The Very Naughty List

5. Hailey

5

HAILEY

The moment our lips meet, I’m aware of the hoots and hollers that erupt all across the bar. Every raised voice around us reminds me that this is only pretend—this kiss is all for show, meant only for the benefit of our audience, which means we have to sell it.

It’s a bit awkward at first, our lips stiff and unmoving. I curl my fingers loosely, unsure what to do with my hands as I wonder what this looks like to everyone watching us.

But then Sebastian’s tongue slides out, tracing the seam of my lips. I gasp softly as a spark of heat shoots through me, and he takes the opportunity to deepen the kiss, angling his head to take it a bit deeper.

He pulls me up against him, and my hands instinctively reach up to press my palms against his chest as I melt into him. I can feel every tensed muscle of his pecs beneath my fingers, and it takes actual restraint to keep my hands from wandering any more than they already have.

I don’t know how long the kiss lasts—it can’t be more than several seconds at most—but in that short time, the kiss grows rapidly hotter and increasingly more real feeling. His tongue slides against mine, one large hand palming the back of my head, and I feel like there’s nothing else in the world besides Sebastian’s strong arm wrapped around me and his fingers threading through my hair.

In all the times I ever allowed myself to imagine what it would be like to kiss him, it was never as intensely primal as this.

I’m not sure which one of us pulls away first, but I have to physically restrain myself from chasing Sebastian’s lips to get one more taste of him.

As soon as we break apart, all the sounds of the bar come rushing back in. It’s like I was underwater that whole time, hearing nothing at all while submerged in Sebastian’s embrace. But now that it’s over, the reality around us comes crashing over me like a tidal wave. It’s almost too overwhelming to take in all at once, especially since most of my brain is still locked in that kiss, trying to recall the exact sensation of his mouth on mine.

But the heightened noise level, along with the slightly chilly air that seems amplified now that my body isn’t pressed against his, force me out of my head. All of the people at the bar are watching us, including Reid and Nick, who both seem to be glowering a little.

It takes me a minute to remember that this is all part of the show the three of them are putting on. It’s just an act, and they’re doing a good job of pretending to be jealous for the benefit of the onlooking crowd.

I feel flushed and a little unsteady, and my stomach is revisiting that same fluttering sensation it had when I pulled out of the parking lot after first seeing Reid. It only accelerates the fluttery feeling when I look at Sebastian and he winks at me.

He has the uncanny ability to make me feel things on the spot, as if my body responds to his commands on cue.

I open my mouth to say something to him, but before any words can come out, a large hand wraps around my arm and gently pulls me away.

“Dance with me.” Reid smiles as he threads his fingers through mine and walks hand-in-hand with me to the center of the bar.

This isn’t really a dancing kind of bar, but there’s enough space without tables in the center of it that most of the regulars get up and dance from time to time whenever their favorite song plays over the bar’s speakers. Reid makes a big show of pulling me toward that empty spot, practically lifting me up off my feet and twirling me around as he looks over my shoulder back at Sebastian.

Oh. I get it now .

This is the pretend fighting-over-me thing that they talked about, to convince everyone here that there’s jealousy between them. It’s almost convincing enough for me to fall for it.

Placing a hand at the small of my back, Reid pulls me close against him and starts to move. The beat of the music pounds in my chest as every inch of my skin reacts to his proximity. I try to act like I don’t notice the lack of any space between our bodies, but it’s impossible not to be overwhelmed by it.

“You don’t have to do this, you know,” I whisper, my heart still thudding so hard that I can hear blood rushing in my ears.

But Reid just shakes his head, brushing off my attempt to let him off the hook.

“I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t want to,” he replies, leaning down to speak quietly in my ear. His lips don’t quite touch my skin, but I still have to work hard to suppress a shiver as my knees wobble a little.

As if he can feel it, he tightens his hold on me, steadying me by holding me even tighter against his body—which doesn’t do much to help with the shakiness of my legs, if I’m being honest.

“Besides,” he adds. “I meant what I told you today. Your problems are my problems, trouble. They’re our problems. So my brothers and I are doing this. Fuck everyone in this town who made you feel small just because your ex was a dick who didn’t appreciate what he had. Dylan didn’t deserve you. Fuck him.”

Reid’s words make my heart race, and it has nothing to do with the tempo of the music. There’s a fierce protectiveness in his voice that hits me right in the chest, and I wrap my arms around his neck, drawing back a little so that I can meet his gaze. He looks right back at me, steady and unwavering, and we’re still staring at each other in heavy silence as the song ends.

Even though the music has stopped, Reid makes no move to let go of me.

