Political Prick: A Hero Club Novel Read online

  Another limoncello dropped in front of me, courtesy of a winking Frankie.

  I needed to stop and get back outside before Aubrey knew what I was doing, but I was too far gone.

  And by the smirk on Adrian’s face, he knew it too.

  “Are you trying to invite me to walk you to your house, Melanie?”

  I rolled my eyes, grabbing my drink before I could think it was time to stop. Better than the alternative of really thinking about how his words rolled down my stomach and into other places.

  “That’s what you got out of all of that? God, you really are a political prick, you know that?”

  He laughed a deep belly laugh that had the butterflies in my stomach doing somersaults.

  Not good, especially now that I had a gut full of two and a half glasses of Limoncello.

  “A political prick? That’s a pretty good one. What should I call you then? Do-gooder Damsel?”

  “Please, I am not some sort of damsel in distress who needs your saving.”

  “But you do need me to get the city to approve the park.”

  His words sliced through me and a cold chill spread up my arms.

  “I’m not going to sleep with you to get a vote,” I said, my hand shaking as I brought the drink to my lips.

  He didn’t laugh this time, his gaze focused intently on me. “I didn’t say anything about sleeping, did I?”

  I almost choked on my drink but quickly swallowed it. “Is this how everything gets done in politics? The boys club? If so, maybe I don’t want to be a lobbyist,” I muttered.

  “A lobbyist?” His voice rose slightly.

  “Yeah, you know the people who lobby to get things done?”

  He nodded, the smirk softening to a half-smile. “I know quite well about lobbying, I worked as a page for Senator Samuels for a while and those ambulance chasers were always up in arms about something.”

  “I’d hardly call someone trying to help a good cause an ambulance chaser.”

  He leaned in and I swore his lips were close enough to brush against mine as I sucked in a breath.

  “Most of the people coming to his office or the senate floor were trying to get more trans fats in restaurants. Arguing that we shouldn’t put calorie count on menus or take away MSG. The two years I spent there; I’d seen more people who thought the world needed more hamburgers than health food.”

  “Well, that’s not all lobbyists,” I sputtered.

  “What kind of lobbyist would you want to be, Melanie?” He cupped his chin with his hand.

  This should have been when I excused myself. When I went back out to Aubrey and pretended like all of this never happened.

  But the Limoncellos were really strong and this was the first person who asked me what I actually wanted to do.

  Everyone else just nodded their head and gave me a small smile after I said I had a degree in Politics.

  So, I took the bait.

  And didn’t listen to the better parts of my brain.

  “My original hope was women’s issues. The pink tax has got to be one of the most asinine issues.”

  “Can’t argue that one.” He cradled his beer. “But why original hope? Thinking about a different career now?”

  I sighed, my shoulders slumping. “I’m slowly learning that to get involved in any part of a political career you have to know someone, thus how I ended up interning at the animal shelter.”

  “Longtime friend of the Batemans?”

  I laughed. “I used to serve them coffee at Starbucks.”

  “So, what you’re saying is, if this park doesn’t work out, I can see about you managing the new one at my strip mall?”

  “You really are a prick you know that?” I snapped, but my words had no malice as I bit back the laugh trying to escape my lips.

  “I may be, but I’ve also sat exactly where you are.” He tapped his fist on the bar top between us.

  “You mean like this seat?”

  “No, I mean I was trying to figure out where I fit in the landscape of politics and government. Started out paging, interning, then worked my way up to city council.”

  “And how did you do that?” I blurted, wishing I could pull back a filter.

  Before he could respond, a cold hand brushed my shoulder.

  My eyes bugged out as I turned to see Aubrey standing next to Chance in all of his sexy, Aussie glory.

  The former soccer star still kept his physique and that head of scruffy hair that matched his two little cherub cheeked kids in their double stroller, noming on some breadsticks as they looked at me with their wide brown eyes.

  “Aubrey, hey, I was just about to go back out but heard...”

  Before I could finish my sentence, Chance thrusted a hand between us, his stare directed at the man across from me. “Chance Bateman.”

  The two men shook hands, a silent conversation rushing between them as their eyes locked across the bar.

  “Adrian Chase, good to meet you Mr. Bateman, I’ve heard quite a lot about you around the office.”

  Chance laughed, putting his arm around Aubrey who still had her skeptical gaze drifting between Adrian and me. “I hope all good things.”

  “Mostly.”

  “Melanie,” Aubrey piped up. “I was going to tell you that Chance and the kids decided to meet me here for dinner instead of doing takeout, if you wanted to join us.”

  I glanced at the happy couple and their precious little kids. That was when an ache filled in my chest that I’d tried to ignore.

  Adrian had the career I wanted.

  Aubrey had the loving husband who would do anything for her, including buying her coffee every day from me to woo her.

  I had this internship.

  That was it.

  And if I didn’t succeed in it, then what?

  Maybe sitting here a bit longer with Adrian Chase was my ticket to getting this park situation figured out.

  “You know, I was going to finish my drink with Adrian since he’s buying and talk a little bit more about the park proposal.” I offered a sweet smile to Aubrey but she just blinked slowly.

