Page 21 of Miles
“Miles,” I whine.
“Yes, Elsa.” The way he says my name sends a delightful tingle through my body, and it’s all wrong. It’s how I ended up against him, embarrassing myself.
“I need to go. I have a test to study for,” I blurt out as I jump off the sofa.
He sighs and then nods. “Be careful, and we’ll talk about this living arrangement later.”
“Fine.” I’m not even sure how we came to share a dog, but Mistress is his, not mine. Even as I say that, I don’t believe it anymore.
The next morning, I go to school and see Johnny; he avoids me completely. “Stay away from me, Elsa.” I don’t miss the black eyes that are healing along with the small bandage on his nose. His eyes widen, and that’s when I spot my father’s security team nearby.
“No problem, Johnny.” I walk away without another word to anyone. After my classes, I’m having a major sit down with my father. He has to call off his hound dog. Even if Johnny’s family is in the mafia, I’ll shut the situation down so he has no reason to get involved.
My mind isn’t on my schoolwork at all. I can’t make it through any classes, so it’s a merciful blessing that they have canceled my last class.
I drive to the hotel and go up to my father’s office. He’s in a meeting with my brother, but their assistant allows me in. Thankfully, Miles is at the casino, and I don’t have to see him because I don’t have the nerve to face him right now.
The assistant barely opens the door before I barge in and close it behind him. “Please excuse her. Someone forgot her manners today,” my brother apologizes for me.
“What’s on your volatile mind, Princess?”
“Your guard dog needs to back off.”
“What guard dog? All of your security has kept their distance.”
“Miles. He’s… he’s…” I blush because I can’t describe why I’m so damn pissed without giving myself away.
“He’s what?”
“He’s sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong.”
“What do you mean? Is he harassing you? Do you not like him?” My face heats and turns completely red.
“Sweetheart, do you want to tell me what’s going on between you and Miles?”
“Nothing, Daddy.” Other than he broke my heart without even trying and he won’t allow me to get over it. It’s a perpetual vicious cycle.
“Why are you lying, baby?”
“I’m not lying.”
“You have been upset with him for a long time. You come in here spitting fire because he’s bothering you. Now, I know you’re crazy about him, so I don’t understand why you’re so upset with him. Has he hurt you?”
“No, of course not. It’s nothing like that.”
“If you’re not going to tell him the truth, I am.”
“What’s going on, Son?”
“The day you were in the hospital having your surgery, she kissed Miles.”
“What?”
“Yeah. And he didn’t kiss her back. He froze like a damn statue.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
