Page 98 of The Bad Girl

Chapter 34

Nadine

The SUV I’m in pulls up to Hard Brew, and before I know it, I’m being pushed out of the vehicle by Prince Harry, who’s now my life coach.

We decided on a Snow White shirt with skinny jeans and thigh-high boots, and I have to admit, I look good. My hair is down, but partially pulled back, and my makeup is tame. I don’t look like I’m trying too hard, but my best features are highlighted.

I steady myself after narrowly avoiding falling on my ass and scan the patio full of tables. It doesn’t take me long to spot Tom getting up from his seat.

It’s like the wind’s knocked out of me, and every breath I take grows heavy, fighting to break free of my chest. The world falls away, and I’m eighteen again, standing in my nightgown, unsure of myself but committed to the decision I’ve already made.

He smiles, his familiar dimples greeting me. He was a man of twenty when I last saw him, but he’s grown since, his muscles filling out. Even his gait has changed and is now full of confidence. More so than I’ll ever possess.

You’re a stupid fool. He’s never going to go for you.

“Nadine!” he enthuses, wrapping me in a hug before I can even get a word out.

My body livens as his leathery scent invades my senses, and my head begins to spin. I feel myself lift off the ground, wrapped in a big bear hug. The best greeting I could imagine.

Finally, I’m returned to Earth, and he releases me from his strong embrace but holds me at arm’s length, his hands on my shoulders. “Dammit, it’s good to see you!”

Don’t apologize. Bad girls don’t apologize.

“It has been a minute, hasn’t it!” I return.

“I would have ordered for you, but I wasn’t sure what you’d like.”

“Oh, ummm, well, let’s look at the menu.”

I take a full minute to survey the board even though I know damn well I’m about to order a mocha latte with a shot of cherry. But I have to make sure he realizes I can’t be bothered to remember what I like because being a bad girl means I’m also an idiot.

Finally, I order, and when Tom tries to pay, I smile politely and tell him I got it. He orders his own drink, and we move to a table, sitting across from each other.

“I have to admit, the last thing I expected to see on the news was your face,” he says after a long minute of staring.

“I would have been equally as surprised had I not been aware of the situation.”

Act distracted.

I look around, my eyes darting to various predestined locations before returning to Tom.

“I wasn’t aware of how dangerous your line of work was.”

I laugh and almost tell him that ninety-percent of my day is spent in a secured office, but then think better of it. “Some days, you’re just happy to make it home at night.”

“I bet.”

I take a long sip of my drink, trying to remember all the talking points Harry had me run through.

“So, how’s South Carolina?” I ask, purposefully misremembering the state.

“North Carolina is great, but it’s no home to me, which is why I’m opening a shop up here.”

I spike a brow. “I’ve heard, and I think that’s great.”

“Yeah. When I left home, I just wanted to get as far away as I could. I wasn’t thinking straight. I dropped out of college and looked for anything I could do to get by. Thank God I landed on my feet.”

“Oh, wow.”