by Piper Rayne
“Not on duty tonight, officer?” I insert sarcasm into my tone because being a bitch will make it easier for him to keep his distance.
“Well, Miss Flanagan, I’m off for two days if you’re wondering.”
I step away from the keg allowing the lingering guys who are talking about hockey a chance to fill their cups.
“That leaves me open for that date.” He cocks an eyebrow.
My head falls back in defeat. “There is no date. You have a pass. Most guys would love the chance to get out of a date with the person who wins them at an auction.”
He sips his beer. “I’m not most guys.”
I sip my beer and don’t respond. He’s right. He’s not most guys. Most guys don’t look like he does. That or I’ve been hanging around the wrong places.
“Some might say that most women would love to go on a date with a police officer.”
“I’m not most women.”
He laughs. One that heats my insides and makes him even more attractive. I know I’m going to be visualizing him the next time I pull out my Unicorn Cock vibrator, but I’ll deal like I always do.
“I agree,” he says when he finishes laughing.
“Perfect. Then it’s a deal. No date.” I smile and turn on my heel heading toward the bonfire.
“Whoa.” His hand gently grabs my arm.
I spin back around.
“You know that’s not what I was saying. Come on, Vanessa. I need your dad off my back. One date. It’s not going to kill anyone.”
I purse my lips, trying to figure out how I’m going to get him to let this topic go. I’ve had one police officer dictating my entire life already, I don’t need another.
“Just lie,” I say with a shrug.
His strong shoulders sag a bit and he shoots me a look like ‘give me a break.’ His eyes are those of an innocent man who probably always does the right thing. I’m doing him a favor keeping him at arm’s length.
“Fine,” I say when the silence stretches out.
He smiles.
I hold a finger up into the air. “You do one thing tonight that you’d never normally do and I’ll go out with you.” I smirk. Let’s see Mr. Squeaky Clean take me up on that offer. I’m picturing my victory already.
“What?” He screws his face up then sips his beer.
I cross my arms around my middle, waiting for him to say no way so that I can move on. “You heard me. One spontaneous thing. Here. Tonight.”
“Like what?” he asks, his eyes scanning the area around us that I now realize is quickly emptying out. Half these people probably have babysitters to get home to.
I shrug. “That’s for you to decide.”
His forehead bunches. “What do you want me to do? Jump over the fire or some shit like that?”
“I’d prefer if you didn’t end up in the emergency room, so no, I don’t expect you to jump over a roaring fire. That would ruin Maddie and Mauro’s night.”
A pissed off look crosses his face and he downs most of his beer.
“That’s it, let’s go, Cris. It’s two against two and I need a guy.” Luca, Cristian’s little brother, twirls a soccer ball on his finger as he steps up to us. Lauren follows behind with a girl I don’t recognize.
“What?” Cristian glares over at his brother. “I’m not playing soccer tonight in the pitch dark.”
He has a point.
“Come on Cris. Lauren says she can score five goals on me.” Luca glances over to Lauren who has a shit-eating grin on her face, and he rolls his eyes.
Cristian blows out a breath. Lauren saddles up to my side, kicking the soccer ball from Luca’s hands. She does some fancy footwork then kicks the ball in the air before catching it. That girl has coordination I do not.
“The answer is no. Find Bentley, he’s over there.” He points toward the bonfire.
Luca must know his brother never does something he doesn’t want to do because he barrels away from us without a word.
“What’s going on over here?” Lauren asks, walking backward, twirling the soccer ball on one finger like Luca was moments ago.
“Nothing,” I say.
“Lauren, what’s the craziest thing I can do tonight?” Cristian hollers out and Lauren’s feet stop, staring at me over his shoulder.
She knows this game. We play it often. Well, not since college when guys tend to think they can say hello and you’ll be falling all over them. There’s nothing wrong with making them work to impress you a little. It builds character. LOL.
Lauren being Lauren pretends to think about it. In the past, we’ve had guys shave their heads or their eyebrows, dress in girl’s clothing, striptease with a pair of girl’s panties on. God knows what Lauren’s going to recommend.
