I descended the first step and twisted around.“Where did you hear that?”
He folded his arms.“Word gets around fast.”
“I’ll say.”
Then I remembered Deacon had spoken to Lucian after asking me out.There was no sense in denying it, but it felt incredibly awkward.
“He asked me out respectfully, and I said yes.We’ll see how it goes.”
A silence hung between us, as thin and delicate as a spiderweb.His withdrawn demeanor left me wondering once again if this was just sex to him.
That should’ve relieved me since it would make ending our affair easier, but it didn’t.I wanted to know why Lucian Cross didn’t believe in love.I wanted to peer over his walls and see the other side.The more I got to know him, the more he revealed his true self, and that left my feelings scattered like puzzle pieces thrown to the floor.
Laughter rang out when a small group emerged from the side of the house and crossed the yard toward their car.Those delicate spiderwebs between Lucian and me broke and drifted away.
After an earnest smile, I said, “Good night, Mr.Cross.”
He inclined his head.“Councilwoman Eden.”
Chapter15
Lucian sipped his water as Krys slid into the bench seat across from him.Dragonfly’s was bustling as usual.A surge of out-of-town Shifters were there for a weekend party, but most of that group had moved on to the next room.
“Any reason you got me sitting in a private carriage booth?”Krys asked, eyeballing their enclosed compartment, which was mounted against the wall.
“I like privacy.”
The long-haired Shifter smirked.“So you came to a club for privacy?”When he tapped his hand on the table, his rings clicked against the wood.
“I like a change of view.”
Krys lifted his glass of vodka.“It’s cool.”
Unlike Lucian, Krys enjoyed going out.He wasn’t as gregarious as his cousin, but he could always find someone to drink or play pool with.
“You should put a sidecar on your bike for passengers,” Lucian suggested.
Krys spit out his drink when he sputtered with laughter.After drying his goatee, he wiped his arm across the glossy table to clean off the vodka.“I’d look like the biggest asshole in town.”
Lucian didn’t own a car.He could always find a ride or borrow someone else’s.Hope and Lakota lent out their vehicles to anyone in need since they didn’t have an outside job.But tonight Lucian had hitched a ride with Krys, which meant holding on for dear life while Krys whipped his motorcycle around dark turns and bumpy roads.
“Be right back.”Krys got up with his half-empty glass to presumably get a refill.
Lucian drew the black curtain on his carriage window aside and watched Eden and Deacon dining together.They were seated in the center of the room, but Eden’s back was to him.Though he didn’t want her to see him, he regretted choosing this private carriage seat since now he couldn’t see her face.
He sure as hell could see Deacon’s face.
The grinning bastard.
One thing Lucian liked was that she had taken his advice about sitting in the middle of a room.
Lucian hadn’t planned on following Eden, but Deacon was a braggart and made sure everyone at the Rabbit Lounge knew about their date tonight.After Mercy mentioned it at breakfast, Lucian hadn’t stopped thinking about it since.Part of him felt like an asshole for spying, but he also didn’t trust Deacon, especially after their confrontation last year.
He thought about the peace party.After his interaction with Deacon, Lucian couldn’t suppress his emotions, and they’d come bursting out when he seduced Eden in his bedroom.When she left, he’d gone back to his room and curled up in his bed, gutted by the evening’s events.
No suitor was good enough, but of all people, why did it have to be Deacon?And now that jackass knew all about Lucian’s past.
If that motherfucker tells her, I’ll drop him into a well.Or leave town.Or both.
