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HOW TO CATCH A BAD BOY 32
Elena shook her head. There was no way she was going to let herself be stuck with him in his car for two hours. Not again. While she was mad at him and desperately wanted to punch him, her body still reacted to his presence like a fucking magnet. She still noticed him and the way he kept staring at her…. Oh God. "I don't think that's going to be possible, Lexi," she said, "Yeah, no way," Emily added, "I'm sure that Chandler and I will be able to act civil for your wedding. We are adults and we can handle ourselves without having to make up or ride together in his car," Lexi shook her head, "My wedding, my rules," she said, "You guys are riding together and I want you to be friends again by the time we arrive, got it? Even if you don't want to be friends, find a common ground," "I'm fine with that," said Chandler, much to Elena's discomfort and Emily's irritation. Emily poked a finger in his direction, "I don’t care if she forgives you, Chandler," she said, "You do not deserve her
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Needing to put some distance between them, Elena took a step backwards, "Everyone is waiting for us," she told him, "Let's go," Then she left him standing there and walked towards his car. Chandler noticed she'd also left her luggage for him and he grabbed it, gladly in fact, because just watching her walk away was worth it in his books. She might not have forgiven him, but they were a step closer to that if he played his cards right. And God bless Lexi for her decision to make her ride in his car. One more point for his future sister in law. —----------The silence in the car was deafening….so quiet you could hear a pin drop if not for the soft purring from the car. It wasn't an awkward silence either, more like they didn't know how to begin to say what needed to be said. Elena sat facing the window with her arms wrapped around her body. Her legs remained stiff against each other, and she looked like she'd rather be anywhere else but there with him. Her short sundress looked even
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"You have no idea what hearing you say that means to me," he said huskily and Elena almost grinned at the emotion in his voice, "Do you think we should give the date another try? I promise I won't screw it up this time," Elena smiled, "Maybe, but not yet. I'm not letting you off easy. Besides, It's Elijah and Lexi's wedding… I don't want us to take the attention away from them," Chandler nodded, but the desire in his eyes as he stared at her told a different story. It seemed to burn away her clothes and Elena shifted in her seat, unable to deny the fact that she wanted the same thing and felt the same way. "Fine," said Chandler finally, "We'll let them have their wedding, and then I'm all yours."—-----------Grayson Kendrick was a handsome man, Elena observed when they finally arrived at their destination. His head was filled with mostly white hair and so was his beard, but he was still strong and good looking. He was tall with broad shoulders, a strong nose, and a wide smile. App
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A small boy sat on a broken curb, looking down at a dirty, smudged ball in his hands. It was worn from play, clearly overused. His hair was dark and messy, his lashes long against the pale skin of his cheeks. You couldn't see his eyes, but in the background, two other kids played together. They were out of focus, not meant to be the focus of the shot. Staring at his shoes, also dirty and worn from use, Elena found her eyes welling up unexpectedly."Goodness, that's a bit depressing, isn't it?" a deep voice came from next to her.Elena glanced over her shoulder. Grayson Kendrick was staring at the photo, his head tilted to the side as he frowned at the image."I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you," he told her. Elena shook her head, "Oh you didn't startle me, sir. It's fine," She clasped her hands in front of her body and returned her gaze to the photograph. "It's moving, I think." Grayson hummed, tucking his hands into his pockets. The disbelieving sound made her smile. "You disagr
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If Chandler was a hunter, pulling back on his bow, then Elena was the deer about to bolt into the safety of the trees.Before she could move a single muscle to do exactly that, "Do what?" he asked with a frown. Elena grinned because she clearly thought he was an idiot, Chandler thought. "Mark your territory," she replied, "Or whatever the fuck it's called when you men do things like this. It's not necessary, besides, he's your dad," He tucked his hands into his pants pockets. Maybe it would make him appear non-threatening or some bullshit. "I know that… Which is why I don't want you getting close to him…. Before he finds a way to…. I don't know… Turn you against me, I guess," She blinked rapidly, "That's not possible," she answered slowly.Under the lights of the hallway, her hair gleamed. Her cheeks were pink, and she needed to touch up her lipstick, but damn if he didn't want to mess it up just a little bit more. "What'd you two talk about, love?"Vaguely, Elena gestured to the
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She nodded slowly, tilting her head ever-so-slightly as she studied him. "Okay. Maybe I will," she said, He pointed a finger at her. "Nope. We're not going back to that topic. None of that. No psychoanalyzing. I don't care how beautiful you look. That's not allowed."Elena smiled slowly. "You were the one who brought it up again," "Stop it."The smile spread even further, wide enough that her white, even teeth showed behind her pink lips. Clearly she was really enjoying teasing him. He huffed. "Let's go inside, okay?""Okay."Her agreement was too quiet, too pleased with herself, and that made him swear. "Be careful while you move. Some of those flowers have thorns?"Elena's eyes glowed. "Thank you for caring. That's incredibly...sweet ... of you.""Fine. You know what? Do whatever you want. Get scratched by one of them, see if I care." He leaned toward her, "And don't come to me for help when you get bruised because you didn't take me up on my practical, logical suggestion to stay
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Chandler ran the edge of his nose along hers, and she tried not to whimper pitifully that they weren't kissing because why, why weren't they kissing? She wanted this feeling to last forever. It was the closest she'd ever come to skydiving, to bungee jumping, free-falling through the air, and her blood sang violently in her veins at how heady it all was.He went back in with a growl, tilting his head so he could sweep his tongue against hers. They were wound so tightly around each other; her leg curled around him when he used his hand, gripping possessively around her thigh to hitch it higher. The way that he fit her hips to his, Elena broke away from the kiss with a gasp. Shooting, sparking little fires erupted when he rolled against her, pressing her back against the wall. It was wild and crazy because anyone could see them, and yet Elena had the indistinct, hazy thought that with one press of his hand, one movement of his body between her legs, she'd explode like a lit bomb.His mou
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Elena's heart broke for him. No matter what else he'd revealed, what snippets of his past he'd given her , this was the first time she felt just how deeply he'd learned how to protect himself. Him pulling away was so much more about him than it was about her. "And do you normally give speeches like this to the women you kiss or sleep with?" She asked. But she asked it tentatively, with a gentle voice free of censure. "Make sure they won't regret a night with you?"Chandler swallowed hard. His eyes searched her face. "They know what they're getting into. They're not thinking past one night, trust me.""But you think I am?"The tip of his finger tilted her chin up, and his thumb brushed her bottom lip."I think you look at me differently than they do, Elena. You look at me differently than anyone does. And if you can't quiet those things holding you back, I don't want to be the man they all think I am. Not with you. The one who'll push where you let me, who'll convince you with my lips"
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