Kissing the Bad Boy

by Winter Travers

  I rubbed his head and sighed. “I need to get clothes on, Mookie, so the battlefield is at least even.” Being wrapped in a fluffy white towel took away any harsh and serious tone of the words I had said to Harrison.

  Hell, he had called me Vixen. I didn’t even know where the hell he got that from.

  I was a computer geek that didn’t like to people and talked to a dog for companionship. That was the complete opposite of a vixen.

  “Clothes,” I said out loud. I could have stood there for the rest of the night stewing over the fact that Harrison had walked into my sanctuary unannounced.

  I pulled open the door, peeked down the hallway to make sure he wasn’t in sight, and sprinted to my room.

  First put clothes on, and then I was going to get to the bottom of Harrison waltzing into my apartment.

  I mean Jonas’s apartment.

  Right.

  *

  Chapter Five

  Harrison

  Calm down, Vixen…

  “The band has off till New Year’s Eve.”

  “No shit? So you’re not working on the new album?” Jonas asked. He was the only attorney I knew, but I had to wonder if all lawyers cussed as much as Jonas did. Half the time I forgot the guy spent more time in college than I did in high school.

  “We’re working on it, I meant we’re not touring or gigging until then.” I plopped down on the couch and kicked my feet up on the coffee table. There was a computer sitting on the other end of the couch with the screensaver flashing pictures of Mookie.

  “Not staying with your parents?”

  “Hell no. You know I can’t stomach being there for more than a day. Could you imagine me staying with them for three weeks?” I shook my head. “Pretty sure I’d end up sleeping in the shed.”

  “True,” Jonas laughed.

  “So she’s your sister?” I looked over my shoulder down the hallway to the bathroom hoping to catch a glimpse… I didn’t even know what her name was.

  “Ruby?”

  There it was. “Ruby.” I tested her name on my lips and liked it.

  “She’s hanging with Mookie and keeping an eye on the place while I’m gone.”

  “And how long are you gone for?” Looking around the apartment I could just sense the fact that she was making the place her own.

  “Six months. At least that's what I had initially thought.”

  “Initially?” I asked. Six months was a long freaking time to be gone, and he just made it sound like he was going to be gone longer than that.

  Jonas sighed. “I don’t even know when I’ll be back right now. There are a lot of balls in the air with my job, and I don’t know where any of them are going to land.”

  “So your sister gets a place to live while you live it up in Japan.”

  “That’s the gist of it. Ruby hasn’t had a place to live for the past ten years of her life. I at least know she’s not sleeping on some creeps couch while I’m out of the country.”

  “You’re a high flouting lawyer, and your sister is homeless?” I asked.

  “Homeless by choice.” I could tell by Jonas’s tone that his sister exasperated him more than a sister should. “Ever since she graduated high school she jumped from couch to couch while she was going to tech school and I guess she got so used to it that it was her way of life for a long time to spend her days in coffeeshops and then sleeping on any open couch she could find.”

  “So you’re saying you want her in your apartment.” And that meant I was going to have to find another place to stay. Maybe.

  “I don’t even know why I’m telling you this,” Jonas muttered.

  “Hey, you’re always here when I need a place to crash, so I can listen to you mumble and whine for a few minutes.”

  “I’m not whining,” he insisted. “I just worry about Ruby all of the time and with her being in my apartment I don’t need to worry about her so much anymore.”

  I had about twenty questions I wanted to ask about Ruby, the first one being if she had a boyfriend, but I didn’t think Jonas would want to hear me ask that. “I’m in town till the beginning of the year. I can keep an eye on her.”

  “While you sleep on my couch?” he laughed.

  “We both win this way. I make sure your sister is doing okay and I get a place to sleep that isn’t at my parent’s place.”

  “Or you could finally get your own place,” he suggested.

  “No point in that when I’m gone ninety percent of the time.” It had crossed my mind a time or two before to get my own apartment, but I didn’t want to waste the money on rent when I would only be there for three or four days a month.

