Page 27 of Villainous Summer

I glanced away, tugging the strap into place as she halfheartedly swatted my hand.

“You know, with your dress hanging off you, it doesn’t leave much to the imagination.”

She snorted at me, glancing up and down my body. “The last place I need to be is in your or any other man’s imagination. Keep your trousers on, big guy.”

“You’re practically flashing the street.”

“There you go again, being noble and shit. It’s all an act. We both know it.”

“It’s an act to not want you to accidentally expose yourself?”

“No,” she retorted. “Men being decent. It’s a farce, made up, cannot be real. You all want something, and when you get it—poof—who cares about the consequences?”

This wasn’t about me. Whatever had upset her had nothing to do with me and everything to do with the text she got. And I would have bet my left nut that whatever it was regarding had happened before I picked her up.

“You want to tell me what’s going on?”

It wasn’t my business—nothing about this woman was—but a desperation seized me. I needed to know.

“Summer?”

“I like the way you say my name,” she mumbled. “I shouldn’t, but I do.”

“Summer.” I stepped closer.

I pulled the strap tighter toward her body until it couldn’t fall again.

Her skin was velvet under my fingers. If only she weren’t so drunk.

“I can’t tell you. I know I made an ass of myself in front of you today. But if you knew . . .” She narrowed one eye as if she were seeing double. “I can’t trust you.”

“In the short time we’ve known each other, have I done a single thing to appear untrustworthy?”

I was standing too close, but I couldn’t find it in me to step back.

“No, but there’s no way a man with shoulders that wide can be trusted.”

“So, I have untrustworthy shoulders.” I rocked back on my heels.

This was drunk blubbering but entertaining nonetheless.

“Your biceps are too big, and your eyes are a weird color that reminds me of rocks.” Her lip curled. “And I won’t even go into your jawline. You look like a bad action villain with a jawline that sharp.”

“So, I’m too muscular, and my jawline is too sharp, and therefore I can’t be trusted?”

“Yeah.” She rolled her eyes. “Obviously, you’re too good-looking. And that kiss, whew—” She smiled to herself. “Damn, you have a talented tongue. But men whose hands do what yours do are trouble, with a capital T-R-O—”

“I’ve never heard that rejection before.” I laughed, shaking my head.

With a hand on the wall, she closed one eye as she stared me down. “Men who are as handsome as you are used to getting what they want. They’ll take and take and take. And women like me are left looking foolish.”

Someone had hurt her.

Anger rose in my chest. I hadn’t been protective of anyone but my mother, but the thought of a person causing this level of grief in Summer made my skin feel tight.

“You are many things, Summer, but foolish could never be one.”

She closed one eye as if focusing on me. “You have no clue what I’m capable of.”

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