Page 22 of His Prize

I chuckled. “Well, try to stop staring long enough to pick up your menu.”

“Do you like what I’m wearing this evening?”

“You always look dashing, Alice.”

“But, do I look dashing now?”

She stood from her chair and gave me the slowest of twirls, and all I saw was what she wasn’t. Her hips weren’t as thick as Bonnie’s. Her hair wasn’t as long or as thick. Her smile wasn’t as genuine, and her eyes weren’t as clear, nor were they as beautiful as Bonnie’s. Her legs weren’t as long, and her countenance wasn’t as comforting. Even the way Alice swayed her hips wasn’t as enticing as Bonnie. In her pajamas. First thing in the morning.

Why did I ever date this woman again?

“You look wonderful,” I said.

Alice giggled as she sat back down. “I’m just glad that your ex won’t be bothering us today.”

“I promise you, she won’t.”

“Though, itisa shame that the accident didn’t finish her off.”

My jaw clenched. “Come again?”

She picked up her menu. “Oh, I know it’s a terrible thing to wish, and I pride myself in being classier than that. But, let’s face it: she’s competition for me. And it’s a shame that accident didn’t rid me of the bit of competition I still have left for your heart.”

Trust me, there’s no competition.“We should keep the conversation between us. No use continuously bringing up another woman. She’ll steal the show without ever being here.”

“You’ve always been so intelligent and astute. It only adds to your appeal, you know.”

Kill me now.“I appreciate that.”

I picked up my menu to put another barrier between us. Anything to buy me time to figure a way out of this shit without pissing off yet another family. It seemed that no matter where I stepped, there was always someone to anger. Always someone to disappoint. Always a new threat. And I was tired of it. I was also tired of talking about this accident. I was tired of being reminded of it. I should’ve never let that woman drive home alone. I should’ve put her in my passenger’s seat and done exactly what she wanted.

I should’ve told Gary to go home so we could head home together.

The anger I had toward anyone who wanted to hurt Bonnie was insurmountable, but I also had no way of getting rid of that energy. Bonnie was much too beat up to enjoy at night, and work wasn’t bringing me the relief it usually did. I needed an outlet for all of this unused energy. I needed to pour it into someone or something before I burst at the seams.

“Israel?”

My eyes danced around the menu. “Yes, Alice?”

“May I ask you something?”

I put down my menu. “Of course. Though, I’d recommend the duck confit. I hear it’s splendid here.”

She giggled. “No, no, no. Something different from that.”

“Oh? Go right ahead.”

She stood and came to my side. “Did you really want her to live?”

I looked up at her. “I beg your pardon?”

“Oh, come on, silly goose. You can tell me. Did you really want Bonnie to live?”

“I’m not sure why I’d want her to die.”

She swatted at me. “Because you arranged the accident, sillyhead. Why else?”

Her words flipped a trigger in my mind, and I shot up from my seat. I wrapped my hand around her throat and pushed her into the darkened corner before I pinned her against the wall. I heard her gasp, and I clamped farther down around her neck, pressing my knee between her legs. And as I slowly slid her up the wall, forcing her to stand on her tip-toes, I narrowed my eyes.

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