Brady Remington Landed Me in Jail(8)

As he turned and started to press me against the tree, I wrenched my mouth from his and shoved him. He moved only a few inches, but I was able to breathe again.

"What are you doing?" I hissed.

Joshua gave me a smug look and leaned closer. "I couldn't help it. I've wanted to do that since I saw you. You're cute."

"Yeah, but…you don't just go around and kiss people because they're cute."

"I saw that guy coming over here. I didn't want to be polite to him or get into a fight with him."

"And kissing me was your best idea?"

"Well…yeah."

"Well…don't," I blurted out.

Joshua grinned, looking relaxed as he studied me. "You know," he started, "you're wasting your time if you're waiting for him. You're really cute. I could go for you, but if you're saying no to me because of him—you shouldn't hold your breath. He's into girls like that." He nodded in Clarissa's direction, but Brady was staring at us—at me.

I gulped and ducked underneath Joshua's shoulder to hide.

"And you're even cuter when you blush like that," Joshua whispered. I felt his breath cake my cheeks, but I didn't dare look him in the eyes. I knew he'd kiss me and, truthfully, I didn't know what I wanted. I just knew that Brady was watching. I could feel his gaze on us.

"You shouldn't do that," I finally said.

"Do what?"

Joshua didn't move.

"The leaning thing. You shouldn't do that. Not with me, anyway," I fumbled out my words.

Joshua barked out a laugh, but shook his head. "I like you. You're honest, but you're completely wrong. I think you're the only girl here who I should do that with."

I just shook my head. The guy was wrong.

"I mean it," Joshua insisted. "Most of these people are posers. They just 'pose' for what role they're supposed to be playing. Take a look at your Brady; he knows that he's the king around these parts. He doesn't even have a shirt on. He's too good for a shirt or something. And that girl with him, she's probably his flavor of the week or his recurring flavor of the week. Everyone's predictable. Not you, though. You're just…I don't know who you are. I think I do, but the more I talk to you, the more intrigued I get."

"You don't know anything."

"I think I do," Joshua retorted. "And I think that you're the girl who shouldn't be here. But I'm relieved you are. You don't belong with these people. You're not fake. You're better than them, but you don't think that. You're one of those girls that wants to be popular, but you have no idea how to do it. So you're here, awkward, and hoping that something will change because of your presence. I hate to say it, but no one else has come over to talk to you. There's probably a reason for that."

I didn't know what emotion I was feeling first. Anger. Outrage. Disbelief. So I reacted on instinct and slapped him. Joshua's head was turned to the side from the force of my slap, but the first person to speak wasn't the two of us.

Brady rushed over. "What happened?"

I opened my mouth to explain, but Brady pushed himself in between us with me behind him. He wasn't listening and he was a breath away from punching Joshua.

I caught his fisted hand. "Don't."

"But—" Brady started, but I shook my head.

"I said no, Brady. It's my problem. I can handle it."

"You just slapped the guy." Brady glared at Joshua.

Joshua rubbed at his jaw, but his eyes darted between us.

"Contrary to what you're thinking, I meant all of that as a compliment." Joshua stood straighter, but he scanned him up and down.

Brady stepped closer. "You got a problem with me?"

Joshua smirked, waited, and then chuckled. "Yeah, I do."

Brady's hand jerked within mine, but I held tight and pulled him back. When he didn't move, I threw my entire body backwards. It hurt, but it worked. Brady jerked with me. I stumbled and was about to fall, but Brady wrapped an arm around my waist and held me against his chest. Then he glared at Joshua again. "You don't need to talk to her again."

"I don't think you have the right to tell me that I can't talk to her. In fact, I don't even know why you're over here. Our conversation had nothing to do with you."

Brady was quiet for a moment. My head fell forward on his bare chest and I watched his taunt stomach muscles breathe in and out, but then I heard, "I have all the right I need. She's my girlfriend."

"What?" I pushed myself away.

Brady ignored me.

His hands reached out to encircle my wrists and I closed my mouth. His fingers slid down and entwined with my own and twirled me around. He wrapped our arms around my front, with my back to his chest, then propped his chin on my shoulder and smiled. "You can leave without a beating. I don't give this opportunity to the other guys who hit on my girlfriend. You're only getting it once."

I bit back a groan, but waited as Joshua took in the sight of us. Brady was the only person who felt comfortable touching me—or I should say that he was the only one I wanted to touch me.

His eyes jerked to mine before he headed towards the cars.