Matching Mr. Right(50)
He had to turn away and wrangle the smile that threatened to break his cover. He said to Lori, “Let me ask her if she’d mind.” It wasn’t easy, but he pulled it together and forced a straight face. “Lori was supposed to pick us up, but she says her car won’t start and my mom isn’t home. Would you guys mind taking us home?” He hadn’t lied. It was what his sister had just said to him.
Shelby gritted her teeth. “You’re so lucky Em’s here . . .”
“Thanks for the ride.”
Shelby was as mad as he’d ever seen her. He’d better tread carefully.
After the game they shuffled along with the crowd out to the parking lot. As they approached Shelby’s Prius, the logistics of cramming them all into that clown car ran through his mind. “Shelby, you and Em should sit in the back, and I’ll take shotgun.” He turned to Greg. “Unless you’re letting Shelby drive?”
Before Greg could answer, Shelby shook her head. “Nope, you’re just going to have to stuff that big body of yours into the backseat. It’ll be fun to watch.”
“Shelby, please. Be reasonable. You need to sit in the back.”
She grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out of earshot of the others. “I know you don’t lie, so your answer will determine your fate. Did you or did you not bring Emily along today to mess with my date with Greg?”
“Are you saying you didn’t enjoy Emily’s company?”
“No avoidance techniques, answer the question.”
Backed firmly into a corner, he huffed out a breath. “Yes.”
She nodded sharply. “Change of plans. We’ll take Emily to your mother’s house and you can think of all the ways you can say you’re sorry while you wait for a cab.” She stomped away, got into the car, and they left.
Guess he’d found Shelby’s limit. Good data point for the future.
He pulled out his phone and ordered a taxi, and then dialed Lori’s cell to warn her of the storm approaching named Shelby. When Lori answered, he said, “I can’t explain right now, but when Shelby drops Em off, don’t let her know what you do for a living. And I need to know how many ways there are to apologize to a woman.”
***
After they’d dropped Emily off, Shelby and Greg headed back to his house. She wasn’t sure if Greg was still upset with her or not, so she said, “I’m really sorry about all that. What a mess.”
He shrugged. “After my shirt dried things got better.”
She laughed, but when she turned to look at him, she saw it wasn’t supposed to be funny. That had happened a few times during the game. He seemed different and a lot more serious than he used to be.
Greg definitely didn’t have Nick’s snappy wit. And he’d been a little quiet all afternoon. Maybe he was still mad about his shirt? “I don’t think Nick did that on purpose. I had just told him to get lost right before that, so he was actually following orders.”
Staring at the road ahead, Greg said quietly, “He wants you, Shelby. Do you want him?”
In her bed? Yes. But that’d be all she’d ever get, so no. “He doesn’t want the same things I do, so it’s a moot point as far as I’m concerned.”
Greg turned to her and smiled. “What things do you want?”
Would it scare him off if she told the truth? Probably better to lay her cards out. “Eventually, I’d like to be married and have kids. A dog would be good too, but optional.”
He chuckled as he pulled up in front of his parents’ house. “You’ll be a great mom if the way you handled Emily today is any indication. And a great disciplinarian by the way you handled Nick.”
She laughed. “He deserved it.” And he was so getting that fake set-up date with Jordan as his reward for his bad behavior. Nick knew how much was riding on this date with Greg, so she’d not feel a bit of remorse.
“No argument there.” Greg turned the car off and faced her. “This whole thing about not having a car or my own place yet feels like high school.” Clearing his throat, he drew a deep breath as if working up to something big.
A kiss maybe?
Greg smiled as he leaned closer and wrapped his arms around her before laying his lips on hers.
About time!
Nice soft mouth, not too dry, not too wet. Good start.
Shelby parted her lips, offering more, and the guy was no fool. He took.
His tongue gently danced with hers, his lips applying just the right pressure. He was a good kisser. What a relief.
But why wasn’t that switch that Nick always flipped inside of her doing its thing? She should be quivering with desire, aching for his hands to explore her needy body just as his tongue was doing inside her mouth.