Page 38 of Hexed
My footsteps stutter, and I eyeball her because I’m still not sure whether I can trust her or not. For all I know, her specialty could be to make people feel comfortable before she fucks them over. “And what do you know about mynamesake?”
Her mouth pops open to answer, and honestly, despite the fact I’m having trouble gauging her level of sincerity, I’m enjoying the back and forth, but before she can say anything, her stomach growls so loudly, I wonder if she’s eaten at all.
“You’re hungry.”
“I was ordered to come straight here and convince you to invest in the area. I didn’t really have time to eat.”
Humming, I move my hand until I’mjusthovering around the small of her back to steer her.
It’s harder than I thought it would be to not touch her when I’m this close—my fingers centimeters away from knowing what she feels like—but I resist, because I’mengaged, and even worse, to her cousin. One wrong step and Venesa could run to her uncle, bringing the whole house of cards down.
Trent made a deal with my father, and if word gets back to Pops… Unease churns deep in my gut because I’m not surewhatmy pops would do.
Besides, I didn’t get to where I am by giving in to things just because I want them.
This could be a tactic.Most likely is.
“What are you doing?” she asks.
I glance down at her while I move us toward the front of a restaurant on the water called the Sharkbait. “Feeding you.”
She huffs out a small laugh and takes a step away, turning around until she’s facing me, her back toward the black double doors. “Youreallydon’t need to do that. I’m fine.”
“I didn’t ask if you were fine. In fact…” I move closer to her. “I don’t remember asking for your opinion at all.”
“That’s true, actually.” She crosses her arms. “Pretty rude of you to not take my feelings into consideration, then.”
My lips purse. “Do you always do this? Disagree withanythingsomeone says? It’s pretty fucking annoying, I’ll be honest.”
I take another step, and she moves until she’s pressed to the glass of the entrance like she can’t wait to get away from me. Her lashes flutter as my arm brushes against her exposed shoulder, my palm flattening on the door behind her.
She smells like salt water and a hint of cherry, and I…think I like it?
“Don’t stand so close,” she breathes out.
I bend my head farther just so I can take another hit of her. “Tell me what to do again.”
Goose bumps sprout down her neck and disappear beneath her shirt, and satisfaction spirals through me at the sight.
She can pretend I don’t affect her, but the proof is right there on her pretty skin. I’m not sure why that makes it better, knowing this attraction isn’t one-sided. Maybe because it makes me feel less like a piece of shit for having a wandering eye when clearly this thing between us goes both ways.
It’s not just me.
I push on the door and hold it open, inclining my head, gesturing for her to walk inside.
I’m half-convinced she’ll argue with me again, and the thought of it makes blood pulse through my veins, a hit of anticipation lighting me up. I wish she would. It’s…something, to have someone in my company who doesn’t seem afraid of me and isn’t trying to constantly kiss my ass. Exhilarating, even.
But she doesn’t argue with this, at least. She just lifts her chin as she saunters through the front door and inside the restaurant.
When we walk in,everyoneturns to look at her, but I don’t think she even realizes it.
We’re seated quickly, and when the hostess disappears, Venesa laughs, bringing the menu up to hide her face.
I reach across the small circular table and push it back down so I can see her. “What’s so funny?”
She grins, tilting her head toward the hostess. “Just seeing the Enzo Marino effect in action, I guess.”
“The Enzo Marino effect?”
