Page 15 of Rush the Edge

No.

It could be worse, which is something I have every intention to remind her of. Something else I need to remind her of is that I’m doing this for River, not her. She either takes the job, or she can find herself on the stage of Euphoria’s Edge for money.

A quick mental glimpse at that visual and I’m suddenly cracking my knuckles.

“Two minutes,” I shout toward her bedroom with a little more anger than I meant.

My cheek lifts for a second at her curses floating underneath the gap between the floor and her door.

I turn and glance around the apartment, noticing all the subtle changes now that it isn’t just River living here.

It’s like stepping into a fucking garden.

I count the plants near the window in the living room and shake my head before turning around and eyeing five more across the room.

Jesus.

After taking a seat on the couch, I lean forward and swipe one of the books off the coffee table.

The Green Witch.

I snort.

“That’s fitting,” I mumble.

“What is?”

I pop my head up and see her standing there in an outfit that is unneeded for the type of interview she’s about to attend. Her tight black skirt hits about mid-calf, showing off her strappy black heels that click over the floor. Her hair is pulled back into one of those sleek buns that highlights her delicate features, and there are her lips. They’re painted red, and Ihatethat they have me seeing double.

I’m able to mentally shake myself out of the trap she has me in and tap into the annoyance that amps up when she’s around. “The title of the book.” I toss it back onto the coffee table. “The Green Witch.” My brow crooks when she glares at me. “You get it?Witch.” The insult pops out of my mouth with irritation.

“Yeah,” she snaps. “I get it.”

Back when we were younger, her sweet smile used to get me all riled up.

Now, it’s those blue eyes rolling in my direction.

Offending her is slowly becoming addictive.

“You ready?” I stand up before she even answers.

Daisy throws her hands up. “I don’t know! Am I?” She glances at her outfit. “I have no idea how to dress because neither you nor River will tell me what the interview entails.”

I head for the door. “That’s because River doesn’t know.”

Her heels tapping against the floor stop abruptly. I pause and glance over my shoulder at her.

“Am I interviewing to be your maid or something, becauseno.” She crosses her arms, and I hold back a chuckle.

“As if I’d want you in my apartment.” Plus, Malaki and I do a good enough job at keeping the apartment tidy.

She pulls back as if I’ve slapped her. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means I don’t trust you,” I say, wanting to wound her.

A look of hurt flashes across her face, but she quickly covers it up with pursed lips and silence. She starts toward me again, and I hold the door open for her to go first. I have the thought to stick my foot out to trip her, but I’m not one to hurt a woman, so I remain still.

I do, however, keep her pinned with a heavy stare until she moves past me. Instead of watching her hips swing from behind, because I refuse, I glance to the little table near the door.

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