“My turn, shortcake.”

The deep voice behind me is all the warning I get before I’m tugged out of Reid’s hold. Sebastian somehow manages to twirl me in such a way that even my uncoordinated ass looks halfway graceful, and even though I wasn’t quite ready to be done with Reid yet, it’s hard to be disappointed as Sebastian grins down at me.

His outgoing and flirtatious personality is a nice balance after the intensity of that moment with Reid, but it’s no less intoxicating.

I can feel every inch of his body as he moves against me too— every inch— and I’d be shocked if my face isn’t bright red by this point, but he doesn’t seem to mind at all.

“Reid and Nick are both glaring at us, you know,” he points out, inclining his head in their direction without taking his gaze off me.

“People are probably wondering if the three of you are going to get into a bar fight,” I joke breathlessly.

He grins. “Actually, Nick and I were just talking about opening up an underground fight ring in Chestnut Hill earlier tonight. I think it’s a great idea.”

I laugh, unable to help myself. “Of course you do. Remember during senior year when you got into that fight with Tommy Keller?”

I can remember at least a dozen instances in the past when Sebastian got busted for fighting—usually nothing too serious, but he was always the type to swing first and think later. But with Tommy, it turned into a legit fight. Sebastian was suspended for a week, and when Tommy showed up to school the next day, one side of his face was purple and bruised.

Sebastian snorts. “That douchebag had it coming.”

He pulls me closer and swings me around so fast that it’s dizzying, only to grab me by both sides of my waist and steady me on my feet again. Every time he spins me around, he smiles, as if he’s pleased with how my body fits in his hands and how easy it is to maneuver me like this.

“Oh yeah?” I ask as he wraps his arms around me again, swaying to the music. “What did he do to deserve looking like he got run over by a truck?”

For a second, the teasing gleam I’m used to seeing in Sebastian’s blue-green eyes slips away, replaced by a spark of something heavier.

“He said some shit about you in the locker room. Talking about how good you looked in the skirt you were wearing, and all the things he wanted to do to you.” His jaw clenches. “Trust me, he got off light.”

It was for me?

He punched Tommy Keller out in defense of me?

I’m so surprised by the realization that I trip over my own feet, and Sebastian’s serious expression clears as he catches me, gripping my arms to keep me from falling.

“Careful there.” He grins. “If you go down, I go down, and you can’t let me look bad in front of my brothers.”

That draws a laugh from me, and we keep dancing. His words stay with me though, and I’m too lost in my thoughts to keep bantering with him. When the song finally ends, Sebastian looks like he’s ready to dance to another—but this time, Nick appears and pulls me away.

“Let me guess, it’s your turn now?” I chuckle, brushing a few strands of hair away from my sweat-dampened forehead. “You guys are really going all out.”

“No.” He shakes his head, his expression unreadable. “It is my turn, but I don’t dance. I’m just coming to get you.”

With that enigmatic answer, he tugs me through the crowd away from the makeshift dance floor. I follow after him, my mind still reeling a little. Going from Sebastian’s dangerously flirtatious dancing to Nick’s grouchy and commanding presence is enough to make my head spin.

Nick leads me to a table, and I glance back toward the bar in time to see Sebastian and Reid settle onto two barstools. Reid gestures to Craig for a couple of beers, and as the bartender delivers them, the two Cooper brothers shoot a look our way.

Ignoring his brothers for the moment, Nick pulls out a chair and motions for me to sit, which I obediently do.

Part of me wishes I could dance with him too, but I know that would be pushing this little fantasy into “obvious lie” territory. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the man dance—not at any of the school dances back in high school, and not even at his sister’s own wedding. If Nick had stepped in to spin me around the dance floor, everyone in the bar would probably have figured out we were trying to trick them. So it’s probably better this way, despite the twinge of disappointment I feel.

At least he sits in the chair beside me instead of across the table, sliding his chair close enough that our legs touch.

“I’m not gonna dance with you, but I can at least feed you,” he declares.

He pushes the menu in front of me, and I remember what my sister said about The Old Oak having good food on their new menu now.

“Oh. Okay.”

My gaze scans the menu, and I realize suddenly how hungry I am. I haven’t had a lot to drink tonight, but it’s been long enough since I last ate that I can feel the buzz of alcohol in my system. And Pippa was right, everything looks really good.

“What do you want?” Nick asks.

He’s staring at me intently, and it makes nerves sweep through me. I’m not used to getting this much direct attention from Nick, who usually doesn’t say much and almost seems to avoid eye contact with me. It’s hard to make a decision when I can feel his gaze boring into me, and I ramble a little as I peruse the menu, a nervous habit I’ve always had.

