“Oh?”
“You have crumbs everywhere.”
“I do?”
“Yes.” She leaned towards me and her tongue darted out and licked the corners of my mouth. “There we go, all clean.”
“Thank you.” My breath caught as I felt her breath on my mouth, the corners of my mouth still tingling from her touch.
“No problem.”
“It’s nice to have friends who look out for you.”
“I agree.”
“I guess you just had a cookie as well, huh?” I smiled at her and raised my eyebrows.
She shook her head. “No, why?”
“’’Cause you have crumbs all over your mouth as well.”
“I do?” She ran her fingers across her lips and then looked at them. “I don’t see any crumbs.”
“I think you’re lying.”
“Oh?”
“I think you just had a cookie.”
“I’m sorry to tell you, but I didn’t.”
“I need proof.” I said.
“I’m not sure how to prove that.”
“There’s only one way.” I stepped towards her and grabbed ahold of her waist and pulled her towards me before leaning down to kiss her. My tongue pried her lips open and I explored her mouth, allowing my tongue to taste every inch of her. She kissed me back passionately, running her hands up and down my back. I ran my hands down the back of her hair and back and to her butt, pulling her even closer to me.
“Hey, what’s going on?” Jared called out to me from the front door and I jumped away from Maddie quickly.
“Nothing.” I shook my head.
“Hi, Jared.” Maddie waved to him. “I brought some cookies over.”
“Hi, Maddie.” Jared grinned and walked towards us. He stared into my eyes as if asking a question, and I looked away from him.
“Maddie was just leaving,” I said pointedly.
“Aww, I don’t want to leave.” She grinned up at me.
“Why does she have to leave, Logan? I’d love for her to stay.”
“I’m afraid I have to go out of town today.”
“Oh.” Maddie gave me a disappointed look. “For a long amount of time?”
“Not really.”
“Why are you going?”
“None of your business.” I frowned at her and turned. “You should go home.” My voice was unnecessarily harsh, but I didn’t want Jared to get any ideas into his head that I had changed my mind.
“But I don’t want to go home.”
“No one invited you over. Didn’t you know it was rude to just show up at someone’s home?”
“I came with a peace offering.” She glared at me.
“Why don’t you take her with you, Logan?” Jared interrupted us. “I’m sure Maddie would love to join you, for a ride.”
“Where are you going?”
“He’s going to sell the car.”
“Oh, you got another car?” Maddie looked at me in surprise. “What did you get this time?”
“I didn’t get another car.” I shook my head. “I’m selling the Toyota.”
“Oh? I thought you would have sold it already.”
“Well, obviously not.”
“We had to switch guys.” Jared smiled widely at Maddie. He was a good actor. Anyone would think he really liked her, to see the way he was treating her, but I knew differently. I know he was trying to ensure that I continued to see her, so that I could break her heart and exact some revenge.
“Guys?” She looked confused.
“Marty, the guy we used to sell to, well, let’s just say we don’t sell to him anymore.”
“Marty?” Maddie looked at us considering. “My dad knows a Marty, I wonder if it’s the same guy.”
“Doubtful.” Jared smiled at her again. “A stand-up guy like your dad wouldn’t know the Marty we deal with.”
“Yeah, true.” She nodded.
“It must be nice being the mayor’s daughter,” he continued. “Living the life of luxury.”
“If you’re asking if I’m daddy’s little girl, then I guess I have to say yes.” She laughed and groaned. “Though he can be a little out of control sometimes. It’s like he thinks everyone is out to get me. He doesn’t like to let me out of his sight.” She shook her head. “He’s terribly overprotective.”
“Well, that must suck for you.” Jared looked sympathetic. “I guess he knows that he’s a target, being a successful businessman and all.”
“Yeah, poor Daddy.” Maddie sighed. “Oh well, he seems to finally be loosening the strings.”
“That’s good. Though, I’m sure it would break his heart if anything happened to you.”
“Yeah.” She grinned. “That’s dads for you, you have to love them.”
“Yeah, we love our dad too.” Jared slapped me on the back. “Well, I better get back in and finish eating breakfast. It was nice seeing you again, Maddie. I sure hope you can convince Logan to take you with him. I think you’d both have fun.” And with that he sauntered back up to the house with me glaring at his back.
“Your brother is so nice.” Maddie laughed up at me. “And he is super cute.”
“You have a crush on him as well?” I said harsher than I intended.
“What? No.” She blushed, and looked away from me. “And what do you mean on him as well?”
“Well, don’t you have a crush on me?” I looked at her arrogantly. “Haven’t you had a crush on me for a while?”
“I— what? Who told you that?” Her face grew red, and a part of me was happy to have the answer confirmed.
“Joey and his sister aren’t exactly the best people to keep secrets.”
“Argh, I’ll kill Lucy.” She shook her head. “And it was a teenage crush, I don’t have it anymore.”
“Oh, no?” I smirked. “Really?”
“Really,” she flung her hair over her shoulder. “I’m wiser now.”
“Yeah, you’re wiser.” I laughed out loud and shook my head. “Well, are you coming or not?” I turned around and walked to the Toyota.
“Where are we going?” She hurried after me.
“To sell this car.”
“You just sell it?” She looked shocked. “Don’t they ask to see your papers?”
“They know there are no papers.” I grinned at her, all of a sudden feeling lightheaded.
“Oh.” She licked her lips and I could tell she was nervous. “Do you mind if I come?”
“Not if you don’t mind taking the bus back.”
“I don’t mind.”
“Then hop in.” I jumped into the car and started the engine as she slid into the passenger seat. I looked over at her, and she smiled at me with her plate of cookies sitting in her lap. She looked beautiful and innocent, so unlike she had the first night she had gotten into the car. I stared at her, my eyes taking in the dimple in her left cheek and the way her lips had a natural curve when she wasn’t even speaking. I looked further down her and tried not to stare at the swell of her breasts and the small rising of her chest.
“What are you waiting for? Aren’t we going?” She grinned at me excitedly.
“One would think you’d never been in a stolen car before.”
“One would think you’d never had a girl in a stolen car with you before.”
“Then one would be thinking incorrectly.”
“I see.” She turned away from me quickly, and her tone sounded hurt. Good, I didn’t want her to know that she was the first girl I’d had in a stolen car with me, and the first girl I had been on a drop with. It was crazy, and she was the last person I should be taking with me, but I couldn’t help myself. Bad move, Logan, a voice in my head whispered. Bad move. But it wasn’t a bad move if I listened to Jared and his suggestions. Maybe I was doing this because subconsciously I wanted to hurt her. I’d teach her a lesson, and she would be crushed. And then she’d be home and crying and the mayor would be beside himself. But what would that do? The voice whispered again, a little heartbreak wasn’t going to do anything to the mayor. How many times had she cried over a guy before? I’m sure she’d had her share of dalliances and heartbreaks. She certainly wasn’t some innocent little virgin, that was for sure.
“What are you thinking about?” She leaned towards the radio. “Can I put on some tunes?”
“Go ahead.” I nodded without looking at her. I could feel my heartbeat racing, and I felt uncomfortable with her in the seat next to me. I didn’t want her to be here with me, yet I felt so alive, so excited, so happy to have her here with me. And it had nothing to do with the fact that I could get revenge on her and avenge my family. The fact was, I didn’t want to hurt her. I took a quick glance at Maddie and watched as her hair blew in the wind coming through her window. Her eyes were alert and happy, and she gave me a quick smile as she noticed my stare. I turned away quickly, as my stomach jumped. I wasn’t sure I would be able to forgive myself if I hurt Maddie on purpose. And what was worse is that I didn’t know if she would ever forgive me either.