What the fuck was he doing?
Her heart skipped.
Why was that so hot? All he was doing was cleaning her up. Basically, she was a mess and he had to tidy her up.
Not exactly sexy.
But maybe it was because it was North.
And because he was looking at her like he’d never really seen her before. And he wanted to see more.
She licked her lips, trying to pick up any more traces of chocolate. North’s eyes narrowed. “Are you doing that on purpose?”
“Doing what?”
“Being all sexy and hot,” Jared told her. “Licking your lips and looking at North like you could eat him all up.”
Was she doing that?
Shit.
Turning her head, she buried it into Jared’s chest. “Sorry.”
Immediately, he started stroking her back with his hand. “No need to be sorry. I don’t think North is complaining. Look at him.”
Angie forced herself to turn her head to look at North. He was watching her with those intelligent eyes. The ones that saw way too much.
“Unless I’m acting a part, I always tell the truth,” North told her. “I don’t care about hurting others’ feelings or what the truth might do to them.”
It was harsh. It should have scared her off.
But like she’d said, she valued the truth. There were too many people wearing too many masks. And while some lies might be told to spare feelings, she didn’t need those sorts of lies in her life.
It felt like her life had been one lie after another. Her father had told so many to her growing up. How he’d been robbed and that’s why they had no money. How more money was coming in. That they would hit pay dirt.
That she wouldn’t have to stay with Fergus forever, just until he could get the money together to pay to get her back.
She’d stopped believing his lies. But that one . . . God, she’d hoped that for once he’d come through. That he’d be a proper father to her.
Sadly for her, he’d once again proven to be a useless asshole of a man and an even worse father.
“If I didn’t like the way you looked at me, I’d say,” North told her.
It was like a glass of water on a super hot day. And she nodded.
“Do you like what you see when you look at North?” Jared asked in her ear.
“Who wouldn’t?” she asked. “He’s absolutely gorgeous. Sexy. Beautiful.”
“Beautiful.” North tipped his head to one side, studying her. “Interesting word to use. I don’t consider any part of me to be beautiful.”
She nodded. She understood that. Beauty wasn’t just about what was on the outside. It could definitely be what was inside you.
And she didn’t consider any part of herself beautiful, either.
“You don’t consider yourself beautiful,” North guessed as he watched her.
“Can’t get away with much with you, can I?” she said.
