Page 3 of Blueberry Cake
The sun shone right into his eyes, which sparkled in the light. Everything about the man screamed money, from his perfectly styled hair to his well-trimmed beard. Even his casual shirt and jeans had an expensive air to them.
“What are you drinking?” he asked as he approached the counter.
Queenie ordered herself a latte macchiato while he drank his black.Brutal, she thought to herself. When he steered towards the chairs on the waterfront patio, Queenie hesitated. “Would you mind if we walked instead?”
“I’d prefer it, actually.”
Unsure of where to start, Queenie began with the basics. “Do you live around here?”
He pointed at one of the skyscrapers near the water. “That building there.”
“Well, no wonder you know this place so well.” She sighed, happy that they were taking their time.
“You’re not sure what to say.”
“That obvious, huh?”
“I feel the same.” After a pause and a sip of his coffee,Boyd continued, “Well I wanted to see you again, but then I thought about what this might mean to you. I felt like having given you my number was a bad idea.”
“You have his eyes.” Queenie didn’t dare look at him. “I mean, they remind me of him. I’m just glad yours are less daunting.”
“I truly didn’t know. A pompous, immature little ass, yes. But I didn’t raise him to be a bully.”
“I didn’t want anyone to know.”
“Why not?”
Focusing on her feet, she tried not to let old feelings surge to the surface. “I guess I thought it would make it worse.”
“Did he ever hurt you? Physically.”
“He’d trip me occasionally, or ‘accidentally’ throw a ball at me.” Out of the corner of her eye, Queenie saw Boyd work his jaw. Emboldened, she let her gaze drop to the hand that flexed next to him. She watched, mesmerised, as he clenched his fist. The veins popped there, and Queenie briefly imagined him gripping something else.
She banished that thought as quickly as it came.
“Queenie…” Boyd stopped walking, trailing off as if his words had escaped him.
She came to a rest beside him, and he tipped her gaze to his with a finger under her chin. She took him in, desperate for something to distract her from meeting those haunting eyes. His neatly trimmed hair ruffled in the soft breeze and his silver earrings glimmered in the sunlight. She finally settled on the silver chain looped around his neck.
“I’m sorry.”
“I know.” She sighed again, unsure of why she admitted the truth. “I didn’t want to come, but Allison said it wouldbe the perfect revenge.”
“Ah, I see I’m only a means to an end,” Boyd laughed. His hand cupped her jawline, and his thumb ran softly over her lower lip. She couldn’t help but lean into the touch. “I’m all for a good revenge story.”
“You are?” Surprised, she met his gaze. His pupils were blown wide, eyes swimming with fury and desire, but soft around the edges like the leaves of a tree in the spring.
“I am.”
Queenie could only stare at the man, dumbfounded.
Boyd leaned closer, his lips parting as he lowered his voice to a rumble that had a shiver zipping down her spine. “Tell me, Queenie, how far would you go for revenge?”
Ice rattled against the plastic walls of Queenie’s cup as her hand trembled. She lost herself in those intoxicating eyes, letting his words sink in. “I…”
“When I saw you last night, you had me captured. That gorgeous dress hugged your curves so deliciously that I could barely take my eyes off you.” His thumb pressed harder against her lip, pulling her mouth open. “What a pleasant surprise it was to get your text this morning.”
She swallowed hard, her heart thundering against her ribcage. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