“You’re a smart boy, Bianco. Turn the tables,” she says. “What’s the worst thing you could do to Vanessa tonight?”
I flip her off. Nice friend I got there. Who wants her?
A devilish smile creeps onto Cristian’s lips. “Anyone tell you, you’re a fucking genius, Lauren?”
She laughs. “All the time. Tell your brother for me though.”
Luca comes over, stealing the soccer ball from her hands, while a guy tripping over his own feet follows behind. The girl and guy standing on the sidelines watching Lauren and Luca argue about who goes first.
“So, Officer Bianco, what will it be?” I cock a hip and a brow.
“Maybe a date with you isn’t worth the embarrassment?” He steps closer and I back up an inch, unease setting in as his demeanor grows more confident and sure.
I shrug. “That’s fine. I’m happy to split ways now.”
He takes another giant step forward and sips the remaining beer from his cup, tossing it down to the grass, his gaze intense and set on whatever he’s about to do.
“What are you doing?” I ask, my voice weaker than I’d prefer.
We’re chest to chest now because he’s taken me by surprise and I forgot to flee with his approach. Okay and maybe his eyes mesmerized me. A little. Not much.
“I’m going to do the one thing I didn’t think I’d do tonight.” His voice has dropped an octave and we’re alone in the darkness of the forest now where the warmth of the bonfire has disappeared. A cold chill runs across my cheeks until Cristian’s hands land on either side of my face. “I’m going to kiss you.”
His lips fall to mine. Did I say it was cold? It’s not. It’s warm. Cristian’s mouth on mine steals the chill from my body. I should knee him in the balls or at least push him away, but I don’t. Instead, my lips betray me and move in time with his. I wrap my arms around his neck and I rise to my tiptoes, kissing him back.
His arms cradle me flush against his body, his tongue exploring mine and under the canopy of the forest, away from any prying eyes, Cristian Bianco sets my body on fire.
I love breaking other people’s rules, but I’m not sure about breaking my own.
Chapter Three
Vanessa
“I thought you had plans tonight?” Lauren asks, taking her black bean veggie burger out of the microwave and walking over to the center island.
“I do.” I grab a soda from the fridge and sit down on a breakfast stool across from her.
“A Coke and Pop Tart? Nice. You’ll be full and bloated.” My health nut roommate wraps up the burger in a tortilla with lettuce, salsa, and a dime-sized portion of sour cream. God forbid she enjoy her food at all.
“Well, it’s a date with Officer Bianco.” I shrug.
Lauren glances up from her plate, her eyes urging me to just call him by his name. I refuse.
“You finally said yes?” She moves to the fridge and pulls out a veggie tray of carrots and cauliflower she’s already cut up.
Seriously, that’s her dinner?
I crack off a piece of my Pop Tart. “I did.”
“Now you’re spoiling your appetite. I bet he has something amazing planned for you guys.”
The smile on her face showcases how much she likes Cristian. Her
and Maddie both go on and on about what a great guy he is. I don’t refute that. I’m sure he’ll make an excellent boyfriend or husband for anyone but me.
“It’s worth spoiling my appetite. Hello, it’s pumpkin spice?” I hold it up to her.
She cringes and shakes her head. “That shit is everywhere. The other day I saw pumpkin spice Oreos at the store. Why would anyone mess with an Oreo by adding pumpkin to it?”
I toss a piece of pumpkin spice goodness into my mouth, chew and swallow. “I agree with you on that one. Oreos need to stay Oreos. As far as everything else, pumpkin spice is the best.” I gulp down some of my Coke.
Rounding the island, she sits on a stool next to me. “You’re not even the least bit attracted to Cristian?” she asks before biting into her healthy dinner. She’s still in her scrubs from her job as a physical therapist and I predict she’ll be on the couch for the rest of the night.
“I’m not blind. Luckily, the glint from his badge does a good enough job of blinding me from his looks.”
