Page 27 of Sweet Addiction
Fucking. Book. Club.
More carefully than I expected, Rome pulls outA Crown of Stars and Ruinand turns. “I’m here to get my copy of the book club book.” His voice drips heavy with sarcasm as he holds the pink-covered book up and tilts it in his hands, watching the way the lights catch the foiled detailing, cataloging the constellations behind the title.
Shit.Shit. Shit.
“I’ve never heard of this author before...Theia DeLaurentiis.” He says the name like a puzzle he’s trying to work out. “I wonder if she’s a distant relative.”
“She’s new,” I answer quickly.Too quickly.Not wanting to fuel his fire. “This is her debut.”
“Is she local?” He stalks toward me from the back of the store, his eyes tracking my every move while his long legs eat up the distance between us. “DeLaurentiis isn’t that common of a name.”
“Yes, it is. The food network woman is related to a whole Hollywood family full of them.” Great. Way to sound defensive. “Why are you really here, Rome?”
I need to focus on getting him out of here. But with every step he takes closer, it becomes easier to focus all my frustration over so many things directly on him. This man, who hurt me more than he’ll ever know, makes for a very easy target.
Fuck. Him.
If he wants a fight, I’ll give him a fight.
Rome lays the book on the counter next to the register, his cocky attitude never wavering as he pulls a fifty from his wallet. “I’m here to get the book club book,Dillan.”
Even the way he says my name is cocky and intrusive. The crisp bill is slapped down on the counter, and Rome takes the book before I even have time to put it in a bag. “I’ve got a feeling I’m really going to like it.”
“I’m sure you will.” I contemplate telling him he can’t have it. That he doesn’t deserve it. But ultimately I give in and ring him up because if I refuse to, he wins.
Great. The best comeback I have is agreeing with him?
Fucking fantastic.
“Where’d you say the author was from?” His question is pointed, but I ignore the point and shrug like I couldn’t care less.
“I don’t know. I don’t follow all the authors I stock.” Not a lie. Well, not completely. “I don’t think she’s on social media.”
“Sure she isn’t.” He scratches the stubble on his jaw, and the memory of what the stubble felt like on my skin hits me like a freight train barreling out of the station before I can push it back down into the little box I keep locked up tight with all the rest of my memories of that night. Memories I only let out in the quiet darkness when I’m alone and need a little help getting myself off.
Okay . . . not going there.
Not right now. Not in front of him.
“Looking forward to talking about this more,Ryan.” I can’t tell what he knows, but he definitely thinks he knows something. A cocky confidence oozes out of every pore. That confidence used to be hot. Now it’s just annoying.
“Let me know if you need help with the big words, Beneventi.” I wiggle my fingers in a wave, hoping he gets the hint. But Rome Beneventi never took any hint that didn’t hit him over the head first.
Heat fires in his eyes as he takes his change. “See you soon, Dillan.”
Kaleigh walks in as Rome walks out and looks between the two of us, fanning herself. “I’m all for your littleI don’t need aman in my lifedecree. But seriously, Dillan, that man looks like the kind who wants to get you off at least twice first. You’ve gotta see that.”
If she only knew.
Bad Ass Book Club
Ryker
Okay, wait. So this dude commands shadows. Am I reading that right?
Jamie
The other threw a sword the length of a football field and still killed that thing with three legs, and you’re stuck on the shadows?
