I don’t miss theglint of fire in her bright blue eyes when I drag this mother fucker away.
Once I have him out of ear shot, my grip on his arm tightens and my voice drops.
“Look, I don’t know what game you’re playing, and I don’t give a shit. Last time you said you were her kin, yet today you’re introducing yourself as a sponsor? Give me one reason I don’t braid your fucking skull with that post.”
“Easy,buddy,” he hisses. “Is it so wrong I just wanted an excuse to talk to a pretty girl?”
“Lying is not the best way to start a relationship.” I choke on my own words.
Isn’t that exactly what I’m doing with her?
“Besides,” I snap. “She’s taken. So if I see you within a hundred yards of her, I’m going to take that as an invitation to teach you to mind your own business.” I give him a push, making him stumble a few steps before he rights himself.
When he recovers, he pauses, straightening his jacket.
Dark smudges mark his elbow where I was holding him.
“I suppose—” He fixes his collar, then adjusts his bright white hat. “—I should have expected as much from anyone who associates with the McCulloughs.”
“What the hell does that mean?” I drop my hands loosely, ready to strike if he decides to push back.
But he shakes his head and takes another step away. “I won’t forget this.”
“You better not,” I growl, crossing my arms.
I wait until he’s clear across the parking lot before my racing pulse simmers down enough I can turn away.
Boy, Sophia’s gonna be cranky.
I don’t care. I caught him in a lie, he needed to go.
Cutting across the edge, I find the first food booth and quickly order.
By the time I see her, I’m sitting at one of the picnic tables snacking on fresh mozzarella sticks that are roughly the same temperature as the surface of the sun.
They pale in comparison to the sparks radiating from her glare.
I might need to take a little wind out of her sails.
Pretending I don’t see her, I reach for another piece of cheese and tap the button on the tiny remote.
Her eyebrows shoot up as her legs wobble.
Shit, it’s hard not to laugh knowing I’m making her ass vibrate even when she’s pissed at me.
Fighting the smile, I chew and glance over the crowd, avoiding her until she’s standing directly in front of me.
“What the shit was that about?” Her fists dig into her hips as her knees press against the bench.
I blink up innocently. “What?”
“You know what,” she snaps. “Stealing my sponsor. He didn’t come back. What the fuck did you say to him?”
“Here.” I push the second container of deep fried mozzarella towards her.
Her nose wrinkles. “You think you can bribe me with food?”
She might have set her jaw, but she flicks her gaze down at them more than once.
