Page 26 of Paint the Town, Dove
I half expected him not to hear, until he turned to me and said, “Have you seen yourself, Dove?”
I swallowed hard, holding on to his gaze. For a split second, it was those grassy, green eyes I fell for when we were kids, pulling me into a tight embrace, shielding me from the world’s terrors.
My blush must’ve been captured on camera, but I didn’t care. Twice tonight that he’d made mefeel. Twice tonight that I fought to fight it.
He stopped at the end of the carpet, blowing a kiss in finality as the guards shut the doors, guiding us through the entryway of the venue.
A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, portraits of the Renaissance plastering the baroque patterned walls. This brag of wealth was not theafterparty, but a prelude of what was to come. The theme wassophistication, a kinder word forarrogance. The V.I.P lounge was sure to be more private and seductive.
When Abe invited me as his date, I wasn’t astounded. Some men wanted a trophy wife, Turner wanted a prize to be won. The harder I fought his advances, the harder he fell. A cat and mouse game, only I knew we were playing.Could be fun,I thought. But then again, my idea offunhad always been flawed.
“I’ve got to meet Mallory so we can head off to the lounge,” Ryden said, slipping out of my grasp.
Mallory?
“Shouldn’t be hard to find her.” I forced a smile coated in venom.
I wasn’t jealous, I wasn’t even mad. He wanted to askme, he said it. I was the one who denied it.
I was the one who didn’t give him a chance.
“I’ll manage.”
“Ryden –”
“Why’d you say yes?” He whipped around, jaw tight. “To Abe?”
I toyed with the gold bangles on my wrist. “He could be a good connection, you know. He could be useful.”
“Right,” his laugh was sharp. “I’ll see you later.”
I grabbed his hand. “You know I don’t do relationships.”
His jaw shifted. “You don’t owe me an explanation, Scar.”
“Then why do I feel like you’re asking for one?”
No response.
I struggled to keep him from leaving. “You aren’t even going to say hi to anyone here?”
He frowned, looking around at the sum of people I knew he didn’t recognize… Hell, I couldn’t name a single face, gun to my head.
Something caught his attention, something in the distance. He faced me. “Nah, but you are.Managersdo that, don’t they?”
I winced as if I’d been slapped.
“Say that again.” My nails pierced my palm. “I couldn’t hear you.”
“I’m sorry.” Remorse. “Just on edge.”
He wasn’t over it. Whatever happened earlier. Whatever I said, whatever I did. Something pissed him off, a memory, a moment.
Business and pleasure don’t go together.How many times do I have to fucking say it?
He’d already made a move for the side door before I grabbed hold of his arm. “Come find me when you’re ready to talk?”
His jaw tightened, eyes narrowing as he made eye contact with someone behind me.
