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“We’re besties.” Aubrey hooks an arm through Madison’s and tilts her head at me, wrinkling her nose like she’s trying to figure me out.
“Anyway,” Madison breaks in, shooting her roommate a look I can’t interpret, “I don’t need a ride. Or a bodyguard.” Madison narrows her eyes, which makes her tip back and lose her balance. I catch her elbow again. “Were you acting as my bodyguard tonight? Is that why you stayed?”
“I didn’t stay,” I insist, which is foolish, since she’s already caught me in the lie.
“Fine. You didn’t stay.” She smiles like it pleases her that I’m an idiot.
I need to walk away.
Leave.
I don’t know why I’m having such a hard time.
I force myself to stand and reluctantly release her elbow. Then I take her guitar strap off her shoulder. “Want me to take this so you can enjoy yourself?”
Her pretty lips form a little round “O” of surprise. Then she recovers quickly. “You see?” she says, poking my arm. “Youarenice. You just don’t want anyone to know it.”
“I’m the farthest thing from nice you’ll ever meet, Ms. Evans. Don’t forget it.”
With that parting shot, I carry her guitar out of the place and walk to my car.
I need to go to the Berkshires to let my wolf out. The need to run, to hunt, to kill, nearly blinds me.
I should fire Madison Evans. Right away.
Before I cross the point of no return.
* * *
Madi
“Your big, bad boss istotallyinto you,” Aubrey says, turning a spoonful of Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream upside down, so she can lick it when she puts it in her mouth.
We’re sharing a pint for dinner. I shove my spoon in the carton and dig deep. “He literally admitted to being turned on by the sight of my skin.”
“And you should’ve seen the way he was looking when he had his arm around you. I mean, he was nothing–nothing–like what you described.”
“I said he was beautiful.”
“You said he was beautiful but a nightmare on wheels. That guy last night? Total gentleman. Hot, rich gentleman. You should go for him.”
I give her an exaggerated look of horror. “Who are you, and what have you done with my best friend Aubrey?”
She laughs. “What?”
“Um…rich asshole? No thank you.”
“Let’s examine the facts. Rich asshole who seems to hate everyonebutyou. That’s kinda hot.”
I roll my eyes and snatch the ice cream carton away from her.
She starts ticking off on her fingers, starting with the thumb.
“Gets all hot and bothered when you wear peek-a-boo dresses…insists on driving you to your gig because he doesn’t want other men seeing you in your sexy outfit…stays and acts as bodyguard–or” –she uses a new finger even though it’s anornot anand– “stays because he wants to see how amazing you are as an 80’s girl-band-member, and finally” –she moves onto the other hand– “Takes your guitar with him so you can stay and have a good time.” She finishes with anI rest my caseface. “That’s hot.”
Tingles race across my skin–a flush of recognition at what she’s saying.
I roll through all the rude things he does. How poor Indira was terrified of him. How quick he is to make unreasonable demands and berate all manner of small mistakes.