  “I’ll just add you to the list of things I need to worry about.”

  I scoffed. “You don’t need to worry about me, bro.”

  “I suppose not. You are on the brink of stardom right now.”

  I hoped the Wild Preacher’s Club was on the brink of stardom. We definitely had a good shot at it. “I’m tired, and I know I’m gonna have to convince your sister to let me sleep on the couch so I’ll call you tomorrow to let you know what’s going on.”

  “Call me around this time. I’m twelve hours ahead of you guys. When you start your world tour you’ll get to experience the wonderful time zone differences. After almost three weeks I’m finally getting used to working when I’m normally sleeping there.”

  “It’s a rough life for a kick-ass lawyer.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” he chuckled. “Don’t give my sister too much crap, ya got me?”

  “Never.” I ended the call and tossed her phone on the coffee table.

  I grabbed her computer that was on the other end of the couch and set it in my lap.

  “What are you doing?” she shouted. Ruby skirted around the couch and plucked the computer out of my lap before I could even see what she had been looking at.

  “Damn, Vixen. Looking at porn or something?”

  She gasped, shocked, and snapped the computer shut. “I was not looking at porn. I was working.”

  “That’s what I call looking at porn, too.” I winked. “Working.”

  Her cheeks heated red and she stomped her foot. She was wearing baggy sweats and had her damp hair piled on top of her head. She was still hot as hell. Who would have known Jonas Meadows had a younger, hot sister.

  “I don’t know why you are sitting down. You’re leaving.”

  “I’m not,” I countered.

  She growled, and even that was cute. She sounded like one of those pissed off ankle biter dogs. “I don’t know why you are here and why you think you can just waltz into my brother’s apartment whenever you feel like it, but you need to leave. I need to get to sleep so I can get up early to work.”

  I spread my hands out in front of me. “Unless you’re sleeping on the couch, I don’t know what is keeping you from going to sleep.”

  “You are.”

  “Your brother likes the idea of me staying here to keep an eye on you. I’m here till the New Year.”

  “That’s three weeks,” she scoffed.

  I tapped my nose. “Right on the dot, Vixen.”

  “You can’t stay here.”

  It was as if she kept saying it she thought that I would disappear. “Ruby, I’m not going anywhere. I’m sleeping on the couch at night, and during the day you won’t see much of me. I’ll be in the studio.”

  “This my sanctuary. I didn’t have to worry about anyone being here, and now you are here.”

  “Ignore me,” I suggested. “I really will just need the couch to sleep on from midnight to seven, and then just a few cups of coffee in the morning.”

  “You can do that in a motel. There is one on the other side of town.”

  “Why aren’t you there then?”

  “Well, I…” she sputtered. “I’m watching Mookie for my brother.”

  I looked down at the dog that was sitting at her feet. Normally Mookie was all over me when I stopped by, but he had apparently grown an attachment to
Ruby. Couldn’t really blame the dog though. “It’s just for three weeks and you won’t even notice me here, Ruby.” I held up my hand. “Swear to God.”

  “Why didn’t my brother tell me about you before he left?” she asked.

  “Cause he never knows when I’m going to drop by.”

  “How do you not know when you are going to need a place to stay?”

  “I’m in a band, Vixen. I tour and play gigs out of town a lot.” I laid my arm on the back of the couch. “I’m the lead singer in Wild Preacher’s Club.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “That’s a bit of an odd name.”

  I chuckled and nodded my head. “It is, but it makes sense. It’s my brother and I with our cousins. All of our dads are preachers who hate the fact that we’re in a band.”

  “Still odd,” she whispered.

  “Well, as much as I love this conversation, I do need to get up early to get to the studio so I need to get a couple of hours of shuteye.”

  She folded her arms over chest. “How am I supposed to know that you aren’t going to try to kill me in the middle of the night or something worse?”

  “What’s worse than killing you?” I asked.

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m calling Jonas back.” She reached for her phone and I didn’t try to stop her.

