Page 62 of A Ballad of Betrayal and Beauty

She pushes my hair behind my ear. “Not so popular with the ladies in your youth?”

I scoff. “Definitely not.”

“I bet they line up for you now. Successful, good-looking rockstar? Makes why you’re here with me all the more confusing,” she admits.

“I’m not confused,” I say. “Actually, I’ve never been more certain that I’m in the right place.”

Her blue eyes scan my face, once again looking for the lie, but she won’t find one.

“Does your name have anything to do with flowers?” I ask, pulling her in closer, snaking my hand around her waist.

The corner of her mouth twitches. “No.”

Goose bumps scatter over my skin as her hands rest on my arms.

“That’s ten questions. Now you have to guess.”

“I think I know what your name is,” I say, pulling her close so her chest brushes against mine. The smell of her hair is making my head swim.

She swallows, her lovely throat bobbing with the movement. “Then I guess you’re in for a show,” she winks with a sultry tone. “A deal’s a deal.”

My eyes trace the shape of her lips, and the only thing that is clear in my head right now is how badly I want to kiss her—even here amongst the arcade noises and screaming children.

“Your name is . . .”

Her eyebrows rise in anticipation, her fingers pressing into my skin.

“Divinity.”

Immediately her face falls, and she bows her back to cross her arms over her chest. “Divinity?”

“Am I wrong?”

“Very wrong, Joel. Not even close.” She swats my arm and I laugh. “Divinity . . .” she mutters under her breath. “Who the hell is named Divinity?”

I grin. “Apparently not you.”

She pushes away to take her last turn with the bowling ball, knocking down every single pin. “Looks like you owe me pizza.”

“That’s right, a deal’s a deal,” I admit, but I grab her around the waist from behind and lower my voice to whisper in her ear. “Dusty.”

CHAPTER15

Running With the Night

DUSTY

Istop, freezing on the spot. “Wait . . . you—you guessed it right?”

He’s smiling, that permanent look of joy etched all over his face. “I told you I would.”

“Then why did you say Divinity?” I ask bewildered. “You could’ve won the bet.”

He shrugs. “Buying you pizza seemed like a better prize.”

My mouth opens, my head spinning a million miles a minute. Not only did he manage to guess my name but he guessed wrong on purpose? What kind of guy does that? He gave up a sexy reward so he could buy me pizza?

He leans toward me and grasps my hand in his. “I can see you spiraling. Don’t get caught up in overthinking it. I like you, Dusty, and I want you to know that spending time with you is more important to me than what you do for work.”

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