Page 13 of Bleeding Hearts Duet

He leaned forward on his elbows and slid a tiny bag of white powder across the table. “So how about something to take the edge off instead?”

Matt cracked his knuckles and leaned forward too, his biceps stretching the leather of his jacket to its breaking point.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?”

Nicole grabbed his arm, and something passed between them. She looked like she was pleading with him, but for what, I couldn’t understand.

“Don’t let Matt tell you what to do,” Nicole spoke in a wobbly voice. “If you want to try it, Brighton, I’ll do it with you.”

“What?” I stammered, my eyes darting to the powder as I shot up out of my seat. “No, I’m sorry, but I don’t… I think you have the wrong impression of me. I don’t do that stuff.”

Matt followed suit, his chair clattering behind him as he stared at Nicole with obvious disappointment. I retreated, only to back into a hard chest behind me.

I spun around with trembling arms and met the last person I’d been expecting to see there. Ryland braced me with his arms, staring down at me with the oddest expression. His entire body was tense, and yet his eyes were molten hot. The same heat I’d seen in them five years ago when he laid claim to my mouth with his.

For all my assertions of not having an addictive personality, I knew right then it was a lie. Because looking into the depths of those blue eyes was like free-falling a hundred stories. It was the ultimate high, and I would do anything for it.

He pressed his hand to my back, helping me to regain my balance as I swayed on my feet. He was so tall I had to stretch my neck to look up at him, but I felt safe in his arms. My heart hammered against my chest when I caught the scent of his cologne and inhaled without shame.

He smelled so good I wanted to bury my nose in his sweater and never leave. But he withdrew his body from mine, giving my arm one final squeeze with his hand.

“I’m glad to know that your morals are in the right place, Miss Valentine. But there are some other issues I need to address now.”

He swung his gaze towards Tom and jerked his head towards the door. “If I may?”

The two of them walked off together, leaving no doubt as to what had just happened. Matt’s face was completely white as he spoke to Nicole.

“He saw everything, didn’t he?”

She didn’t answer him as she stood up and clutched her purse across her chest, her eyes boring into me.

“You ready to go?”

“Sure.” I nodded weakly. “Just let me grab my coat.”

---