Page 46 of The Devil's Tattoo
“Yeah, but I could have handled it myself.Without resorting tophysicalharm.”
“Shit, Zoe,” he said and ran a hand over his face. “I acted like a jerk. I didn’t do much to make you think I was nothing like myreputation.”
“That you’re a womanizing pervert? Or the one where you beat up on guys for talking togirls?”
“Say no once and you’re an elitist snob. Say yes once and you’re a womanizing bastard. Stick up for a mate, and you’ve got an anger issue. Can’t catch abreak.”
Impulsively, I held out a hand to him. He looked at it for a moment, confusion creasing his brow, and then his gazemetmine.
“What are youdoing?”
“I’m throwing you a break,” I muttered. “You need tocatchit.”
A sly smile tugged at his lips, and he took my hand, taking the opportunity to run a thumb over my knuckles. A shiver ran down my spine, and Ipulledaway.
“Break’s over,” I said quietly, letting my gaze wander over the street below. I would’ve done anything to kiss him right then, but that was impulsive and stupid. Everything would change, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted ittoyet.
“You can’t hide away all the time,” he said, breaking thesilence.
“Why doyoucare?”
He pointed back into the pub. “Separation from that is one thing as a muso but another thing as aperson.”
Somehow, I didn’t think he was saying allofit.
“Is this your way of telling me to getoutmore?”
“Kinda.”
“I can’t get more out than on that stage. That’sprettyout.”
“You know whatImean.”
Ignoring him, I gazed out into the night. “It’s funny tothink…”
“What?”
“Suddenly, people think I’m worth something and want to know me. Before, no one gave a crap. No one wanted to know shit about me. Don’t ever think I’ll fall for a smooth line from a random atabar.”
“I wanted to know you before,” he said. “But I wasn’t sure youexisted.”
I had no idea what he meant. I searched his face for some kind of hint, but he turned away, hiding from me.Hypocrite.
Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on the banister, his head dipping. “Would you believe me if I said I did it because I wasjealous?”
I didn’t like where this was going. Edging away, I whispered, “Don’t.”
Will sighed loudly, pinching the bridge of his nose. Abruptly, he straightened up to his full height and ran a hand through his hair, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I thought he was going to pull me into his arms and kiss me, but he turned on his heel and disappearedinside.
Shell-shocked, I sank into a chair, and my head fell into my hands.What the hell was Idoing?
I needed to get a grip onreality.
