Boarded by Love Read online

  “What did Jimmy have to say?

  She eyes me, and then rolls her eyes. “I know you aren’t jealous.”

  “No way, I’m just asking,” I say and she laughs.

  “Oh gosh, nothing. He asked me if I wanted to dance, and I said no, that I’m with someone. Is that a problem?”

  Yes. “No, not at all. You can dance all you want.”

  She laughs as she wraps her arms around mine and leans her face on my shoulder. “Do you know how cute it is when you pout being all jealous?”

  I don’t answer and she giggles as she rubs her nose along my jaw. “Have I told you that I’m glad I’m here with you?”

  I give her a sideways glance and shrug. “No.”

  Her giggles continue but then her hands slide down my thigh and I jump in surprise. Looking at her, I say, “Wow, getting a little frisky, aren’t you?”

  “I’m trying to cheer you up,” she says innocently and I laugh, bringing her in for a kiss, but she dodges it. “I don’t kiss my competition.”

  “But you’ll feel them up?”

  She looks at me all wide-eyed and like I’m an idiot. “Of course. It weakens you.”

  All I can do is shake my head. “Well played, Ms. Anderson.”

  “Thank you,” she says and turns her attention to the stage where my brother is doing a horrible rendition of NSYNC’s “Bye, Bye, Bye.” We watch as Matt, Bryan, and Caleb have their turns, and in my opinion, my only competition is Claire. Going up next, I grab the mic as Justin Timberlake’s “Summer Love” starts. Looking out toward Claire, I smile as I sing and she moves in the chair, singing along with me. Moving my body to the beat, the girls all scream, and my girl looks at me like I’m a big piece of cake and she is the fattest kid in America craving me.

  Hell, if I’d known singing Justin Timberlake would get her all hot and bothered I would have done this four days ago.

  Finishing the song, the place goes wild and I know I’ve taken this category. There is no way she can beat that response or the fact that I didn’t miss a lyric at all. Jumping off the stage with a little more pep in my step since I know she won’t beat me in the rap category, I head toward her and she meets me in the middle again.

  “Was that for me?”

  I shrug. “Maybe.”

  “Good choice, but my beloved JT won’t distract me from kicking your ass. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have extreme karaoke

  to beat you in,” she says with a look, and then she passes by me as I fight the smile that wants to come out.

  This girl is nothing but fire.

  When I get to my seat, I turn to see that she’s handing the DJ her phone and then she goes onstage. I don’t know what she’s doing, but then the soft medley to a song starts and her voice is like an angel’s, filling the quiet pub. I know the lyrics though; it’s a remake of Drake’s “Hold on, We’re Going Home.” It’s soft and beautiful, and as I watch her sing, I know my chances of winning this round have just been blown out of the water. Not only that, but good God, she is amazing and the words…I know they’re for me. Because she’s a good girl and I know it, and everyone knows I act so different around her. While I had done the same, it was playful and to throw her off her game, but this feels way different. When her eyes meet mine, everything inside me sizzles.

  When she ends the song with a grin, the crowd isn’t as loud as they were for me, but still, she won that round, in my opinion. Coming offstage, she exchanges a grin with Jayden before coming toward me as I stand.

  “I have to admit, that may have thrown me off my game,” I say and she smiles up at me.

  “That’s our song,” she says as she takes a step toward me. “At least for now.”

  “So that means you’ll be taking me home?”

  Her smile grows. “Or maybe you’ll take me home? For sleeping purposes, of course.”

  “But of course,” I agree, and she laughs as I wrap my arms around her, kissing the top of her head.

  She turns in my arms and I hold her as we watch as the rest of our group go. They all suck and I really don’t know why I come here to steal their money. It sort of makes me an asshole, but it’s fun nonetheless, and if they want to donate to the “Jude likes food” fund, that’s on them. As I hold Claire, I can’t help but want to steal her and take her back to my house, hold her body and feel her against me as we sleep. As soon as that thought enters my head, I can’t help but wonder who I’m becoming. There was a time when I wanted to get a girl home to fuck her, but I just want to cuddle with Claire. This girl has completely taken over my brain, and I don’t mind one bit.

  When it comes to my turn again, she turns in my arms and gives me this little puppy dog look that has me weak in the knees. Batting her eyelashes as me, her hands slide down my back to my ass where she grips it, causing me to groan, my eyes locked with hers.

  “I hope you don’t mess up,” she says with a big innocent grin that I know is crap.

  Removing her hands, I playfully push her away and set her with a look, totally surprised by her antics to win. I can’t help but admire them, but still! I don’t like being the victim of them.

  “You play superdirty!” I accuse.

  “Dirty is the only way to win,” she says with a grin.

  I eye her some more, and I know that I’m in trouble with this girl. Heading toward the stage, I know I am going to win, even with her ruthless playing. I know this song like I know the back of my hand. It’s one of my warm-up songs and also a favorite. When the beat drops and “Talk Dirty” by Jason Derulo comes over the speakers, the girls lose it. I know everyone likes this song; I’ve sung it before and cleaned house against everyone. I start to work the crowd, acting as if I’m singing to everyone. Before I would have been, but now, I’m just trying to win. When I catch her gaze, she’s glaring, but there is a grin on her face, so surely I’m not in trouble.

  If I am, I’ll worry about that after this. Right now, I gotta win.

  When I finish the song, everyone is so loud that I think I’m playing hockey and not trying to kick my girl’s ass in some karaoke. High-fiving people and receiving hugs and even numbers from girls, I head toward Claire and she’s still giving me that glare. Reaching for her hand, I place the numbers in it and she rips them up before throwing them in the trash beside her.

  “I was gonna do that,” I say and she rolls her eyes.

  “I’m sure you were. I’m just making sure it’s done right.”

  Laughing, I say, “Aw, are you jealous, baby? That’s so cute.”

  With her eyes in slits, she flips me the bird and walks past me. I smack her ass, and her hands go to cover her ass as she looks back at me, a beautiful, happy grin on her face. Sticking her tongue out at me, she goes to the DJ and I laugh all the way back to my seat.

  “You are a completely different person when you’re with her,” Jayden says when I reach him.

  I shrug. “Maybe.”

  “It’s good, Jude, real good.”

  Looking away a tad bit embarrassed, I watch as Claire goes to the middle of the floor. When the music for “Drop it Low” by Ester Dean starts, I know I’m in trouble. Like I knew she would, as soon as she starts singing, her ass is wiggling and moving along with the beat, sending the guys in the pub into a frenzy. Holding on to the chair, I watch as my girl basically works her ass like a stripper would. Everyone in the pub is on their feet in no time, hollering and cheering her on as she not only sings well but works that ass like she wants the gold. Or better yet the hundred and twenty bucks that sits in the middle of the table. Dropping it down, she moves with the music, and while yes, it turns me on, I have to applaud her drive to win.

  Bowing as everyone cheers and hollers, she stands back up and then looks over at me with a look that tells me she knows she just won. When she comes to the table and Hannah hands her the money, she grins at me as she steps over to me.

  “Guess there’s a new winner in town,” she says, fanning the hundred dollars out and cooling herself wi