  “You sure about that? Because we’ll be at a booth right over here if you need to wave a flag and get my attention.”

  “I’m sure.”

  She sucked in a breath and let it out slowly before nodding. “Okay, well, that invitation still stands and if not, I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”

  The two men shook hands again, saying their pleasantries before the family went to their corner booth.

  I kept my gaze on them until Adrian’s words tickled the back of my neck. “They’re a lovely family.”

  I turned back toward him, smirking as I grabbed my new drink Frankie had set down. “They are. And they’re not far from here either. Wouldn’t it be nice for them to have a park to play in? Maybe even Chance could expand his soccer program? That would bring a lot more people out to the park and I could see sponsorships and city councilmen really getting more votes for that.”

  He laughed, pointing a finger at me as he polished off his beer, Frankie already setting another one in front of him. “You’re good, I’ll give you that, but you’re not going to distract me from talking about you.”

  “Me? We weren’t talking about me?” I squeaked, clearing my throat so I didn’t come out sounding like Minnie Mouse.

  “Yeah. You have goals and it looks like you’re trying to pave the way from them, you might just need a push from a political prick, as you’ve so lovingly called me.”

  I took a big gulp of my drink, wishing maybe he drank enough too so he could forget I called him that. “I don’t know where you’re going with this, but I have no interest in leaving my internship or losing the park proposal.”

  “I didn’t say you had to.”

  “Then what are you saying?” I tried to ignore the steady beating in my chest at each of his words.

  Was it because of what he was saying or because the more he talked, the closer he got to me, his leg now ev
er so slightly brushing against mine and sending a jolt to places that hadn’t been jolted in a very long time.

  “Did you know my internship was with the Parks and Recreation Department? I started my junior year of college, working for an overzealous department head who wanted to do the exact same thing you want to do with that empty lot.”

  I put my hand to my chest in mock shock and tried to control the beating of my thumping heart. “And you didn’t get it done?”

  He sighed. “We tried. We tried really damn hard and I thought I failed when we couldn’t get the position passed with city council. So, it led me to looking into real estate development after spending all that semester going up to these old dudes in suits, trying to convince them that their money and time should be spent on that heap of dirt.”

  “And now you’re one of the old men in suits?”

  He laughed, the vibration tickling my cheeks and I crossed my legs hard. Damn that laugh for being sexy when I was trying to hate him.

  “I wanted to be the opposite of them. I wanted to listen. To really do what was best for the community. So, I got my real estate license the same time as I graduated and worked under some of the guys until I had my own capital and now I’m the youngest man sitting on city council at twenty-nine.”

  “Wow, um, that’s impressive.” I tried to hide how impressed I exactly was by covering the flush in my cheeks with another long sip of my drink.

  “I’m not just trying to blow smoke up your ass here, I’m just telling you, that’s what I did and it wasn’t easy and honestly half the time I don’t know if what I’m doing actually helps anything.” His gaze flickered through the table, a flash of something behind his lenses.

  What was that?

  Doubt?

  Did this great, cocky guy really have something he regretted?

  “Then why don’t you back the park project?” I asked carefully.

  He shook his head, raking a hand through his hair so that a few stray strands fell over his forehead.

  My hand itched to push them away, to see if they’d run like silk through my fingers.

  “The park will cost the city money with maintenance. People say they want green space but no one actually wants to take care of it and when tax payers start complaining about it, that’s when it’ll get shut down and another developer will build the same thing I’m proposing in a few years. So why not get in on it first?”

  I swallowed hard, my heart thudding.

  Of course, he had a point that it could happen.

  But it didn’t have to.

  “But what if the animal shelter worked with the Parks and Recreation Department? Used volunteers from the shelter to help take care of it? Or even interns in landscape architecture. Wouldn’t that help with costs?”

  He smirked, lifting his half-empty glass. “Now you’re starting to talk like a politician.”

  “So, does that mean you’ll consider what I’m saying?”

  There was a new fire in his eyes. One that had his gaze traveling to my lips. It was as if the air was whooshed out of my lungs then back in when he stared at me like that.

  “Maybe.”

  Chapter 5

  One limoncello with my boss was a questionable idea.

  Having a few more with my enemy was an even worse one.

  “California Central? Yeah, I went there, too. Does the student union still have that food truck with the fish tacos?” Adrian’s voice was like a warm blanket wrapping me in a comfortable fuzz.

  I don’t know when we went from talking about our backgrounds, but the more we talked, and drank, the more I found myself leaning into him and his heavenly scent of leather and woodsy cologne.

  “Definitely the best Baja fish tacos this side of the boardwalk.”

  “Think they’re still open right now?” He raised an eyebrow and something about the little dimple popping when he smiled had my knees turning into jelly.

  “I... uh...I don’t know,” I stammered, pulling my phone out of my pocket.

  When did it get to be past eight?

  Shit. I had a few missed texts from my mom.

  Mom: Are you coming home for dinner?

  Mom: Just wondering how your first day went.

  Mom: Called the animal shelter and someone named Emma said you left early with your boss for a meeting. Don’t worry, we’ll wait up so we can hear all about it.

