Page 15 of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

“I’d tell you it’s nice to meet you, but I worry that would only encourage you.”

“At least tell me your name.”

I think about it. Like with the handshake, what could it hurt? “I’m Livvy,” I tell him.

“Livvy? That’s unique. Short for Olivia?” he asks.

Shaking my head, I answer him. “No. I was named after my grandmother Livinia.”

“So your name is Livinia.” He cocks his eyebrow in that sexy way he must have also learned at deliriously good-looking man school. “An interesting name for an arresting woman.”

Interesting? At the mere idea of making my way through life with such an old-fashioned sounding name as a Livinia, I rumple my nose and shake my head in a burst of tiny shakes. “No way.Shewas Livinia. I’m Livvy. The nickname my grandfather gave my grandmother. My mother couldn’t bear to saddle me with Livinia, despite how much she loved her grandparents. So I became Livvy.”

“That’s even more interesting. So Liv, how about you tell me more about yourself now and maybe join me for a nightcap later?” His voice drops to a dangerously low and sultry level.

Uh,no. There will be no joining him for a nightcap later. I should ignore him. Just completely ignore his existence. No one but friends get to call me Liv and we are not at the shorten-my-name point of this nonexistent friendship. I blame it on the Sea Breeze for answering. “People call me ‘Livvy,’ only myfriendscall me ‘Liv.’”

“Well, Liv, let me refresh that drink for you before we go on.” He points to my glass. “You’re almost out.”

“Uh-uh.” I scold him by waggling my finger at him. “I said myfriendscall me Liv. I haven’t ascertained thatyouare a friend, yet.”

“Fair enough. Since we aren’t yet friends, I feel no shame in being brutally honest.” He leans way into my personal space. “I sat down here because when I saw you, I knew I had to fuck you.”

“Wow. So you must bebrutallydisappointed.Though…” When I pause, I see his eyes grow hugely expectant. “It’s good to want things, but disappointment builds character,” I finish and stand. Setting my glass down on the bar, I pick my purse up and leave Michael behind.

I hear his fading snicker as I walk away. Not a ‘you won’ kind of snicker. The kind that promises we’ll see each other again. I don’t like it. Where’s my pepper spray when I need it? Old me would’ve never left the house without it. Thankfully, he doesn’t follow. But unfortunately, from his seat at the bar on the open veranda, he sees me head to my truck. Now he knows my vehicle.

Okay, so there are some definite old me, new me reconciliations which need to happen ASAP. Buying a can of pepper spray is one of them.

After I get the truck started, but before I pull out of the parking spot, I give in and call Gage. Because in thinking about that scary encounter, I realize how safe he made me feel when we were together.

Three rings, then he answers. “Baby? You okay?” Exactly how he answers every time I call.

“Yeah. I took myself out for a drink to people-watch and got hit on by a real creep.”

“Nothing you can’t handle, I’m sure.”

“No. I handled him fine. Just, I don’t know… There was something about him that put me off.”

Gage chuckles in my ear. I miss his chuckles. “You want me to beat him up? Tell me where to find him, I’m on my bike.”

“Ha,ha. He said he wants to fuck me. Said it, just like that.”

“I’m going to assume that’s not something you want?”

“Of course not. There’s only one man I want to fuck me, Gage St. James.”

“You’re killing me, baby. I fucking want you so bad, Liv. Your scent has already faded from your pillow. I’ve been reduced to sleeping with a bottle of your shampoo open and sitting on your bedside table.”

His admission jars me. My pillow? My shampoo? He’s sleeping with my pillow to the smell of my shampoo? God, I’m such an idiot, but I don’t know what to do. “Just give me a bit more time. Okay?Please.I’m not ready.”

“Well, while you’re not ready, I’m losing patience. Fucking love you, Liv. I miss your smile, and the way you swat at me instead of the alarm clock on your nightstand when you don’t want to get up. I miss those little noises you make in the back of your throat when you get really turned on. You’re breaking my heart,” he admits in a whisper. “Fucking, fucking love you.”

“I know you do. And I love you.”

“Promise me something, baby. Here, now. I’ll give you the time you need. Won’t push for your location so long as you make me this promise.”

“What is it?”

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