Free Fireworks: A Holiday Bad Boy Romance by Claire Adams

personality first and then their
looks was aggravating.
    "Do I really?" He nipped at the
air rapidly, looking ridiculous as we walked up a steep hill side by side.
    I couldn't help but smile.
    "Stop it." I swatted at him,
hitting him in the chest, and realizing how firm he was. Great.
    "Come on, Cora. You don't even know
me. Stop acting like you do." He reached out and grabbed my hand, jerking
me back before I walked into oncoming traffic.
    I pulled my hand from his and let out a
soft sigh. "I know plenty of guys like you. You get used to recognizing
them when they're all you've dated."
    "Awww, come on now. I'm a new face
and a new opportunity to have a little bit of fun." He started across the
road, keeping his hands to himself, which surprised me.
    "Your definition of fun doesn't match
up to mine, at all." I kept my eyes on the people in front of us, not
willing to give him an inch.
    "I highly doubt that." He
touched the small of my back as we hopped up on onto the sidewalk across the
street. It felt silly to slap him away, and within a second, his hand was off
of me.
    The wind picked up and blew my hair about
as his cologne drove into me, leaving my heart racing.
    No.
He's a total asshole. A user. Just like Brandon .
    That thought alone doused any desire I had
completely.
    He cleared his throat. "I can see
you're not going to make this easy."
    We stopped across the street from the
mansion, waiting on the light to turn.
    "Make what easy?" I glanced over
at him. "Please do explain yourself."
    He smirked. "Make getting to know you
easy."
    "You don't need to know me, Brody.
I'm not your type of girl, nor are any of my friends. We respect ourselves more
than that." I shrugged and darted out through the traffic, hoping to lose
him. I wasn't interested in conversing with him for another minute. I was
strong in my resolve, but even I had a breaking point. If he batted his damn
eyelashes at me once, I would melt like butter.
    He was far too sexy to chance it. I just
prayed that my friends would find his friends complete duds. The last thing I
needed was my girls wanting to hang out with his guys. That would leave me with
one thing to do: get to know him.

 
    *

 
    "What the fuck was that all
about?" Emily got in my face as I stood by the drink table in the center
of the large living room as the party raged around me.
    "I don't want anything to do with
him, Emily. Is there some reason that you guys don't understand just how much
Brandon hurt me? He was a slut and a half, and this guy is no different."
I tried to keep my tone even, calm. There was no reason to feed into her anger.
    "I get that, but leaving and walking
over here by yourself was dangerous. I tried to find you, but didn't see you
after you took off. You scared me." Her eyes filled with tears.
"Don't do that again. Got it?"
    "Okay. I'm sorry." I reached out
and pulled her into a hug. "Don't be mad at me. I just don't need this guy
in my life. Not even for a summer fling."
    She pulled back and wiped at her tears. I
needed to be more cognizant of her feelings. They'd lost her little sister a
few years back in a sporting event and never found her.
    "Alright. I get it. Just don't run
off again. You're the only family I really claim." She gave me a tight
smile and glanced around. "Brody might be a player, but I'm not so sure
the rest of his friends are. They seem really nice. I'd let Clay take me out
sometime, but I'm not sure he's the kind to ask. He's quiet."
    "I thought you liked Brody, that you
were the woman to teach him a lesson or two." I chuckled, forcing myself
to relax a little. The party was supposed to be fun. Brody wanting my attention
wasn't going to change that. He was like every other man in the world: ignore
him long enough and he would simply go away.
    "He's got eyes only for you,
sister." She poured herself a glass of punch. "We sure this stuff
isn't spiked with drugs?"
    "Nope." I downed mine and
glanced around, spotting Dedra and Cindy talking to