The Naughty One

by Michelle Love

  “You talk like I have to leave, which I don’t.” He closed the door and went around the car to get in.

  Jess watched him and wondered why he’d say such a thing. When he got into the car, she asked him, “Have you ever been in a serious relationship?”

  He started the car, then smiled at her. “Not really.”

  “You’re kind of old not to have had one. That tells me you’re a player,” she said as she turned to look out the window. “So I’d like to remind you that I haven’t had much experience, and you should really be careful what you say to me. I might take some of it to heart. If you know what I mean.”

  “I hope you do take the things I tell you to heart, baby.” He pulled out of the parking lot and headed up the road as Jess sat there wondering why a man who was interested in her merely to win a bet would tell her so much bullshit.

  Anger began to rise up inside of her as they drove down the road. She became eerily quiet, a thing Griffin was acutely aware of. He had no idea if things would progress past the point of one of them winning the bet, but he knew he genuinely liked Jess.

  When he pulled into the parking lot of the local movie theater that was empty except for two other cars, Jess looked at him with a puzzled expression. “Are they even open yet?”

  “Let’s go find out,” he said as he tried to keep a smile off his face.

  Griffin had a friend back in Montana at the theater near his home that had an in with the movie industry. Calling in a favor, Griffin had been able to get a private screening of a film Jess’ aunt had told him she was chomping at the bit to see.

  Parking the car right up front had Jess looking at the empty and closed looking theater with a frown on her pretty face. “Why don’t you run up and see if the doors are locked? I think this place is closed, Griff.”

  Shaking his head, he got out of the car and came around to open her door. “Come on, baby.” He held out his hand, and she took it as she looked doubtfully at him.

  Jess remained silent as she and Griffin went up to the doors. When one was pushed open, and a man in a red uniform stood at it, she was pleasantly surprised as he said, “Hello, Mr. Houser and Miss Flannigan. Welcome to your private movie.”

  “Private?” Jess asked as she looked at Griff, who was all smiles.

  The usher hurried to grab them a tray of popcorn, nachos, and sodas, then led them to one of the theaters. “I bet you like to sit way up at the top,” Griff said as the usher looked at them.

  “I do. In the middle,” Jess said.

  Up they went, the usher leading the way. “Here you two go. And the movie will start just as soon as I get up there to start it.” He handed the tray to Griffin and headed out.

  “How’d you do this, Griff?” Jess took a handful of popcorn and popped it into her mouth.

  “I have my ways.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I hope you’ll hold my hand while we watch the movie.”

  “You never know. You might get that lucky, stud-muffin.” She smiled and took a sip of the soda.

  The lights lowered and the screen lit up. When Jess sat back as Griffin put his arm around her, she gasped as the name of the movie came up on the big screen.

  “Have you seen this one already?” Griffin asked her as he held back a laugh.

  “Griff! How?” She was stupefied, as she knew that the movie hadn’t been released yet.

  “I have my ways, baby. Stick with me and you’ll have lots of remarkable times.” He kissed her cheek and was more than surprised when she took his face in her hands and planted a big kiss smackdab on his mouth.

  It took him by surprise, as Jess had been a bit on the cool side with him for the first part of the date. When she ended their kiss, she looked into his eyes. “Thank you, Griff. I mean that. This is the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”

  He took her hands in his as he watched her eyes dance. “You’re welcome, Jess. I mean that too. I have to admit; you’re even more beautiful when you’re happy.” Then he pushed up the armrest divider that separated them and wrapped her in his arms. With a kiss to the top of her head, he knew he was going into uncharted territory with the young woman. He just couldn’t seem to stop himself, though.

  Chapter 19

  The quacking of little black ducks had Cait looking behind her to watch the birds as they swam across the pond. Phoenix had taken her to a lovely little park where they seemed to be the only patrons that afternoon, except for a strolling Italian acoustic band that made it seem as if they were in a remote Italian village rather than the middle of Massachusetts.

  A small, round, white linen clothed table with two chairs was filled with wine, oysters on the half-shell, and a cheese and fruit tray.

