Faked (Ward Family #2)(51)

Logan: I SWEAR, CLAIRE, if you don't answer one of us soon, I'm calling EVERY POLICE OFFICER I KNOW, and dispatching them.





Me: I'm FINE! Sorry. Sorry. Spotty service, haven't been checking my phone.





Logan: Not amused, kid, not amused. Paige is ready to castrate this guy for kidnapping you.





Me: Bauer is hardly at fault for the snowstorm. I'm fine, and I'm on my way home, so calm down, please. Isabel knew I was fine. We texted the other night.





Logan: YEAH, and I'm still trying to permanently erase the image of what those texts contained when she wouldn't tell me and Paige ripped the phone from her hands. My last attempt of pouring bleach in my eyes didn't do it, so I refuse to talk about this anymore with you.





"Your family's freaking, huh?" Bauer asked after he finally pulled the car onto the road.

My phone and all their belligerent texts were safely tucked into my backpack where he wouldn't accidentally see them. The last thing Bauer needed was to know that Paige, Logan, and Lia were ready to sic federal agents on him.

"They're ... fine." I tucked my leg up against my chest and stared happily at his profile. "But they're on to you, bud. They know the roads were cleared yesterday."

"On to me?" Bauer glanced at me. "Should I tell them who seduced who into staying for one more day? Because only one of us was topless and begging. With straddling involved, I might add."

I held up my hand. "Okay, okay. I get it. No, they don't need to know that."

His grin was wicked and wonderful, and I wanted to eat him alive. Bauer Davis had turned me into a certifiable addict.

"But," I said, "be prepared. If you thought Paige's grilling was bad when you picked me up ..." I whistled.

Bauer hooked a wrist over the steering wheel and draped his free hand over my thigh again. Immediately, I wove our fingers together. "They didn't act like that with the other guys you've brought home?"

I laughed. "I haven't brought anyone home. Not like ... anyone serious."

"Yeah, right."

"I haven't!"

He peered over the edge of his sunglasses. "I call bullshit."

"Call whatever, it won't make it less true." I shrugged. "I went on a few dates in high school, so sure, they've met guys who picked me up, but they never turned into anything serious. And in college ... I don't know ... my classes were always a higher priority than dating, so I never had anyone serious or even semi-casual who'd want to come home for family dinner."

Bauer's head reared back. "Huh."

"Not all of us are professional snowboarders who probably have women throwing themselves naked on the snow in front of their board."

Did I sound like a jealous harpy? Yup. Sure did.

Did I sound insecure that I'd been a late bloomer and didn't feel the need to date my way through high school and college? Yup. That also.

"Naked on the snow sounds awful." He gave me a sideways glance. "And entirely irrational, if one wanted to look sexy."

Withdrawing my hand from his, I smacked him on the chest. His laughter boomed through the Jeep, and I found myself smiling.

"Ass."

Bauer snatched my hand and kissed the palm. "Listen, I won't lie, there are women who chase snowboarders like we're a prize, but it can't be that different from what any football player has to deal with."

"No, I know. And there are so many guys who don't chase that life." I shook my head. "I shouldn't have implied that you did."

He sighed. "I wasn't an angel. But most of that, it stayed behind me in my early twenties. It's not as fun once you start creeping closer to thirty." His cheeks were slightly pink.

"Are you saying you've had a dry spell lately, Bauer?" I teased.

His shrug was small. "A little. Isn't this ... isn't this weird for you to talk about?"

"Is it weird if I told you about guys I dated?"

"That's not the same."

My head tilted. "Why not?"

He sighed. "Well ... you're like ... girlfriend material, you know? Every parent in the world would be thrilled if a guy brought you home."

Ahh. "And you're not boyfriend material?"

Bauer licked his lips before he answered. "I wouldn't know."

"Hmm, well, let's see." Regarding him with a thoughtful expression, I waited until I saw his expression soften a bit. "You're not terrible to look at." He rolled his eyes, but he was smiling, so I kept going. "You are an excellent dancer." My fingers trailed along the top of his hand. "You open doors and make pancakes. You shovel pathways in the snow." I picked up that hand and pressed a kiss into his palm. "You wake me up in the sweetest, sexiest ways. And you make me feel beautiful."

Bauer looked over at me, and what I saw in his eyes slayed me completely. "You are beautiful," he said roughly.

"You make me feel amazing just by being you, Bauer." I kept my voice even, despite the way my stomach fluttered nervously. "If that's not boyfriend material, I don't know what is."