Page 46 of Art of Love
Her hair was up in a loose bun that enunciated her high cheekbones because it was away from her face. Hair up or down, with clothes or without, I thought the woman looked like a goddess, and here I was in the coffee shop, looking at her and wanting her. Getting a hard-on, and she hadn’t even acknowledged me and was here with that prick.
They had history. It was clear. I knew she knew everyone, but she seemed close to him, like they’d been together before. And every time he looked at her, he looked like he wanted to sleep with her. I knew the look all too well because it was the same look I sported. Except that I didn’t just want to sleep with her. I wanted more of her inside and out.
How could I feel that way about someone I’d just met?
I was looking too much, and maybe there was an intensity in my stare that shouldn’t have been there. Plus, the envy.
She looked around and saw me, and I swore I could see a twinkle in her eyes from here.
Maybe.
I looked away and focused on the swans swimming around in the river.
I smelled the strong scent of vanilla first before I saw her legs come into view. It was the same smell that had robbed me of my senses the other night when I’d kissed her.
“Hello.” Her voice was soft and searching. Soothing.
I met her tentative gaze and offered a small smile. “Hi.”
We stared at each other for what could have been forever, then the asshole came over too, holding two cups of coffee to go.
“Hunter, sitting all by your lonesome?” he asked me as if I showed any indication that I wanted to speak to him.
I simply cocked my head and zeroed in on him with a pointed stare. “I am indeed,” I said and raised my brows, inviting him to continue if he dared, but he simply chuckled.
“You coming, babe?” he asked Jia.
“No.” Jia gave him a sweet smile and did that sassy one-shoulder shrug I liked. “I’m going to hang here for a while. I’ll see you at the show tomorrow though.”
“So, you don’t want Japanese for dinner?”
“I ate too much. Breakfast was like eating for a week. You need to not cook so great.”
Although he smiled, it was clear he wanted her to go with him.
Bastard.Lucky bastard though.
And breakfast? That kind of signaled that maybe she’d stayed the night at his place. The thought pricked at my nerves and made me antsy, uneasy... angry.
“Eager to please, babe. Don’t stay out too late. You know how I worry about you.” Stephan made a show of leaning in to kiss her on her cheek.
The fucking show seemed to be just for me.
I did wonder in that moment that if she stayed at his place and was with him, wouldn’t that kiss be on her lips instead of her cheek?
I didn’t know. Maybe that was me hanging on to hope of sorts.
I kept my gaze trained on him the whole time and never took my eyes away as he sauntered out of the coffee shop like he owned the damn place.
I squinted as I watched him walk down the road.
Jia cleared her throat. I returned my gaze to her to see the questioning look in her gaze.
“What?”
“You don’t like him very much, do you?” She bit the inside of her lip.
I tucked my hair behind my ear and sighed. I didn’t like lying, so I decided not to. “No.”