“You know not every police officer is like your dad?”
I chuckle. “Of course.”
“And that you’re typecasting Cristian?” She sips her Vitamin Water.
“Look, in my experience, police officers are either crooked or straight as an arrow. Cristian is the latter.”
She blows out a breath. “You don’t know that. You don’t really know him. Why not give him a chance?”
“Good thing I live in Chicago with roughly a million men.” I crumple up my napkin and toss it into the trash.
Lauren and I are similar. Normally we don’t push the other toward a specific man so I’m unsure why she’s being kind of mom-like right now.
I can feel Lauren’s gaze on me before I even turn back around to face her.
“It’s been nice having you around at night lately. Did you…break up with someone?”
“No breakup, but I don’t work nights anymore.”
Her eyes widen. “Really? What were you doing exactly?”
This is Lauren at her best. Or actually her worst. She thinks she’s sly, but I’m not about to accidentally tell her what I’ve been doing to earn money to start my own fashion line.
“Just earning some cash so I can get the samples I need completed.”
“And you’re good. You’ve got enough cash now?”
I nod, a smile creeping onto my lips.
When I decided to be a fashion major in college, I never thought it’d cost so much money to get clothes made. I can sew, but it’s time and labor intensive. Besides, I’m better at designing. In order to get the samples I need made—and hopefully the clothes themselves after I can get them into some boutiques here in the city—I have to have production somewhere else.
“I did. And Rose and Ivy down on Chestnut has agreed to see my spring line.”
Excitement fills me and I don’t know why I didn’t tell either of my best friends earlier. They’ve always encouraged me and had my back offering their own suggestions on how to make my dreams a reality. Maddie always said I should try to work for a design company and move up while Lauren thought I should open my own online store. But for me, it’s always been my dream to have my clothing in boutiques. If I’m honest, at some point I want my line to be so in demand, I’m featured during New York Fashion Week. But, baby steps.
“VAN!” she shouts, rising from her chair and wrapping her arms around my shoulders, swaying us back and forth. “We need to celebrate!”
“Let’s celebrate after Rose and Ivy actually agree to buy some of my spring line.” I pat her back since she’s not releasing me.
“No. We celebrate everything. Not to mention I need a girl’s night out. Maddie’s never home now that she’s with Mauro. The three us need this.”
I laugh because it sounds more like Lauren needs a night out more than Maddie or me. Dragging her away from Mauro will be a struggle since they’re in that whole new love infatuation phase right now.
“Deal. Let me get this date with Officer Bianco over with though.”
She purses her lips but doesn’t say anything, heading back to her plate of food.
“I’ll message Maddie and we’ll set a date.”
The perma smile on her face says it all and erases some of the guilt I’ve felt the past few months. I know she was worried about what I was doing for the money. But that’s all behind me now and no one will ever know.
“Oh, I’m so excited for you!” she says after she finishes swallowing.
The back door opens, and Maddie and Mauro walk in, laughing and holding hands. I’ll admit, they are super cute together.
“Oh great, as if I needed a reminder that I’m a loser with no one,” Lauren mumbles over her mouth full of veggie burger with an exaggerated eye roll that tells me she’s joking.
Maddie breaks away from Mauro, but he stays one step behind her. When Maddie stops at the breakfast bar, Mauro wraps his arms around her waist so she’s flush to his chest.
“What about my brother, Luca?” Mauro asks, his hearing way too good for a man who has sirens blaring around him the majority of the time.
Lauren rolls her eyes. “I wasn’t talking about a one and done.”
Maddie’s gaze veers to me. “Is that what you’re wearing?” Her forehead crinkles and a line forms between her eyes.
I glance down at my ripped jeans and oversized t-shirt. Hey, I put on a necklace. “What’s wrong with it?”
Mauro’s hands rub along Maddie’s hips and his mouth is dangerously close to her neck.
Hello? Do they not see us here?
“It’s just that you usually wear a dress on a date.” She leans into her boyfriend’s strong chest.