  Phoenix looked like some kind of a model as he sat in the sun’s glowing light. And Cait resembled a princess in Phoenix’s eyes. He couldn’t remember a time he’d thought anyone looked so beautiful.

  “Would you care to take a walk with me, Caity-cat?” Phoenix asked as he got up and offered her his hand.

  “Sure,” she said as she took it and got up.

  He slipped his arm around her waist, holding her close to his side. Cait wished things didn’t feel so natural and right with the man. Either that or maybe he’d tell her about the bet and add that he’d stepped out of it.

  But he never said a word about that. Instead, he said, “Since I’m coming over for dinner tonight, maybe we should make some plans for tonight too.”

  Cait tensed with the offer. “Why?”

  He stopped their procession down a small pathway through a grove of lovely trees. “Why?” he asked her as he took her by the shoulders. Then he kissed her with an easy kiss.

  Cait knew the kiss was meant to throw her off guard. Phoenix was trying to coddle her into thinking he had no ulterior motives. Thankfully, she knew better. When he pulled his lips from hers, leaving hers pulsing and wanting more, she said, “Phoenix, tell me what you want in life.”

  He had no idea what to tell her. He had all he could ever ask for and then some. He was rich. Didn’t have to work another day in his life. What more was there?

  But he knew she was looking to get to know him better, so he made some shit up. “I want it all, Cait. I want the big dream. You know?”

  “No, tell me,” she said as she took his hand and started walking again. “For instance, my big dream is to have a great career, develop some great tasting and nutritional foods—out of insects, mind you—and get people to not only buy them but like them too. And I want to have a family of my own one day, to share my life with.”

  “Like a hubby and some kids?” Phoenix asked as he hoped she’d be adding that she wanted that in the distant future.

  “Yes, like that. Maybe in the next year or so,” she said, freaking him out.

  Phoenix coughed and looked away. “You’re young, Cait. No need to go rushing into anything.”

  “Oh, I’d never rush into something that important,” she said. “Do you believe in love at first sight?”

  “No,” he said abruptly. Her words were making him think she was getting a bit too serious with him and he wanted to slow things down. “I think love grows on a person.”

  “I don’t know,” Cait said. “I think I’ll know I’ve found the man for me when I see him.”

  “Have you seen him yet?” Phoenix asked as he crossed his fingers and hoped she wasn’t about to tell him she was in love with him or some shit like that.

  “No, I haven’t,” she said, and she looked at him with a smile.

  He should’ve felt relief. Instead, he felt let down. “You sure about that, Caity-cat?”

  She nodded and pulled at him to go over to a swing set. “Would you push me on a swing, Phoenix?”

  “I will,” he said, but forced the issue about her not finding love at first sight with him. “You know, I saw a spark in your eyes when you first looked at me, Cait.”

  “I saw one in yours too,” she said as she sat on the swing and he went around behind her, pu
lling it back a bit then letting it go.

  As she swung, she had to smile and think to herself that Phoenix seemed to be trying to get her to admit she’d found love at first sight with him— a thought that was hilarious in her mind.

  Phoenix had no idea why it was getting to him so badly as he blurted out, “Well, I think you liked me when you first saw me.”

  “I didn’t know you at that time. So I didn’t like you just by looking at you. Did I think you were hot? The answer to that is hell, yes. But I didn’t like you until we talked and you kissed me. Then I liked you very much. But I have no idea about anything other than that. You’re a bit closed off. A bit secretive about who you really are. That’s off-putting.”

  He stopped the swing and went around to get in front of her then pushed her away from him as he said, “I could tell you more about myself tonight, after dinner. If you’d go with me somewhere afterward.”

  “Hmm, a hotel, maybe?” she asked with a grin as the swing came up to him and he pushed it back.

  He smiled, and the next time the swing came up, he grabbed it and kissed her, then let it go, and she swung away from him. It made her giggle, and he found the sound intoxicating. “Maybe a hotel. If you want to do that.”

