“First rule of dating an older man: do not continually point out what an old fart he is.”
“I can safely say that I would never use those words to describe you.” We stopped at the staircase leading up to my treehouse.
The words asking him to come up for a drink were on the tip of my tongue, but I bit them back because—one, he was sober so it was a horrible question, and two, despite my bravado, I wasn’t ready for that just yet.
But hopefully I would be before the end of our two-week stay.
“Thanks again for dinner.” I climbed the first step then turned back to face him. “How about I buy dinner tomorrow night?”
The resort was all-inclusive, but that wasn’t the point.
“Only if you let me buy breakfast tomorrow morning.” Mal tipped his head.
My lips quirked as I fought to hide my smile. “Sounds like a plan. Us silly singles have to stick together at this couple-y resort.”
Mal closed the distance between us and stared straight into my eyes despite me standing one step up. “I plan on sticking as close as you’ll let me, baby girl. Sleep tight.”
I swayed toward him, but he sighed and took a step backward. He waited there a beat, still staring into my eyes. I held my breath at their smoldering promise. He inclined hishead again and nodded at the stairs behind me, clearly waiting for me to go up.
I released a shuddering breath, turned, and climbed, aware of his eyes on my rear the whole way up.
No pressure.
My mind was a tangle of confusion as I got ready for bed—alone. All the new feelings Mal had brought out in me warred with my anger about my ex. I was still pissed at him, and as I took my makeup off, the vivid, yellowish-green bruise on my cheek was a stark reminder of why.
But underlying it all was a new sense of hope.
* * *
“You tell your fiancé, Trent Hale, that we’re serious.” His thick, accented words puffed so close to my face I could smell the nicotine on his breath as he bent next to me. “He doesn’t want me showing up at his wedding Saturday with extra guests. Screwing over the Aslanov Bratva is a serious fucking mistake. One his loved ones will pay in blood and pain.”
His hand threaded through my hair and yanked until I fell to my knees.
A pained whimper left me, and then everything froze as I felt something large, cold, and metallic press into my uninjured cheek.
I woke up with a muffled scream.
Because this time the gun went off.
Only I wasn’t in my apartment building’s garage.
Sunny skies highlighted the grass cloth wallpaper I spied through the wispy mosquito netting. The gentle sound of waveslapping at the beach below me came from the open window on my right.
It was so surreal. Just all quiet and peaceful.
So very different from my dream.
I slumped into my soft mattress with a groan.
And then my phone alerted with a new text message, piercing the calm.
Mom:I can’t believe you just left. It’s so irresponsible.
I sighed. I couldn’t believe she was takinghisside in this whole thing.
Actually, I could totally believe it.
Groaning, I staggered out of bed and padded to the bathroom to take care of business. I couldn’t even look at myself in the mirror as I washed my hands and brushed my teeth.