I down the rest of my Coke and place the bottle on the counter. “I don’t want him thinking this date means anything.”
“And yet, you have on a full face of makeup and a gold necklace strategically dangling between your tits.” Lauren’s eyebrows raise.
I glare at her. “I have my own standards of how I look when I go out in public.”
“I’m just happy you decided to go out with Cristian,” Mauro says.
Lauren laughs, pushing her empty plate away from her and pulling one leg up so her foot is resting on the seat. “After she made him participate in the ‘do something you’d never do’ thing like she used to in college.”
Mauro’s hands still and his gaze finally moves off Maddie and over to me. “What did you make my brother do?”
“Vanessa would get hit on every five minutes. Especially at the frat parties,” Maddie says.
“That’s an exaggeration.” I slide up on the counter, shaking my head.
Lauren and Maddie both look at me.
“No, it’s not,” Lauren says. “She was the sparkling diamond while Maddie and I were more the diamonds in the rough in our trio.”
Mauro kisses his girlfriend’s neck and clutches her closer to him. He whispers something in her ear, spurring a flush to overtake her creamy colored skin. She nuzzles her face into his and it’s enough to make me want to run to the bathroom and revisit my Pop Tart and Coke.
“Anyway…” Lauren interrupts.
“Yes.” Maddie straightens and re-joins the conversation. “She’d make them do something crazy to earn a date with her.”
“One guy shaved off all the hair on his body,” Lauren says.
Mauro’s eyes widen. “Men are fucking stupid. What did my brother do then?”
Lauren looks at me, waiting for me to respond because she doesn’t know what Cristian did either. No one does.
“He…” I let it hang, not really sure whether I want Mauro to hear this.
“He kissed her. I told him to turn the tables on her,” Lauren says proudly.
Maddie raises her hand to Lauren for a high five.
Traitors.
And here I thought no one saw.
“He kissed you?” Mauro’s tone is laced with confusion.
His do good, rule-following, stay
inside the box brother, kissed a girl to get a date.
“Yeah.” I shrug, trying to play it off like I’m unaffected, but the truth is that I’ve been trying to forget our kiss all week. And once this date is over, I should finally be able to do just that. We can go back to Officer Bianco and Miss Flanagan, burying that kiss six feet under. Under concrete that is.
“I’m impressed,” Mauro says, sounding just that.
“It looked like one hot kiss.” Lauren stands from the breakfast stool and throws her paper plate in the trash, picking up my empty bottle and waving it in front of my face. “I got it. No worries.”
“Thanks.” I tilt my head and wink.
“Your sweet flirtations don’t work on me. I’m not Cristian.”
The doorbell rings, but before I can hop off my stool, Lauren runs toward the front door.
“I hope she’s nicer to him than she was when I first started seeing you,” Mauro says to Maddie, taking the opportunity to twist her around and kiss her. I grant them the privacy they don’t seem to care whether or not they have.
By the time I reach the foyer, Cristian is already inside and Lauren is asking him if he wants a drink.
“No time for drinks. I’m sure Cristian has reservations,” I say, passing by Lauren and ready to head out the door.
Before I can get the hell out of this house, Cristian holds out a box to me.
Chocolates?
“I hope you’re a pumpkin spice lover?” Cristian says, rocking back on his heels, his eyes holding not one ounce of timidness.
I open the white bakery box to find three Whoopie Pies, the delicious smell of cinnamon filling my nose.
Lauren coughs, pretending to gag.
“Cris!” Mauro’s deep voice booms through the room, interrupting the moment.
“Hey guys,” Cristian raises his hand in greeting. “I thought you guys would be at your place?”
“We’re just picking up some of Maddie’s things.” Mauro’s hands again venture along Maddie’s body.
“Don’t be banging upstairs, okay? You have your own place now, so I don’t need to hear the two of you.” Lauren rolls her eyes.
I get where she’s coming from. Watching them so in love, it’s hard not to want the same for yourself.