Tabby’s cheeks went even darker. “You’re into needles, aren’t you?”
This was it. The fucking moment. He sat back and let her look at his shirtless body. “I’m into you.”
She glanced toward the ocean through the windows. “Coulda fooled me.”
He stared at her, confused. Did she think he wasn’t attracted to her? Cool, bombastic Tabby DaSilva? Everyone’s girl crush? “I’m asking you to stay and drink with me, aren’t I?”
She gripped the sleeves of her dress shirt and shoved them over her thumbs. “You sure that’s not just an excuse to show off your perfect little life?”
“It’s because I want to have a drink with you. Look, I’ll prove it.” He left the table and walked to the bar, collecting the bottle of white 1806 he’d bought with her in mind. He grabbed two tumblers and poured a finger of tequila into each—not wanting to give the impression he was trying to get her drunk. He felt her watching him. His back. His ass. His cock was still hard as stone, clamouring for more, faster,now. He ignored it, holding out a glass to Tabby. “Yours if you want it.”
She hesitated, then moved to take it.
His chest roaring with victory, he sat on a corner of his couch and drank. The liquor was mellow and reminded him painfully of those 24 hours, two years ago, when he and Tabby drank 1806 between bouts of fucking. The best day of his life with the girl of his dreams. It felt like a decade ago…
He watched Tabby take a tiny sip, her indigo gaze a million miles away. How hurt had she been when he told her they couldn’t hang out anymore? He’d thought it was maybe a blow to her ego, and she was a little jealous he’d been with other girls, not that there was actual bad blood between them. Before they’d slept together, she seemed to forget about him as soon as he wasn’t in her eyeline. And even after they’d slept together—when they’d been lying in bed, naked and covered in each other’s body fluids, she’d talked about going to a gig with another one of her stupid ex-boyfriends and said, casual as anything, “You should come too! It’ll be fun!’
He had never, in a million years, thought that girl would get pissed at him for leaving. He wasn’t important enough. He’dleftto become important enough. How could she not see that? How was it not obvious?
The liquor working its way into his system gave him a rush of courage. “I went away because I needed to sort some things out, Tabs. Not because I wasn’t interested in you.”
She looked supremely unimpressed. “Whatever.”
“I think about you all the fucking time, you know.”
She gave a mock curtsey, but a small smile curved her mouth. She drank almost all of her tequila in one sitting, and when she lowered her gaze, it fell on his still-shirtless body.
“Checking me out, Tabitha?”
“No.”
“I don’t mind. Makes the effort worth it.”
Tabby snorted, but her gaze stayed on his abs. Biting back a grin, Toby stood and headed back to the bar. Grabbing the 1806, he poured himself another shot before holding out the bottle. “Want more?”
Her tongue traced her perfect lips. “Fine.”
She extended her glass, and he topped it up. He caught a whiff of her perfume, hot and peppery, and the scent made his cock throb.
Easy, boy.
Toby moved back to the couch, bringing the bottle with him. “You gonna tell me why you need money?”
Tabby took a generous swig of her drink. “I’m leaving.”
His insides clenched. He’d suspected something like that, but still… “Leaving? Like, leaving Melbourne?”
“Yup. I’m hitting the bricks.”
“Why?”
“It’s just time.” She wandered toward the window. “And before you ask, I’m not telling you where I’m headed, Richie Bitch.”
Yet, she’d already confessed what her plans were. Toby drank to cover his smile. “Your sisters know?”
“Yup.”
“No, they don’t.”