  “I don’t.”

  “I think you would like to, but I won’t push you on that. So, how about drinks after dinner? Since you told me that your mother’s making haggis, I think I might need a drink or two.”

  “Knocking my mother’s cooking before you’ve even tried it, Phoenix?”

  “It’s guts cooked in a stomach, Cait! Yeah, I’m knocking it.” He laughed, but his tummy clenched as he thought about actually having to eat the dreadful stuff.

  “You said you like authentic Mexican food, Phoenix. Haven’t you ever eaten menudo?” she asked him as she put her feet down to stop the swing.

  “I have,” he said. “It’s delicious.”

  “And that’s guts too,” she said, then got off the swing, taking his hand again and walking to the edge of the pond.

  “But that’s different,” he argued.

  “I don’t see how,” she said as she swung their clasped hands between them. “If you don’t want to come eat, you don’t have to. I won’t hold it against you.”

  But he knew she would, so he changed his attitude about the dinner. Stopping, he pulled her up into his arms and leaned his forehead against hers. “You know what? I’d eat anything as long as I could be around you, Caity-cat.”

  With another kiss, he melted her heart, and she wished like hell it wasn’t all an act. She could see herself falling for the guy if he he’d been legit and not just trying to win a bet.

  Chapter 20

  The array of vehicles that were parked in front of the Flannigan’s home was dizzying. It had the neighbors gossiping about why on earth there would be a Lamborghini, a chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce, and a horse-drawn carriage all at the same time parked by the curb of the modest home.

  Kel and Ethan had taken their dates to the backyard as they waited for dinner to be served. Sipping on some Chardonnay, the two were talking about how pretty Ireland was in the summer and how Kel should take the time to visit Scotland that coming summer.

  When the back door opened with a loud squeak, the two saw four more people coming to join them. “Hey, you two,” Jess called out. “Mind if we join you?”

  Kel shook her head as Ethan frowned at his friends, who he considered to be interfering with his progress with Kel. The others took lawn chairs, pulling them close to their dates. “Wine me, Kel,” Cait said as she held out two wine glasses she’d picked up as she went through the kitchen. “Mom told me you brought a bottle out here.”

  “I did,” Kel said and passed the bottle of wine to her sister. “You can wine your own self, Cait.”

  With a shrug, Cait filled their glasses. Jess and Griffin brought a couple of beers with them and sat back in their chairs, looking at the night sky. Griff put his arm around Jess and whispered, “You cold, baby?”

  She wiggled into his chest. “A little.”

  Kel and Cait exchanged glances at their younger sister’s interactions with the man who was all about the bet and not all about their baby sister. When Kel noticed Griff was moving in to kiss Jess, she said, “So, how’d your date go, Jess?”

  Jess’s eyes had been glued on Griffin’s, and she had to drag them away to look at her oldest sister. “Fine. Well, not just fine. Great. Awesome. Beyond anything I ever could’ve imagined.”

  Kel looked at Ethan with a smile. “Not better than ours went, I guarantee.”

  Ethan took her hand and held it against his cheek as he said, “Ours was pretty spectacular, wasn’t it, love?”

  Kel nodded then looked at Cait. “And yours? How was it, Cait?”

  “Kind of dreamy. Kind of out of this world,” she said, then leaned over and kissed Phoenix on the cheek. “We’re going out for drinks after dinner tonight.”

  Ethan’s frown was noticed by Cait and Jess as he looked at Phoenix. “Is that so? Kel, would you like to go out for drinks too, my love?”

  “No, thank you,” Kel answered, making Ethan’s frown grow.

  “What? Why not?” he asked her.

  “An early morning is why.” She cupped his face in her hands. “Why? Are you going to miss me, Ethan?”

  “Yes,” he said then leaned in close. “Maybe you and I could go to bed early. In our own hotel room.”

  She patted his leg as she shook her head. “I don’t think so, Ethan.” Then she took the big sisterly approach with her errant middle sister. “Cait, you too have classes early in the morning. Perhaps you should think about canceling the drinks tonight. Dinner will be over around nine or so, and that’s plenty late enough. You’ve spent the entire day together as it is.”