“Oh shoot, I can never decide. It’s always too much pressure. The loaded potato skins look good. Ooh, so does the burger. Or maybe I should get the flatbread? That looks pretty amazing too.”

Nick flags the waitress down before I’ve finished deciding on what to order. She smiles brightly at him, although the smile dims a little as I look up from the menu and she looks at me. I get the feeling she’s a bit jealous—although she has no real reason to be, even though I can’t tell her that.

“We’ll have one of everything,” Nick says just as his brothers come to join us at the table.

“Everything on the entire menu?” The waitress blinks at him with her mouth shaped into a surprised little ‘O.’

“Yeah, one of everything. Except for the drinks. We’ll get those from the bar when we want.”

“Um… okay. I’ll be back in a bit with all of that.”

She slips back into the crowd, still looking slightly incredulous.

“Damn, dude. You trying to show us up?” Sebastian whistles, sharing a look with Reid.

“What? She needs to eat.” Nick frowns at them as if he’s only just now realizing that he ordered way too much food. “And she hasn’t tried anything on the menu yet.”

“Thanks, Nick,” I stammer, touched by the gesture even if there’s no way I’ll be able to eat it all. “That was… really nice of you.”

He gives me a look, his expression hard to decipher. Then he nods, glancing away and rubbing a hand over the back of his neck. Fortunately, the waitress brings the food as it’s ready instead of waiting for everything to be done, so it’s not long before she delivers the first few plates to our table.

The guys tuck in, the four of us sharing all of it—although Nick makes sure I get the first taste of everything. They banter easily among themselves and with me as we eat, sometimes raising their voices a little to play up the ruse that they’re still fighting over my affections.

Their deep, familiar laughter, combined with another round of drinks, makes everything feel looser and very enjoyable. I’m having such a good time that I don’t even notice my phone buzzing until Nick looks down at me.

“You’re vibrating.”

His words make my cheeks heat instantly, my mind going to a million dirty places. “Uh, what?”

“Your pants, probably your pocket—your phone is vibrating. I can feel it on the side of my leg.”

I’d forgotten that our legs are still side-by-side, and I shift away a little, blushing even harder as I tug my phone out of my back pocket. When I swipe across the screen, I see a text from my best friend back in LA.

LORELAI: Hey girl! How are things going so far back there in Chestnut Hill? Have you turned back into a country bumpkin yet?

The guys are all eating and talking, so I take a minute to answer her.

ME: No, not yet, lol. Things aren’t as bad as I had expected here, actually.

LORELAI: Oh yeah? Please tell me you haven’t shacked up with some rugged cowboy in the back of a barn or something. Although if you have, I want ALL the juicy details!

I let out a small laugh. Lorelai cracks me up, and I’m feeling so good right now that everything is making me smile. She’s constantly telling me that I “wear my heart on my sleeve” and warned me not to bat eyes at any “handsome hunks with pickup trucks.” She would just about die if she could see me sitting here with the Cooper brothers right now in all of their brawny glory.

My thumbs fly across the screen as I type out a message, promising her that I haven’t fallen for any cowboys. We text back and forth a bit, and when something she says makes me chuckle again, Reid reaches over and plucks my cell phone from my hands.

My head shoots up. “Hey!”

He arches a brow, giving me a serious look as his full lips twitch with an almost-smile. “No texting at the dinner table, trouble. You know the rules.”

I have to hide a smirk too. That’s a rule my parents always enforced very strongly in my house, and even though Reid is being all bossy, there’s a teasing glint in his eyes as he reminds me of it.

“Besides,” he adds, standing up and holding out my cell phone as if he’s tempting a cat with a piece of fish. “It’s time for more dancing. Can’t let Nick think he’s really gotten ahead of me and Seb with this feast.”

I roll my eyes but push to my feet, shoving my phone back into my pocket when he gives it back to me.

Reid takes my hand and leads me toward the dance floor again just as another song starts blaring from the speakers. Heads turn to watch us as we go, and I do my best to keep a straight face. Normally, I don’t like people staring at me, but all of the curious and jealous looks from the other patrons at the bar are doing wonders for my ego.

When we reach the empty spot in the middle of the bar, Reid pulls me in close, molding my body against his. But before we can start dancing again, a loud voice cuts through the bar.

“What the fuck? ”

My head snaps up to see my brother standing near the door, his gaze locked on me and Reid.

Shock contorts his features, followed quickly by anger. Before I can process what’s happening, he barrels across the bar and drags Reid away from me.

Then he winds up and punches his friend in the face.