Page 18 of Riches and Romance

But as nice as it all looked, it wasn’t enough to compel me to take a closer look when I sat down next to her.

Because I had no clue it was her. Her hair is different–it’s straight, and the loose, blunt ends of it skim her shoulders. The body-hugging red dress she’s wearing reveals a curvy figure that the loose-fitting black T-shirt she wears at work concealed. But there is no mistaking that smile—and it is even more riveting up close.

I was just starting to reconcile this sex pot with the cute bartender I’d been crushing on for months when she asked me to dance. My brain short-circuited. When Layel’s text came, I bolted and figured I’d never be able to show my face in The Effra during one of her shifts again.

We’re halfway home when she moans. It’s a low, dry noise that’s barely loud enough to be heard over the road noise from my tires and the incessant rain drumming on the roof of my car.

I was relieved when she fell asleep as soon as the nurse and I settled her in the passenger’s seat.

If she hadn’t been coming outside to tell me to fuck off, she most certainly will now that I’ve broken her nose.

“Ouch,” she groans and reaches up to turn on the overhead light and pulls down the mirror in front of her. She leans in and turns her face from side to side. The bruises under her eyes are a deeper purple than they were when we left the hospital, and the dressing on her nose makes it look like a beak.

I stop at a red light and glance at her. She’s still staring at her face and hasn’t said a word.

“Jules?”

She turns her head to look at me, and then she blinks. “Hi, Break.” She tries to smile, but then winces. “Oh”—and touches her nose—“I thought it was a dream.”

The doctor warned me she’d be loopy, but clearly she’s totally out of it. And I don’t know who Break is, but I hate him already.

“You should sleep, we’ll be at your place soon.” The light starts to flash yellow, and I pull away, relieved to be able to turn my eyes toward the road and away from hers.

“You’re taking me home?” Her voice is rough and low, but her surprise is unmistakable.

“Of course.” My throat is dry, and I sip from a water bottle in my cupholder. Then I hold it out to her. “Are you thirsty?”

She sits up a little. “Oh God. Where’s Reena? Did I ruin her party?”

“No. It was still going strong when we left. I told her I’d take you home.”

“Did you eat her ass?”

I bark out a surprised laugh that turns into a cough. She watches me expectantly, and I know it’s the meds talking, so I humor her. “I can’t say I’ve ever had the occasion to do that, no.”

“Oh good.” She sounds genuinely relieved and slouches in her seat a little. “No offense to Reena. I’m sure her ass is as clean as anyone’s could be. But I don’t think I’d ever be able to kiss you if you had.”

I stifle my laugh. “Well, then I’mverythankful I didn’t.”

She blows a raspberry with her lips and waves a hand in dismissal. “You don’t want to kiss me. You don’t even like me.”

I sputter a laugh. “Of course I like you. How could I not?”

“That’s whatI’vebeen wondering.” She sits up again. “I’mwonderful. And Ialwayssmile at you.”

If she didn’t sound so put-out, I would laugh again. “You smile ateveryone.”

“Not the way I smile atyou.”She sings the last word. “Thatsmile is all yours. But you never smile back. And you never come to the bar.”

The car in front of me brakes suddenly, and I slam on my brakes to keep from rear-ending him.

She groans, and my daydream is shattered. “Shit, I’m so sorry.” I’ve already broken her nose. If I harm one more hair on her head, I’ll save Reena the trouble and kick my own ass.

When I stop at the next red light, she’s prodding her forehead with the pads of her long, slim fingers. Her fingernails are painted in an alternating pattern of silver, white, and gold. The ring on the third finger of her right hand is in the shape of a tiny crown with a small diamond in the center of it.

“The crown jewel?”

“What?” Her head whips up, and her bruised eyes are wide with what looks less like pain and more like panic. My heart slams against my ribs at the amber-flecked molasses-coloredirises that I have a feeling I’ll be seeing every time I close my eyes from now on. God, they’re beautiful.

---