Back in the Saddle (Jessica Brodie Diaries #1)(81)

I pushed him back suddenly and violently. Shock and confusion spread across his face. “What was with that faked boob girl you took home?” I demanded.

Embarrassment replaced the shock and he started laughing in loud guffaws. He put his arms around me—I resisted halfheartedly.

“I had to have some release after dancing with you. Do you think me a brute?”

“Yes. She was disgusting.”

“Beer goggles helped that. What was with you and that idiot Matt?”

“I needed a hobby. And I didn’t take my clothes off for him.”

“You didn’t?”

“Ew. No.”

He looked mad.

“Why?” I asked.

“I heard you did. I’ll end that rumor right quick.”

William leaned in to kiss me again. Things got steamy in a hurry. He put his leg between mine. I pulled his lower back against me and leaned back against the car. We made out for a second before he backed off again, panting.

I followed him, not wanting space between us. He was shaking his head. “No. Stop,” he said in a husky voice. “Please. Must stop.”

I laughed. “Oh all right. Let’s go.”

He nodded, gave me one last look of longing, and went to his side of the car shaking his head the whole way. I could hear him muttering, “Dangerous.”

As he got in, he said, “Tomorrow I would like to buy you a present.”

“I like presents. But don’t go tryin’ to splash your money around. You got me. I am sold. I am not a money grubbing type of girl. I was surprised to find that out myself, but there you go.”

He chuckled. “It is more for me than for you. The issue with my life will be complicated with you in it, but I’ll manage that end. The issue with you and my mother, however...”

“She won’t like me because I am poor.”

“Correct. Though, I must admit, you stand up to scrutiny pretty well. My dad thinks you are better than sliced bread. He was impressed you went right back to work after the... incident and asked around about you. Apparently you are well liked and do good work.”

“Go figure.”

“But my mother...is a bit harder to impress. You got a leg up with the handbag comment. How did you know that, by the way?”

“I follow designers pretty closely. Even poor girls can dream.”

“But you don’t actually have any Gucci or Prada?”

“Sadly, no.”

He nodded. “Well, unfortunately, with me comes baggage. If you are serious about this…” His eyes probed mine. Obviously I nodded. “Then we need to prepare for battle. I don’t need my mother’s blessing, especially with my dad on board, but…”

“You want it. I get it.”

He reached his hand up to trace hair from my forehead. His eyes found my lips. As if he couldn’t help himself, he leaned down at gave me a light kiss. “I just know she’ll love you, too. She just has to get out of her own way first.”

My heart thrilled at that word. At him saying it. I nodded mutely, afraid I’d have a hard time making words.

“So…to battle then.” A ghost of a smile graced his lips before he kissed me again. "Oh, and who is Apollo?"

I sputtered and half choked on my spit. "Huh?"

"Apollo. You mentioned that name in the trailer when we were curled up together. Is he an ex-boyfriend?"

My face was fire-engine red. "He's the Greek God of the sun, actually."

"Yes, I am aware of the origin of the name. Who is he to you?"

I sighed. "You. He's you. Before I knew your name, that's what I called you."

His face lit up in a smug smile. "Flattered."

"Whatever." I grinned and looked out the window, wondering what lay in store for us. What obstacles we'd run into with his mother, with life in general. And knowing that whatever it was, I would face it with William at my side.

THE END