So Toxic(Bad Boy Next Door Book 4)(96)

I go to my web browser and pull up the DATE.COM site.

It’ll be best to let someone else act as my muse.

All right, then. Who do we have for Today’s Suggested Dates?

I navigate to my personal page. Three emails from three different Date Opportunities wait for my response.

Question of the day is will any of them be worth a shit?





EIGHT





I come around the side of the house, dragging the dead tree I cut down in the backyard.

My fucking cock springs to attention in a heartbeat.

Shit. That didn’t even take a dirty thought.

Kelsey locks her front door and turns. From her strappy red heels to the white top that shows enough cleavage to tease without giving away the entire show, she’s magnificent.

I toss the half-rotted tree onto the curb and raise my hand in salute. “Hey, Beautiful Girl. You look amazing. Got a hot date or something?”

She straightens her skirt as she looks down at herself. “Yeah.”

Damn. Not what I thought she’d say.

Of course she has a date, dumbass. Look at her. Why wouldn’t she?

I roll my shoulders and stand a bit straighter. “Well, good. You should go out. Is this that dating site I overheard you talking about the other day? I’ve been thinking of checking it out myself.”

Her mouth drops open for a moment, but she snaps it shut. “DATE.COM. Yes. Leigh insisted I give it a try.”

I meet her at the front of her car.

“I hope you have fun.”

Or not.

She nods with a cautious smile. “Thanks. And I think it’d be good for you to check out the site. You might meet some friends that way since you’re new to the area and all.”

“Is that what you’re doing? Just meeting potential friends?”

She slides into her seat and pulls the belt around her.

Kelsey reaches for the door. “Friends. Whatevers. I really don’t know. Just trying to do something different. Because what I’ve been doing hasn’t gotten me anywhere.”

When she reaches for the door to close it, I stop it and lean in close. “Well, if your whatevers don’t work for you, that offer is still open.”

Her eyes search mine and she licks her lips. “Okay. Thanks.”

I lean in and lay my mouth on hers. She gasps, and I slip my tongue along her bottom lip before pulling away.

“Oh, and I bought a box of condoms the other day.” I step back and shut her door for her.

Her dazed expression gives me a kind of weird satisfaction.

Good, maybe she’ll think about that if the douche she sees tonight tries to kiss her.

I wave as she backs out of her driveway.

She shoots me a perplexed look and lifts her fingers from the steering wheel in acknowledgement.

Why the fuck do I care if she goes out with someone else?

I trudge to the backyard to get back to the task at hand.

Let her go out with all the guys on that stupid site. What difference should it make to me?

Plus, she’s got a freaking kid. I don’t need to get tangled up with a woman who has a kid.

The memory of Kelsey sliding her mouth over my cock hardens my dick and hollows my chest.

She does have the softest mouth. And she didn’t mind that my junk has been maimed and sewn back together.

Soaping her up in the shower was extra nice.

But it’s obvious she doesn’t want me, because if she did, she wouldn’t be out with someone else.

Or maybe she would. Maybe she’s looking for more than just a hump and cuddle.

Naw. I don’t need a woman with a kid. Too fucking complicated.





I sit on the bench at the entry of the Italian place. I check the time on my phone again.

Maybe he’s going to stand me up. It’s been almost a half hour since we were supposed to meet.

I stand and lay my light sweater over the crook of my arm. As I sling the strap of my purse over my shoulder, the guy who’s been sitting across from me almost as long as I’ve been here, staring at me unabashedly all the while, stands as well.

He takes a step toward me, his hand out. “Hi. I’m Rodney. I’ve been watching you. You’re Kelsey26, right?”

My stomach clenches.

I turn away, biting my fist until I can get a hold of myself.

Oh, Lord. I’m so glad I drove myself. I’ve totally been—what do they call it? Catfished.

The guy’s pictures showed a man with a head full of hair and only one chin. This guy is the exact opposite. And he’s shorter than I am, by more than a couple of inches.

I turn back to him and open my mouth only to close it, unsure of how to even address the situation.

He blushes. “I’m sorry. I know I’m not what you expected. I was hoping that after having emailed back and forth those times, you’d still want to share a meal and get to know me better, even though I’m not exactly what’s on my profile.”