Page 106 of One Bad Idea

Unlike him, I was still smiling. "Nope." I paused. "And not just regular country either,classiccountry."

The way I saw it, I couldn’t lose. Either he'd tell me to forget it. Or I'd have the distinct pleasure of watching him make a fool of himself by requesting music that the D.J. would never play in a million years.

Jaden studied my face. "You're bluffing."

I gave him a look that was all innocence. "I have no idea what you mean."

"Uh-huh."

I looked toward the D.J. He'd been spinning the techno stuff ever since I'd arrived, and the way it looked, he was seriously getting into it.

In front of him, the dance floor was absolutely packed with bodies gyrating to the fast and steady beat. Even the lights screamed techno as they flashed in multiple colors across the floor.

I looked back to Jaden and asked as sweetly as I could, "Is something wrong?"

A low scoff escaped his lips. "No. But there will be if you turn me down."

"What?"

"Wait here," he said before turning and striding away. I watched in momentary confusion until I realized where he was heading – straight toward the D.J.

Holy crap.He wasn't seriously going to do it.Was he?

But yes, he apparently was. I stared stupidly as he strode through the crowd of dancers and approached the raised platform where the D.J. was spinning the music.

Now that Jaden was actually doing it, I didn't know what exactly I was feeling. Guilty?No.He trulydidhave it coming. Still, I bit my lip as I watched the D.J. lean down to exchange a few words with my obnoxious boss.

The D.J. frowned and gave the dance floor a worried look. Even from here, it was easy to guess what he was thinking.You want me to play what?

But then, he gave a short, jerky nod.What the hell?

And now, Jaden was heading back in my direction. As he strode closer, I tried to tell myself that he was just messing with me. Probably he'd requested some popular new dance song and was going to laugh his ass off when I expected a musical change onmybehalf.

And yet, my gaze strayed nervously to the crowd. Let's say Jadenwasn'tmessing with me. What then? What would everyone do? They didn't look like the rioting type, but they'd surely be displeased at the change of tempo.

Would anyone dance?

Or would it just be me and Jaden?

Heaven forbid.

Oh, stop it,I told myself. This was obviously just a joke. After all, I'd seen the look on his face when I'd told him my favorite type of music. He despised it, just like he despised me.

And now, I was irritated all over again. The plan had been to makehimsquirm, not the other way around.

And why was it, I wondered, that it always ended this way? With him getting the best of me no matter what?

It was so annoyingly unfair.

By the time Jaden reached my side, I was a nervous fidgety mess. Trying to ignore him, I snuck a quick glance at the bar, wondering if it was time to rethink that whole one-drink idea.

Jaden leaned closer to me and said, "Forget it."

I gave a little jump. "Forget what?"

"The drink," he said. "I'll buy you one after."

"After what?"