“Are we going back to our roles as grumpy bartender and pesky brat with a schoolgirl crush? Or are you done pretending this isn’t real?” she fires back with that signature sass I love.

I give her a pointed look anyway.

“I never thought of you as a pesky brat, Maddie. I just… I just didn’t want to drag you into my mess.” I let out of heavy sigh and drop her hand. “But after last night, there’s no point in trying to hide the shitshow that is my life.”

“Does this mean I can hang out with you at The Oak again? Because those were undoubtedly my two favorite nights of summer so far.”

I stare out the windshield as I think through her request. I’m done pushing her away. I was done fighting our attraction the second I watched the first video this morning. Or maybe I gave up the game last night, when I let her straddle me and suck me off until I saw stars.

“I’m not going to send you away if you show up at The Oak. But we still have to be careful. I have to think of my brother.”

“I understand,” she insists. “I can be sneaky.” She gives me the most salacious smile. As if I need to be convinced that she can be sneaky.

“Maybe I’ll just happen to find you in a dark alley again one night—”

“Maddie,” I scold.

“I’m just saying!”

“There’s no fucking reason for you to be in a dark alley without me, baby girl. Is that clear?”

She smiles sweetly before leaning over the center console. “I like it when you call me that.” She bats her eyelashes and lingers in my space, but I make no move to take things further.

If we’re doing this… fuck. She has to understand.

“I’m done telling you no, Maddie. But you saw the reality of what I’m dealing with last night. My brother’s a mess. My mom’s a mess. My life’s a fucking mess.”

“I get it,” she assures me. “I’m not asking for anything more than you’re able to give. And I get that no one can know about us.”

I close my eyes in anguish. I want this. She wants this. And yet—she deserves so much more.

“You’re too sweet to be a dirty little secret.” I lean in close, hovering my lips over hers but not giving up what we both crave.

“I think you’re the only person who sees me that way,” she muses.

“What way?” I challenge.

“Sweet.”

I can’t resist any longer. I close the space between us and brush my lips against hers. She tastes like minty freshness and that strawberry flavor I love. I groan as I pull her closer and kiss her deeper.