, hugging herself. “It’s not just that. Well, it is, but now I’m thinking I made a big mistake inviting Zach. My parents are going to meet him. They’re going to ask about him later and wonder why he’s not around anymore.”

  “Are you definitely not seeing him after this?”

  “Yes. He found out he got the job in Singapore. He leaves right after Christmas for two years. That’s halfway around the world! Besides, this was only supposed to be a short-term thing. He even said he doesn’t do long-term.” She pressed a hand to her churning stomach. “I feel a little sick just talking about it.”

  “So what’s wrong with seeing each other for a few months before he leaves?”

  “It’ll just make the goodbye harder. Anyway, it’s not a real relationship. Just a lot of sex. We barely speak to each other.” Well, that wasn’t exactly true anymore. Now that they slept in the same bed, they talked before they fell asleep. And at breakfast too.

  Was this a relationship?

  No. It felt too easy. They were just having some fun together. It wasn’t like they talked about anything that deep. Zach had been telling her about Indonesia, sounding very much like the tour guide he was.

  She could feel herself getting worked up again about seeing her ex. “There’s so many opportunities for this to go wrong! What if Edward’s a jerk to Zach? What if Zach gets mad and tells him off?”

  Ally rubbed Carrie’s arm. “That wouldn’t be so bad. He’d be defending your honor. Like a knight in shining armor.”

  “This is not a fairy tale.”

  Ally spoke gently. “I’m sure no one is going to make a scene at such a special occasion. Just think of your parents’ happiness. Be there for them.”

  She immediately felt calmer. It was in her nature to take care of other people. That was what made nursing such a good fit for her. “Thanks for the pep talk. You’re right. Today isn’t about me.”

  Ally stood. “Tell your parents congratulations for me. Now hurry up and get ready.” She left.

  Carrie headed for the bathroom, taking extra care with her hair and makeup. She felt so petty, but she had to show Edward that she’d moved on and was doing fine. Look what you missed out on! Who cares that you’re about to marry someone younger and more beautiful than me? Not that she’d seen the woman, but the way her mom had sounded so sympathetic when she’d told Carrie about her, she was sure she was gorgeous. Who cares? Their sex life probably sucked.

  A short while later, the doorbell rang. Ally got to it first. “Omigod! You look so different! Carrie, Zach’s here!”

  She rushed to the living room. “Hi! Omigod is right!”

  Zach ducked his head, smiling almost shyly. “I told ya I’d clean up.”

  She approached slowly, her heart thumping hard at the shocking transformation. He’d gotten a haircut, short with some spiky layers on top, his beard and mustache short in a neat trim, his tall
lean frame in a dark gray suit with a crisp white shirt and gray tie. It wasn’t that he looked bad. He looked very handsome. Just nothing like the alpha bad boy she knew.

  He leaned down to her ear, his hand cupping her shoulder. “You look beautiful.”

  “You too! I just can’t believe the difference! Let me see the back.”

  He turned and she ran her fingers through the short fine hair at the nape of his neck. No more thick hair to sink her fingers into, no more wave.

  She sighed, mourning the loss.

  He turned and tipped her chin up. “It’ll grow back.”

  “You look like a lawyer or something,” she blurted.

  His lips crooked to the side. “I’m not. Ready?”

  She nodded.

  He turned to Ally. “Nice to see you again.”

  Ally beamed. “Have fun!”

  She walked out the door with Zach, his hand resting on the small of her back as he led her to his truck. He even opened the passenger-side door and helped her get in so she wouldn’t mess up her nice white dress. She looked down at him all clean-cut and good manners in a suit he could wear to church. “My parents are going to love you,” she said forlornly.

  His lips twitched. “Would you rather they didn’t?”

  “They’re going to ask about you later. They’ll want to have you over for dinner.”

  He gazed into her eyes. “I’d be happy to go.”

  “You would?”

  He dipped his head and went around to the driver’s side.

  She smoothed her dress, her hands suddenly clammy.

  Zach got in and pulled out of the lot.

  “You know how to get there?” she asked.

  “Yeah.”

  He had grown up around here. She stared out the window, taking a deep breath as the panicky feeling returned. She didn’t know if it was Zach or Edward that was getting her worked up, she only knew she had to pull herself together fast. What was Zach thinking saying he’d have dinner with her parents? They’d both been very clear about this being their last night together. It was. It had to be. No matter how many unexpectedly sweet things Zach said, she had to hold firm to that for her own good. She tucked her trembling hands under her legs.

  Zach reached over and squeezed her leg. “You’ll do great. I got your back.”