Page 49 of Ruined Vows
Not because it’s for me. Because it’s not. It’s for the dog.The child. The world. And I’d give everything I own to make her look atmelike that.
Our eyes lock across the chaos of families and balloons. Dogs are barking, and animals are everywhere, but all I see is her, and the chaos melts into oblivion. My world stops.
Kinda like the shootout at the warehouse. The gunfire, the killing, it happened to someone else, not me. Because Bianca made me forget how dark my world is. And I wanted to protect her.
I didn’t enjoy the fact that others had to die. And I’m not proud of the fact that I have to kill others. But I wield my blade for those who genuinely deserve it.
And to save Bianca? It’s worth it.
And now, Bianca’s green eyes are taking me in, too. What does she see? Does she know I’m bearing my soul to her? If she thinks these dates are a game, she’s wrong. It started as a game, but it’s so much more meaningful than just dates. It’s a chance to discover who the other person is, and it’s building a future together based on trust.
Now, she’s walking toward me. It’s slow, and she uses measured steps. She has that look in her eyes, the one she wore the night she walked into the warehouse, a queen with blood on her heels.
She stops before me, crosses her arms, and pretends she’s not affected by my presence.
“You don’t do fundraisers,” she points out the obvious.
“No,” I reply gruffly.
“And you don’t do cute.”
I shrug. “No. But you do.”
Her eyes narrow, and her lips twitch. “Are you stalking me?”
“No,” I say smoothly. “Ishowed upto stalk you.”
She rolls her eyes, but I see the heat behind them. She wants me, she just hasn’t given in to her desire to give herself to me.
“I should be mad,” she mutters, but the corners of her mouth are anything but mad.
“You’re not,” I call her bluff.
I’m not a young man nor the type to be easily ruffled by her darkness. She’s a woman who gets away with murder, and I won’t be that man. The yes man. I won’t pacify her to make points. Or, the man who lies down without a discussion. Not I won’t be the man who placates her. Never that. That’s too easy. That takes away fromher.
I want to know her opinions. I want to know what she likes and dislikes.
I won’t give in to being easy just to make her happy. When she smiles at me, it will be because I earned it.
I watch as her cherry red lips part. They’re perfect, and I want to taste them again. Sure, I kissed her, but once wasn’t enough. All it did was make me want more, more of her lips, more of her. But this isn’t the time or place.
She stands before me, she’s speechless. And it’s all I need.
I lean in slightly.“You looked happy,” I say. “I wanted to see it.”
She stares at me, like she doesn’t know whether to kiss or curse me.
And the best part? I’ll take either. Because today I didn’t come to claim her. I came towitnessher.
I’m already ruined for anyone else. Now, I have to ruin her.
She tilts her head, watching me like she’s trying to see through the clothes, my shadow, and my name.
“You don’t strike me as a dog guy,” she says after a moment.
“I had dogs,” I answer. “Growing up.”
I notice the slight lift of her brow. This surprises her.
