So. Long.: Bad Boy Next Door by Kelley Harvey

be
slightly different, but you all play them.”
    “ Games ? What games?”
    Cheat. Lie. Use. Deny responsibility. “Look, it’s fine. I
get it. I’m just another notch—”
    “Whoa. Hold up there. I didn’t use you. You’re the
one who was looking to wind up your muse. If anyone got used it was me .”
He frowns, looking away and lifting his chin like he’s been deeply offended.
    I poke my tongue into my cheek, studying him through
narrowed eyes.
    He stabs his little plastic spoon into his lemon chill hard
enough that the handle breaks off in his hand
    Fuck. I hate it when this happens. I have to admit—he has a
point.
    I plaster on my politest smile. “You know, you’re absolutely partially right. We used each other . It was a mutual-use
situation.”
    Adam draws back, as though he’s shocked that I agree with
him.
    I give a single nod. “No, really. You’ve given me a
revelation. It’s true. We used each other.”
    “Damn straight we did. We both got something we wanted.” He
says with a smug, vindicated smile. “You got licked, and I got to taste that
sugar glider.”
    I clench my teeth tight and suck in a deep breath through my
nose. “Whatever. Either way, I now realize I’m not okay with that.”
    “Okay with what ? Being licked? Getting off?”
    “I’m not okay with being a convenient piece of ass until you
find a new one. I’m not really okay with being one in a long line of girls you
plan to fuck until you find what you’re looking for. And I’m really not
okay with being with a guy who sees women as nothing more than a twat to be
fucked. Let’s forget it happened and part friends. Okay then? Good. Thanks.”
    I turn toward my house, licking the dripping cream off the
side of my treat. It doesn’t taste even the slightest bit sweet now.
    When I get to the door, Adam yells, “Well, it’s your lucky
day; I’m a helluva a friend to have.”
    We’ll see about that .
    My hand tightens on the doorknob. It takes everything I have
to not look over my shoulder as I let myself into the house.
    I promptly wilt against the inside of the door.
    Counting to ten, I take deep cleansing breaths.
    Friend. He’s a good friend to have?
    I just bet he is.
    Damn him.
    Heading back to my office, I shake off the remnants of my
frustration and upset.
    It’s time to get to business.
    I need to focus on what’s important—finding someone to share
my life with. Someone who will want to be with me and only me, someone
who likes kids. That person is definitely not Adam.
    Adam is Mr. Wrong. There’s nothing about him that’s right,
except for his prowess between my thighs.
    I go to my web browser and pull up the DATE.COM site.
    It’ll be best to let someone else act as my muse.
    All right, then. Who do we have for Today’s Suggested
Dates ?
    I navigate to my personal page. Three emails from three
different Date Opportunities wait for my response.
    Question of the day is will any of them be worth a shit?

EIGHT

    I come around the side of the house, dragging the dead tree
I cut down in the backyard.
    My fucking cock springs to attention in a heartbeat.
    Shit. That didn’t even take a dirty thought.
    Kelsey locks her front door and turns. From her strappy red
heels to the white top that shows enough cleavage to tease without giving away
the entire show, she’s magnificent.
    I toss the half-rotted tree onto the curb and raise my hand
in salute. “Hey, Beautiful Girl. You look amazing. Got a hot date or
something?”
    She straightens her skirt as she looks down at herself.
“Yeah.”
    Damn. Not what I thought she’d say.
    Of course she has a date, dumbass. Look at her. Why wouldn’t
she?
    I roll my shoulders and stand a bit straighter. “Well, good.
You should go out. Is this that dating site I overheard you talking about the
other day? I’ve been thinking of checking it out myself.”
    Her mouth drops open for a moment, but she snaps it shut.
“DATE.COM. Yes. Leigh insisted I give it a try.”
    I meet