B00AAOCX2E EBOK Read Free Page A

back. “Can we, for once, skip the ‘every guy you date is a douche, or a chode, or an… assclown’ discussion?”
    Ian snickered down at the C.D. “Assclown? When have I ever called anybody an assclown?”
    Way to steer the conversation off the topic. “Whatever.”
    Ian held up his hands. “All I’m saying is that any guy who has to one-up everyone, just to prove how ‘knowledgeable’ he is? That’s the classic definition of a douche. A guy like that doesn’t deserve your time, let alone your attention. And, good God, don’t
even
get me started on the spray-on tan.”
    Well, I had to give him that one. I’d been a little turned off by it myself, but willing to let it slide because of desirable qualities Brian possessed that more than made up for it – broad shoulders, a killer smile, and a genuine interest in me. “What about the girls you hook up with?”
    “What about them?”
    “Brainless Barbies.” I ticked the words off on my fingers.
    Ian smirked and rubbed his lower abdominal muscles in a suggestive manner. “I’m not looking to discuss particle physics with ‘em.”
    “Ugh, how did I ever become friends with such a pig?” I made a face of disgust, giving a halfhearted voice to my inner-feminist. My outrage would’ve been more genuine if I believed, for one second, that he was just another opportunistic playboy. Like his On-Air personality, this was just another face Ian presented to the world because the world responded favorably to it.
    “A pig?” he cried in mock-affront. “I’ll show you a pig.” He captured my wrists in his large hands, yanked me side-saddle into his lap, then thrust his nose into the crook of my neck and oinked.
    “Ian!” I squealed with delight as he tickled my waist. “Ian, stop! No! I’m going to pee my pants!”
    “All the more incentive for me to keep going.” His hands went to the sensitive undersides of my knees.
    I squirmed on top of him. “Kinky pervert! Hey! Come on… ah! Stop! Look, we’re on in less than a minute.”
    “Fine.” Ian let me go, and I fell back into my seat, flushed and winded. “Killjoy,” he teased.
    “Big meanie.” I huffed and thrust out my lower lip.
    “Wimp.”
    “Man-whore.”
    Amery’s chiding voice came over the speakers. “Hey, you two, as much as I hate to break up insult volleyball, we still have a show to do.”
    Ian hooted when I stuck my tongue out at him and glanced at the monitor. Swiveling 180-degrees in his chair, he turned his attention to the engineer’s booth. “So, Amery, what’s tonight’s letter about?”
    ***
    “Thanks again for the ride.” I climbed off Ian’s prized gray Ducati Diavel outside the Ocotillo apartment complex and pushed his helmet off my head.
    The look on Ian’s face in the waxing moonlight was full of censure. “Like I’d let you walk home. What’s the latest on your car?”
    “It’s supposed to be done tomorrow. Maybe you can give me a ride to the mechanic’s after SHAZ-Fest? You’re coming, right?” SHAZ-Fest – otherwise known as the Sexual Health from A-to-Z Festival – was Riordan College’s annual spring semester event which promoted smart and safe sexual lifestyles among college students.
    Ian grimaced. “Ehh… do I have to?”
    I yawned. “We did sign up to man the booth.”
    “
You
signed us up.”
    “Well, it’s kind of expected that we do something. We do claim to be semi-authorities on sex and relationships. I don’t see that we had much choice.”
    A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Yeah, but…”
    “Come on, it’s two measly hours of your life. Besides, what else are you going to do between classes?”
    Ian gave me a wicked grin. “Oh, I’m sure I can find someone.”
    I groaned. I was tired and a little sick of dealing with “Playboy Ian” tonight. “Give it a rest.”
    “Sorry,” he said in a low voice, then released a long sigh. He turned his head to a sodium light on the first floor, and I saw all the humor leave his face.