Dump and Chase: Nashville Assassins: Next Generation Read online

  “Cool,” Wes says, getting up. “Hey, Shell, what you got going on?”

  “Heading home, I guess.”

  “We’re gonna go barhopping. Wanna come?”

  No. No! Don’t invite her!

  Her gaze shifts to me before she looks back at Wes. “Yeah, that sounds like fun.”

  “Cool. Ready?” Wes asks, throwing a hundred on the table. “Someone is paying for my drinks at the next place since I paid for them here.”

  “I got you,” Shelli says with a wink, shaking her tip jar.

  He laughs. “Yes, drinks on the boss’s daughter!”

  Shelli’s eyes flash to me, and I look away. I shouldn’t go, but if I don’t, it would seem like I’m not going because of her. While that is the reason, I don’t want the guys knowing that.

  And I don’t want to hurt Shelli’s feelings.

  Why do I care about her feelings? What is happening to me?

  After gathering our things, we make a game plan to hit up the bars down in the Gulch. We decide to leave our cars and walk, even though I feel it’s too cold for Shelli out here. She’s wearing the shortest of skirts, and I don’t want her to freeze her ass off. It’s a great ass; it needs to stay there.

  “Okay, let me go put my stuff up,” Shelli says, and she starts for her truck.

  The guys just stand there, and it irritates me. “Is someone going to go with her?”

  Wes makes a face. “She’s going right around the corner.”

  “Assholes,” I grumble.

  I reluctantly run to catch up with her. She looks surprised when I fall into step with her. “Oh, hey. I’m only going to be a second.”

  “Yeah, I didn’t want you walking alone. Are you sure you want to walk? Maybe we should drive.”

  She makes a face as she unlocks her door, throwing her jar on the seat before pulling out the money. “It’s all within walking distance. I’m fine.”

  “I don’t want you to freeze.”

  Her lips tilt. “I’m fine. I have tights on.”

  And I want her out of them. Now.

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  She flashes me a grin before shutting the door and tucking her money between her breasts. It’s hard to breathe watching her hand cram between those two sweet mounds before she stuffs her key in there too. “Is that a safe place to put that?”

  She shrugs. “I don’t have pockets, and who’s going to be reaching between my boobs?”

  Me. I would.

  “I can hold them for you.” Her brow perks, and I shake my head. “I mean your key and money.”

  “I’m good,” she says with a little grin.

  I swallow hard. “Yeah, um, you got your ID?”

  “Ah!” she exclaims, going back into the truck. She leans over the seat, and that dress of hers rides up, leaving me breathless. When she leans back, she smiles up at me. “Got it.”

  “Great.”

  But it’s not great.

  It’s far from great, because I’m going to die before the night is over.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  AIDEN

  WE CATCH up with the guys and head to the first club. It’s as loud as ever, but Willy knows the bouncer and gets us a nice little spot in VIP. The club is a swanky one I hadn’t been to before. It’s new. The Spot has everything from go-go dancers to one badass DJ. The music is pumping, and it’s hard not to notice the little shake Shelli does with her hips. I fall back into the seat, trying to ignore her, but it’s hard. Wes dances beside her as the music vibrates around us. I want to push Wes out of the way, but I’m sure that would blow the cover I’m trying to stay under.

  When the first round of drinks comes, Boon calls the two of them over, and Shelli sits beside me as she takes the shot from him. We all cheers before we shoot back the bitter liquid. Tequila. Ugh. That was my one and only shot for sure. Tequila is not my friend. It’s all I was drinking that night when I went to bed with Shelli. Being drunk might not be my jam anymore. It took sleeping with my boss’s daughter to realize that. My dad would be so proud.

  I lean back in the booth as Wes takes Shelli’s hand again and they go back to dancing by the rail. They’re laughing, having a great time, and I’m sitting here, pissed the fuck off. Wes reaches out and moves some of her loose hair back behind her ear, and then they both start laughing. As if it’s some kind of joke. Why does he get to touch her like that? When he takes her in his arms, dipping her back, her laughter carries to me and turns my stomach with anger. I don’t know why the hell I’m getting so fucking pissed, but I am.

  “Bro, you need a drink,” Boon yells over the music before passing me a beer.

  I shake my head. “I don’t drink beer.”

  “Oh yeah. You’re the tooty-fruity type. Let me order you a…what was it? A mer-lot?” he pronounces it like a lot, and I can’t help it, I laugh.

  “Merlot,” I say, pronouncing it correctly for him. “But I’m good.”

  “I’m not getting it for you,” he says as he waves down the waitress obnoxiously. “I’m doing it for Wes, so that you don’t get up and rip off his head to piss down his throat.”

  I give him a blank look. “What are you talking about?”

  “Oh. Wait, are you not feeling her?” he asks, nodding toward where Shelli and Wes are now salsa dancing. It makes my blood boil with how close his hands are to her ass. I don’t understand these feelings. I don’t need that kind of headache. I don’t even need to care, but for some really annoying reason, I fucking do.

  “Not at all,” I say as dryly as I can. “I just think he’s stupid for doing that with the boss’s daughter.”

  Boon looks over at them, his head tilting before he looks back at me. “I don’t think he cares, and I wouldn’t either. That girl is fire.”

  He’s absolutely right.

  Boon flashes me a grin that shows his two front teeth missing. He forgot his falsies but, eh, I don’t think he cares. When the waitress comes back, he pulls her into his lap and she giggles, kissing his cheek. I guess they know each other, or they will know each other by the time the night is over. I glance over at Shelli, and her hair has come down. It’s falling like a thick, beautiful curtain along her back, swaying as she laughs.

  “Shots!”

  Willy comes over with a tray, and Shelli drops down beside me. She goes to hand me a shot, but I shake my head. “I’m good.”

  She eyes me, but Boon takes my shot. “Shit. If he isn’t going to shoot, I will!”

  Everyone laughs, but Wes looks toward me. “You done?”

  “Gotta make sure you idiots get home.”

  “Aww, BB turned into our DD,” Wes teases. I flash him a playful dark look as everyone chuckles and teases me.

  “BB?” Shelli asks, and then she glances over at me. “Oh, boogie butt! That’s awful. Who told them that was your nickname?”

  Her eyes are sparkling with excitement. It’s hard to be upset with her. Though, I have no right. She is nothing to me. She’s just really hot, and it’s pissing me off that someone else is touching her. “Tate.”

  “So rude!”

  “Agreed.”

  She takes the shot, shaking from the aftertaste. She then takes a long pull of her beer.

  “Better slow down there, Adler.”

  She looks back at me. “I know how to handle my liquor, BB.”

  Her grin is hypnotizing, and soon I’m smiling back at her. “My apologies.”

  She takes another long pull, and I admire her profile. It’s so round, sweet. Like a cherub’s. When she glances back at me, I look down at my hands.

  “So, are you excited for our shindig tomorrow?”

  I snort. “So excited.”

  She laughs. “Right? It’s gonna be so embarrassing.”

  “Absolutely.” I then lean in and chuckle softly. “Remember that party my mom threw for Stella, and she made me dress up like a damn fish?”

  Shelli’s face lights up as she giggles loudly. “Flounder!”

  �€