  “You can, Vixen, but he’s going to tell you I can stay here. He wants me to keep an eye on you.” Sort of. Jonas didn’t entirely agree with the fact that I should watch her, but I knew it was going to help him from worrying about her.

  She looked down at the phone and frowned. “I don’t know why he is worried about me. I’m twenty-five years old. I can handle myself.”

  “He’s your brother. Pretty sure it’s part of his job to worry about you.”

  She looked at me. “You don’t know anything about that.”

  I shrugged. I had my own brother and felt the exact same thing that Jonas did. Was being in a band and traveling constantly the best thing for him? I had no freaking clue, but I knew I was doing the best I could. “Call him, Vixen, but just turn the lights off on your way to your bedroom. I really do need to get some sleep.”

  She watched me kick my shoes off and tuck them under the coffee table. I grabbed the blanket draped over the back of the couch and laid down with my head on the small pillow.

  “You’re actually going to sleep here?”

  I pulled the blanket over me and instantly smelt a sweet, fruity smell. My first whiff of what Ruby smelled like. All I wanted to do was bury my face in the blanket and pass out. “Yeah, looks like that is what I’m doing. Lock your door if you don’t trust me.”

  “How am I supposed to know that you don’t have a key?” she insisted. “I thought I was locked safely in the apartment and here you are sleeping on the couch.”

  I looked up at her. “I have no key to the bedroom.” I nodded toward the end table. “My keys are there. Take ‘em with you to bed if you want. I don’t need them.”

  She looked over at the table. “If I wake up to you standing over me, I’m gonna kick you in the nuts.”

  “So, sweet,” I muttered.

  She snatched the keys off the table and called for Mookie to follow her down the hallway.

  Mookie took a step toward the couch and gave me a quick lick across my face. “Thanks, mutt,” I laughed. “Go follow Ruby,” I whispered.

  Mookie happily trotted after Ruby and I fell asleep thinking that was one lucky dog.

  The couch was comfy but I wouldn’t mind sharing a bed with Ruby.

  The brunette vixen with a fiery temper and sweet smell was all I was going to dream about.

  These next three weeks were going to be quite interesting.

  *

  Chapter Six

  Ruby

  You can leave now...

  “Mookie?”

  Mookie whined and I cracked open an eye to see him standing at the door.

  “You hungry already, big guy?” I asked, groggily. I reached for my phone and saw it was almost seven. “I could set my alarm clock by your tummy, Mookie,” I grumbled.

  The darn dog never let me sleep past seven and today wasn’t going to be any different.

  “Ruby?” A knock sounded on the door, and I jack-knifed out of bed.

  Shit. I had forgotten that Harrison was sleeping on the couch. “Uh, what?”

  “I heard Mookie crying. You want me to take him for a walk or something?”

  Mookie spun two circles in front of the door, and his nails tapped on the hardwood floor while he danced around waiting for the door to open.

  “He’s just hungry.” I pulled the covers up to my chin even though Harrison couldn’t see me.

  “I’ll feed him then.”

  “Okay.” He could do whatever as long he went away.

  “Ruby?” he called again.

  “Uh, yeah?” What the heck did he want now?

  “You wanna let Mookie out so he can actually eat?”

  Crap. Mookie gave a loud, pathetic whine and bumped the door with his snout. I scrambled out of bed and unlocked the door. I opened the door wide enough for Mookie to squeeze out, and snapped it shut before Harrison could see into my bedroom.

  “Uh, I got coffee on if you want any.”

  Coffee was about the only thing that could make this situation any better. “Yeah, I’ll be out in a bit.”

  I heard him move back down the hallway toward the kitchen, then slumped against the closed door. How the hell had I forgotten Harrison was here?

  I had fallen asleep fuming after trying to call Jonas and only gotten his voicemail.

  Now I woke up not even remembering he was here until I heard his voice on the other side of my door. The only thing I could say was Jonas must trust Harrison if he wasn’t concerned about him being here when I was.