  “I need to get going home,” I muttered, quickly sending Mom a message that she was on her way.

  Where the hell had the time gone?

  I remembered Chance and Aubrey saying goodbye, but that wasn’t that long ago...was it?

  I pushed off the bar, my knees locking.

  Before I could topple to the wood floor below, a pair of strong arms enveloped my waist, straightening me against a firm chest.

  Adrian’s chest.

  I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the hard curves and edges of his body, molding to his dress shirt that was now firmly pressed against my back.

  “Whoa, I don’t think you should drive after that many drinks. Let me get us some food and then I’ll take you home.”

  My hazy brain liked that idea, my shoulders slumping back against his chest.

  But the better part of me straightened up, shaking my head as I slowly pulled away, balancing my hands on the back of the bar stool. “No, it’s totally fine. My mom has food waiting and it’s only a couple of blocks from here. I can walk.”

  I opened my eyes to watch his gaze rack from the top of my head, down to my heels. “You’re going to walk a couple of blocks in that? No way in hell. I’m driving you.”

  I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “Don’t get all caveman on me. I can walk.”

  His hand shot out, gripping onto my bicep. My shoulders tightened as I widened my eyes, staring up at his tightened jaw. “I believe you can do anything, Melanie. But what kind of guy would I be if I just let you walk home alone at night?”

  “Uh, one who I just met a few hours ago and probably wants me to get in the car so we can get frisky, which is not going to happen, sir.” I tried to make my voice stern, but the more I met that caramel-colored gaze of his, the more that jelly feeling in my knees was back.

  He groaned, the sexy growl coming from his curled lips turned my knees into something other than jelly. Definitely something else I needed to tamp down.

  “I’m not trying to get in your damn panties. If I wanted to, I wouldn’t need to get you drunk or force you into that.”

  I took a step back, frowning as I tried to ignore the heavy thudding in my heart that had slammed into my stomach. “Oh, hell no. Just because we had a few drinks and talked doesn’t mean I’ll sleep with you. Ever.”

  I pushed my phone into my pocket and straightened my jacket. “And on that note, I’ll bid you goodnight, Mr. Chase.”

  I spun on my heel, heading toward the exit, but even though I kept my eyes on the wall ahead, I could still feel his presence. Hear the footfalls of his expensive loafers.

  The sun had just started to set over the mountains, dotting the sky in a kaleidoscope of pinks and orange.

  Under normal circumstances it might have even been a calm, breezy night for a walk. But not when I had a demanding man with wire framed glasses at my back.

  “Look, my car is right there. You can even sit in the backseat while I drive if it makes you more comfortable.”

  I glanced at the lot where Frankie’s moped was parked next to a sleek black sports car.

  “Does that thing even have a backseat?” I asked, my voice wavering.

  I had to stop talking and giving into him. Better to just keep moving.

  “Not big enough for the two of us if you’re thinking about it.”

  I scoffed. “Goodnight, Adrian.”

  I thought maybe he’d given up when I closed my eyes, not hearing him behind me anymore.

  Slowly I opened my eyes and the roar of a car blared behind me.

  “Finally,” I muttered under my breath and took a few
steps onto the sidewalk.

  “So where are we headed.”

  I froze, slowly turning toward the voice.

  Adrian leaned out of the car window, one hand on the wheel, the other on the door, that dimpled smirk clearly painted on his face like he won something.

  “I told you, I’m not getting in the car.” I crossed my arms over my chest, looking straight ahead instead of back at his sleek car or that damn smile.

  “It’s nice and air conditioned in here. I could even put some music on while we drive to the food truck,” he pleaded, the car going at a snail’s pace beside me.

  “No, thank you.”

  “You know, you really shouldn’t be walking alone at night. A lot of weirdoes out there.”

  “Says the guy following me and yelling out of his car window.”

  “See? Makes sense. You should just get in the car.”

  He continued moving next to me, even has I turned the corner down Elm.

  As we approached the set of palms near the entrance to my neighborhood, realization sobered me.

  “You really need to leave.”

  I turned toward him, watching the lines in his forehead furrow. “Why? Got a boyfriend who you don’t want to see me?”

  I snorted but covered my mouth so maybe he wouldn’t hear it. Though it was pretty obvious by his following smile that he did. “No, not at all.”

  “Afraid if I see where you live, we might have future Romeo and Juliet moments and I’ll come to your balcony?”

  “I’m sure my dad would love that.”

  His eyes bulged. “You live with your parents.”

  Letting out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding in, my shoulders slumped forward. “Yeah. Yeah, I do. And they won’t exactly like it if they see a stranger in a Jaguar following their daughter home.”

  “Should I get out and walk you in then? Do the gentleman thing and introduce myself?”

  Thrusting my hands forward with my palms toward him, I shook my head fiercely. “No. Please don’t. Okay? Can we just call it a night here?”

  “What if I’m not ready for my night with you to end?” he asked, sliding the car into park before he leaned forward, both hands on the side of the car.

  In the light of the setting sun his hair had turned to a more sandy brown color, his glasses reflecting the same shady brown of his eyes.