“She’s here to see Kye.”

Her mouth dropped open. “Kye? For what?”

“I just needed to talk to him.”

“Did he know you were coming?”

“Definitely not,” I said. The nervous laughter that escaped me only made Jax smile harder, until they both broke out into laughter, making me more uneasy.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have come.”

“No, no, no,” she said. “We will get him. It’s really no problem. Kye just doesn’t get many visitors. Wait here.” They both turned, knocking fists as they disappeared further inside. I looked to where they were going, but between the cars and the toolboxes, I couldn’t see much.

A minute later, Kye emerged, and I froze. The scowl was still on his face, but this time he had no shirt on. He was wiping his hands off, throwing the rag aside as he walked out, and my mouth watered at the sight. He was already dangerously hot, but without the shirt, it was somehow worse. A mess of abs, tattoos, and grease was in front of me, and I was trying to figure out why I ever thought this was unattractive. I always went for the clean-cut, no-tattoos type, and I couldn’t for the life of me remember why.

“I’m not really sure why you’re here, but please don’t jump me again,” he said, a cocky grin plastered on his face.

“Sorry about that. Again. I promise to keep my hands to myself this time.”

He gave a sharp nod, crossing his arms as he looked down at me.

“Can you maybe sit down or something? I’m already intimidated enough. I don’t need you towering over me like this,” I said, leaning back a little more.

He cocked an eyebrow. “I need to sit down so I don’t intimidate you?”

“Maybe just lean against the car?”

He blew out a hard breath, walking over to a car and sitting back on the hood. His arms were still crossed and he looked even less happy than before, but at least I wasn’t trying to stare up at him. I stepped a little closer, realizing that while I didn’t have to look up at him now, from this angle, I had a perfect view of his electric blue eyes.

“Okay, that helps a little, I guess,” I lied.

“What do you want, Daze?”

The nickname made my stomach flutter. I usually corrected people, preferring my full name to Daze, but I couldn’t bring myself to correct him when it made that shiver go down my spine when he said it.

“I need a favor.”

“From me?” he asked, his eyebrows shooting back up. “Are you sure you’re in the right place?”

“I am. After the other night, people around the school think we are dating now for real.”

“And?”

“And it’s working. Dean is jealous. My friends are actually wanting to hang out again. Everyone wants to know about you and I dating.”

He rolled his eyes and leaned back on the car, somehow looking hotter as his abs and biceps flexed. 

“Again, and?”

“And I came by to see if you would like to go to a party with me this weekend.”

He laughed, leaning forward as a stray lock of hair fell across his forehead. The nose ring glinted in the sun, and I could see an old scar across the top of his shoulder. He always seemed to look feral. Something about him made me feel unsettled and the wicked smile on his face wasn’t helping calm my fears about it.

“Let me get this straight. You used me the other night because you wanted to piss off your boyfriend and I was scary enough for you. Now, a rumor is going around that I’m dating you, and you think that’s your ticket back to popularity somehow?”

I nodded. “For now. I mean, I’m sure the novelty of it will wear off, but if you would come this weekend and just, I don’t know, hang out with me for a night, it might be enough that people forget a few things that I really need them to forget.”

“And you honestly believe I am going to help your image?” he asked, waving a hand over himself.

“I think you are broody and mysterious and people eat that up. You can be yourself and people will fawn all over you for a night.”

“They never fawn all over me. What makes you think they will now?”

“Because if you come there with me, there will be a bit of a buffer between them and you, so they will feel a little more open to gawking at you.”

“Wow,” he said, sounding more excited now. “And somehow you in between will help them like me more?”

“Exactly!”

“Then not a fucking chance.” His face fell as he pushed off the car, towering back over me.

“What? Why? Isn’t that a good thing?”

“No. I don’t want people to like me, especially not those people.” He turned, already heading back inside. I couldn’t believe he was already blowing me off. I thought I at least had a chance at winning him over.

“But it’s just for one night, and I will owe you in return.”

“You already owe me.”

“Okay, true. Then I’ll owe you even more now.”

That made him stop. “Owe me how?”

“I don’t know. What do you need? You be my fake boyfriend for a party, maybe two, and in return, I’ll do something that you need.”

He took three large steps back to me, and I held my breath as he came closer. The wicked smile back on his face made my heart stop. “You’re a good girl, aren’t you, Daze?”

“I like to think so,” I said, trying to straighten my shoulders. I still chewed at my bottom lip, worry settling in about what he would ask of me. This was such a bad decision. A guy like Kye could want anything from me.

“And good girls like you have a good image. People like you and just assume you wouldn’t get in trouble.”

“Considering my dad is the sheriff, yeah, they assume I’m not getting into trouble.”

“Then fine.”

“Fine? Like you would come with me?”

“Yeah, I’ll be your scary fake boyfriend for a night or two if you come with me and be my good girl fake girlfriend for a night or two.”