So Bad (Bad Boy Next Door #1)(38)

The tempest in my stomach intensifies. “Are you mad? I’m sorry. There’s probably some rule about best friends’ brothers or something”

“Nah. I don’t care about that. Heck, Mo, you’ve had a crush on him forever; it’s about time.”

I pull the phone away from my ear and grimace at the photo of her on my screen. “How’d you know?”

“Duh. I’m your best friend. Best friends know these things.”

“Then what can’t you believe?”

Her laughter fills my head. “That you’ve got him so wound up. I mean, this is Danny. He’s the worst manwhore I know. And he’s twisting in the wind, wondering how he can make you fall in love with him. You are one sly fox, Mo. I’m completely impressed.”

Sly? Impressed? The giant pliers clamped around my lungs tighten.

Besides—“Wait. How do you know about Danny’s women?”

She lets out an exasperated sound. “Mo. I love my brother, and I don’t talk about it, plus I try to think the best of him—but I’m not blind or stupid.”

“Rach, look—he’s just being like that because I’m a challenge. He’ll lose interest as soon as he thinks he’s got me.”

Silence.

More silence.

I check the screen; the counter for our call is still ticking off time. “Rach? Did we get disconnected?”

“So, give him what he wants. You might be surprised, Mo. Maybe he’s really in love with you.”

I rub the crease between my eyebrows. “I doubt it. And I can’t, Rach. I’m sorry. I—I just don’t think I can do that. Danny is every wrong guy I should never love all rolled into one muscular package of pain. I can’t do that to myself.”

Her sigh comes through the phone. “Yeah. I know what you mean. I just…have you ever thought he may not be that way with you? Perhaps he was meant for you, and the reason he’s never settled with any other girl is because they were all the wrong girls?”

A flutter in my chest makes me catch my breath. No. I can’t be pulled into that line of thinking. “I love you, Rachel. I do. And I’ll always care about Danny, but I can’t take that kind of chance. I can’t trust him that deeply. I wish I could, but…”

“I get it, Mo. Don’t worry. I still love you. I just wish you’d open up a little. I’d think love would be worth the risk.”

“I’m not so sure. Look, I’ve got to go. I hope the rest of your trip is amazing. Call when you can.”

“Okay. Take care, Mo. Think about what I said.”

“I’ll do that. Bye.”

I slam my head against the headrest. Why does this have to be so hard? Why can’t I just meet a really nice guy—a genuinely nice guy? Why can’t Danny be that guy?





I head into the shelter early. The thing in the back of my mind won’t let me loose. If Dad put cameras around the guest house, who’s to say he hasn’t done the same thing in other places? All those girls at the shelter? That’s a hell of a temptation for a pervert looking for his next fix.

My gut clenches as I go to the break room. I stand on a chair and lift one of the ceiling tiles. Using the flashlight I snagged from my car, I take a look for any out of place equipment. None.

A bit of the tension holding my shoulders tight releases.

Next, the sleeping quarters. Crap. I’m going to need a reason to be in there for very long. I grab a broom from the janitorial closet.

I get lucky and make it all the way into the open bay sleeping area without being seen. My breath whooshes out. No one in sight. Still, best hurry.

Standing on the foot of the bed in the middle of the room, I use the broom handle to jab until the light bulb bursts. Sparks fly, and so do I—out the door and around the corner. I lean against the wall, chest heaving.

I slip further into the building, whistling as though nothing is out of the ordinary. Luckily, most of these ladies have seen me enough that I’m not much of a novelty any more. I pull the same trick in the ladies’ room as I did in the dorm.

Light bulb bash and run.

Once I get checked in for my shift in the childcare center, it doesn’t take long for Cindy to poke her head in the door. “Hey, Danny?”

“Yeah?”

“Can you please change some light bulbs for us?”

“Sure thing.” I put Kelvin down off my lap and hand him the book I was reading to him. “Back in a few minutes, buddy.”

I put out the yellow signs that let the ladies know not to come into the bathroom. I set the four-foot ladder in place and climb up with the fluorescent bulb. Once up there, I check the entire fixture.