  Cait wanted to spend more time with Phoenix, but she saw how Jess was with Griffin, and it made her feel that big sister responsibility that coursed through her too. “I think you’re right. Sorry, Phoenix, maybe another time.”

  Phoenix was crushed, in more ways than one. Sure, he’d thought he was about to win the bet, but he’d also really wanted to spend more time with Cait. “Aww, Caity-cat, come on. Just one drink, please.”

  With a sigh, Cait said, “No, sorry.”

  Jess got up and led Griffin into the house without saying a word to anyone. Kel and Cait were more than a bit worried about her and followed quickly. “Dinner’s most likely ready; come on,” Kel said as she got up and pulled Ethan to go with her.

  Ethan and Phoenix exchanged worried glances as they went inside the house. It was their third night there, and it looked as if none of them would be scoring that night, either.

  They found Jess and Griffin in the kitchen getting themselves two more beers and going to the dining room. Kel and Cait grew more worried about Jess and grabbed another bottle of wine, taking it to the dining room. There they found their parents and younger brother, Alex, sitting at the table.

  “Finally,” their father said. “We’ve been waitin’ on you all.”

  “You could’ve called us,” Kel said. “We were all in the backyard.”

  “You were told when dinner would be served,” their father said. “Are ya thinkin’ me and your mother are your servants? Just because these men spoiled your arses today doesn’t mean we’ll be continuing to do that tonight. And I do hope all of you girls remember that you have school early in the morning and we expect you to get to your classes. We don’t spend almost all the money we make on your education for you to skip classes.”

  “You pay for them to go to college, Mr. Flannigan?” Griffin asked as he eyed the nasty blob of gray that was sitting on top of a mountain of mashed potatoes.

  “I do,” their father said. “I’m in debt up to my eyeballs with all three of the girls in college. Alex is going next year, and that debt will only mount.”

  Griffin looked at Jess as she watched her plate and her cheeks were a shade of pink that told him she was embarrassed. H
e nudged her with his knee under the table as he smiled and said, “What a noble father you have there, Jess. You must be proud to call him your dad.”

  Jess was feeling anything but proud at that moment.

  Why did her father have to air their financial burdens to everyone?

  “Of course I’m proud of him. If it weren’t for his hard work then we’d have nothing,” Jess said.

  Kel, Cait, and Alex all mumbled agreements, but all felt embarrassed by what he’d said in front of the men too. Mrs. Flannigan gestured to the haggis that sat on the platter in the middle of the large table. “Don’t be shy. Get to making your plates.”

  Phoenix stared at the unappetizing ball of yuck that sat on an orange platter which did absolutely nothing to make it appear any tastier. The mashed potatoes were about all he’d eat, so he took the spoon that was standing up in them and put some on his plate.

  Cait gave him a nod. “Can you put some on mine too?”

  Ethan took the knife that was stuck in the haggis and cut it open. The smell that was released had Phoenix holding back a gag. Griffin was trying to psych himself up to eat the food. He’d had mountain oysters on many occasions.

  Ethan cut a wedge out and nudged Kel as he said, “Can you grab your father’s plate so I can serve this to him, love?”

  Kel smiled as she reached over to get her father’s plate. Her dad was sitting back without a smile on his face. Once Ethan had filled the plate with the haggis and mashed potatoes, Kel placed it in front of her father, who said, “Thank you.” He then took his wife’s plate and handed it to Kel. “Now for your mom’s.”

  Kel wasn’t surprised that Ethan had such good manners. If he hadn’t been a damn liar, she’d have been proud to call him hers. But he was a liar. A gambling liar, who only wanted her for one thing.

  Griff took the hint that Ethan was giving and filled Jess’s plate, then his. Phoenix was next to place some of the haggis on Cait’s plate and then a sliver of it on his own. “Is there any ketchup?” he asked as he searched the table.