  Though Jonas thinking it was a good idea for Harrison to keep an eye on me was completely ridiculous. I was twenty-five years old for God's sake. Did he really think that I needed a babysitter? I had been living on my own for close to ten years and suddenly now he was worried about me? I was going to have to talk with him the next time he called. Though I’m sure it wasn’t going to be soon because he knew that I was more than likely going to give him an earful about Harrison.

  Normally I would wander into the kitchen every morning to have my coffee and breakfast still in my pajamas, but with Harrison in the kitchen that sure as hell wasn’t going to happen today. Not that my work clothes were much different from my pajamas.

  I took off my pajamas and tossed them in the hamper at the end of my bed. I grabbed a pair of buttery soft leggings that were swirls of pink, purple, and yellow and paired them with a black long sleeve shirt.

  I ducked into the master bathroom and managed to tame my wild hair. Harrison really had messed things up last night because I normally would have blow dried my hair before falling asleep. Last night I had drifted off with damp hair and woken up to a rats nest on the top of my head.

  After taming my hair and brushing my teeth I walked into the kitchen to see Harrison feeding Mookie bacon from his plate. “Pretty sure that’s not what I meant when I said he needed to be fed,” I tsked.

  Mookie licked his lips and sat on his butt to beg for more.

  “One piece won’t hurt him,” Harrison shrugged.

  “And neither will his dog food.” I pointed a finger at Mookie. “Doggies get doggie food,” I scolded.

  Mookie ducked his head but didn’t move from his begging post.

  “I’ll take him out before I leave to make sure he doesn’t have any accidents,” Harrison offered.

  That was one offer I wouldn’t say no to. “Leash is by the door.”

  Harrison chuckled and took a sip of his coffee.

  I grabbed my designated cup from the drying rack by the sink and moved to the coffee maker.

  “I figured that was your cup.”

  I grabbed the coffee pot and lifted the cup to look at it. “Why would you assume it was mine?” I asked
.

  “Pretty sure Jonas doesn’t use a cup that says, ‘Sorry No Habra Fucktardo’.” He shrugged. “It was just a hunch I had.”

  I filled my cup. “It was a good hunch.” I had gotten the mug the last time I had been to the mall and it spoke to me so much that it ended up in my hands and on the cash register. I didn’t own much, but I did own a coffee cup that traveled with me.

  Harrison finished his coffee and set the cup in the sink. “There’s some bacon and eggs in the microwave. I figured you might be hungry. I’ll take Mookie for a walk, and then I’ll get out of your hair.”

  He pulled on his coat and grabbed the leash from the door while I quietly sipped my coffee. Mookie nudged my hand with his nose, then trotted over to a waiting Harrison by the door.

  “Be back in a bit,” Harrison said as the door shut behind him and Mookie.

  That was way less climatic than I thought it was going to be. Last night Harrison had been a tad on the arrogant side, and today he was nice and super helpful.

  Now what the heck was I supposed to do. I had geared up thinking we were gonna argue and instead I was standing in the kitchen like I did every morning sipping coffee. Except to day I had breakfast made for me.

  I pulled open the microwave and the intoxicating smell of bacon wafted to my nose and I grabbed the plate. The eggs were scrambled and the bacon was cooked to a perfect crisp. “Damn.” Who would have thought the hot as hell Harrison could cook and make a decent pot of coffee?

  He was surprising me left and right this morning.

  I had about fifteen minutes before he was back, and I didn’t want him to witness the fact that I enjoyed his breakfast. I wolfed down the bacon and eggs in between sips of coffee and was washing off my plate when he walked back through the door with Mookie.

  “Damn,” he called. “It’s gotta be thirty degrees out there.”

  “It is December in Michigan.” I refilled my cup and grabbed his from the sink. I didn’t want to be a complete bitch. He was obviously cold, and a cup of coffee would help warm him up.

  “No more coffee, Vixen. I gotta get to the studio.” He unhooked Mookie and hung the leash next to the door.