So Maybe I Want A Bad Boy!

Clad

"You don't look too pleased right now," Max said, glancing at me through the rearview mirror.

I grunted. "How should I look to show that I'm 'pleased'?"

"I don't know, maybe a little less grumpy?" he suggested with a pointed look.

I rolled my eyes. "You're talking nonsense."

"It's true! We just closed a deal with the law firm, so that's minus one problem off our plate, but you look like someone just killed your dog."

I sighed, a bit too firmly. "I'm relieved, but tired. We flew in this morning, remember?"

"Yeah, but that doesn't wear you out, does it? If you're not happy with the law firm, we can switch. It doesn't matter that a friend recommended it. If you're not feeling it, we can bail."

I stiffened. "The law firm is fine," I said, my tone sharp, more defensive than I meant.

Before he could respond, my other idiot friend, Liam, called. Max's phone buzzed loudly.

"What do you want, Liam?" I answered icily.

"Huh? Why are you answering Max's phone?" Liam's voice was thick with surprise. I could practically hear the raised eyebrows.

"What, you wanted to gossip?" I shot back. The only reason Liam would bypass me for Max was to stir something up.

Max glanced nervously between me and the road, probably sensing the brewing storm. Liam loved to stir up drama using my name as fuel. I wasn't in the mood for it today.

"What's got you so grumpy? I gave you a welcome gift to New York by getting your girl fired at work. And this is the thanks I get?" Liam whined, practically pouting through the phone.

I scoffed, my voice thick with annoyance. "Tsk, I never asked you to get anyone fired. That was all you."

"Un-freaking-believable! Do you have any idea how many strings I pulled to get her fired? She was their top lawyer and they didn't want to let her go!" Liam went on, acting like he'd done me a favor.

"I didn't ask for it, Liam," I repeated, exasperated.

Liam grunted. "So ungrateful. I won't talk to you anymore. Max, how do you handle such an annoying boss? Come work for me!"

I glared at Max, but he just laughed nervously. "He's not that bad," he mumbled, clearly not wanting to get caught in the middle.

I shot him a look.

I narrowed my eyes at Max.

" You've known him since diapers, and you know how he is. The only time he smiles is when he's talking about Harley." Max said

The mention of her name sliced through the air. I felt a flicker in my chest, tight and uncomfortable. It was a damn shame how a single word could still have that effect.

Max looked like he'd been hit by a truck. "By the way, did she recognize you?" he added, his voice almost hesitant.

I could feel the air grow thick, my heartbeat quickening. Liam's voice cracked the tension. "Wait, yeah, did she recognize you?"

I hesitated for a moment, then the memory flashed in my mind. She barely looked at me, but when she said, " oh yeah, you too." That struck a chord, it hit me hard.

I swallowed hard.

"No," I muttered. "She didn't even acknowledge me."

Liam went silent. Max nearly slammed on the brakes.

"What do you mean?" Liam asked, his voice sharp.

"It means I greeted her like a freaking puppy, all eager and happy, and she looked like she couldn't wait to get away from me," I spat, the words tasting bitter as they left my mouth.

"Shit. No wonder you're so grumpy," Liam murmured, his voice full of understanding.

Before I could respond, he added, "That's it. Max, turn the car around. We're hitting my favorite club. My boy needs some cheering up."

And that's how I ended up in a loud club, the air thick with the scent of alcohol and the pounding bass of a DJ who clearly had no intention of letting anyone sit still. As soon as I walked in, a familiar voice cut through the noise.

"Clad!"

My eyes snapped to the source of the shout. And there she was—Harley. Her voice slurred slightly, but she was still the same sharp-tongued, fearless woman I remembered. "Can we have sex on the beach?" She said it like it was a casual request, but the heat in her eyes made my pulse spike.

I couldn't help myself—I walked toward her before I could think twice. Liam flashed a knowing smirk at me, and Max shot me a confused look, but they both stayed behind.

"Are you sure you can handle that, Harley?" The words were out before I could stop them, a challenge, a provocation. I wanted to get under her skin, to see if the spark I remembered was still there.

She choked on her drink, her eyes widening in surprise. Her friends helped her sit up, but she looked anything but apologetic—she was furious, and I was enjoying it a little too much.

"You okay there?" one of her friends asked, concern lacing her voice.

Harley didn't seem to notice. "Sheesh, Harley," I continued, voice low and teasing, "if you react this way to the sound of my voice, how will you handle the actual thing? And is 'sex on the beach' not a little wild for Miss Two Goody Shoes?"

Harley's face flushed, her breath hitching as she tried to steady herself. Her eyes shot daggers at me, but there was something else there too—a spark I hadn't seen in years. It wasn't just hatred; it was something darker.

"I wouldn't choke over a common voice like that," she scoffed, though her words were less confident than usual. "Even my boyfriend can handle me better than you."

Boyfriend? The word felt like a punch to the gut. I stared at her, my chest tight.

Her gaze flicked nervously, avoiding mine for a second before meeting it again. She was lying.

I couldn't help myself—I smirked.

"Then it means your boyfriend's not doing a good job satisfying you, given how desperately you called out my name just now," I said, leaning in closer. The words hung between us, heavy, challenging.

Harley's face went red, and she nearly fell off her chair. But somehow, she managed to steady herself.

"You okay?" one of her friends asked again, but Harley barely seemed to hear them.

"It's the alcohol, it's the alcohol," she muttered, trying to dismiss it, but her eyes never left me.

I couldn't take my eyes off her either, not when she was this close, this rattled.

She snapped her head toward me, her expression turning bitter again. "Look, you're not the only Clad I know. I know a million of them, and honestly? None of them are as annoying as you. Now, leave before my boyfriend actually gets here."

Her words hit me harder than I expected. But before I could say anything, she threw one more thing at me, like a final jab.

"Just so you know, 'sex on the beach' is a drink, not what you're thinking," she added, her tone dismissive as she turned halfway in her seat, clearly wanting to shut me down.

I didn't respond right away. Instead, I watched her, eyes narrowing. Before I could speak, a hand slipped over my shoulder—soft, predatory.

"Clad," a seductive voice purred from behind me. "So, this is where you were. I've been looking for you."

I didn't push her away like I usually would. Something in me wanted to see how Harley would react, and when I looked at her, frozen in place, I couldn't resist. I leaned in close, my lips near her ear, my voice low and steady.

"Sorry, love. Did you wait for me long?"

Her eyes locked with mine, and for the first time in a long time, I felt the tension between us build like a storm on the horizon.