Nolan Montague for dangling an offer too good to refuse?
Kiki for even considering it?
Or myself for believing what Kiki and I had meant more than it did.
“You shaved,” she murmurs, peering up at me through her dark lashes.
Damn her for looking so good. So innocent. Because I know what she’s capable of, a fact I sadly learned one heartbreak too late.
I skate a hand over my jaw. “Yep.”
“I’m glad.” She scrunches her nose. “I didn’t really like the beard, not that my preference played a role in it.”
I swirl the whiskey around my glass, knowing she’s the entire reason. “I knew you hated it.”
“I didn’thateit, Eddie.”
Now we’re arguing semantics. Fantastic. “But you didn’t like it, so I shaved. There. You happy now? I admitted it.”
As if the woman needs more ammo. She’s well aware I’ve been gone for her since the beginning.
I release a slow breath and fix her with a pointed gaze. “Do you need something? Because I’m not really up for small talk right now.”
Okay, that was a bit more on the nose than I intended, but it’s true. I can’t keep pretending with Kiki. It’s too fucking painful.
“Yes.” Her answer comes firm and fast.
Then she plants her hands on her hips and shifts her weight, popping one hip out as she looks me up and down in a slow, deliberate, and completely unapologetic manner.
What the hell?
“Well…” She bites her lip, dragging her gaze back up to mine. “My plan was to tell you that you’re gorgeous, with or without the beard, but since you’re being kind of a turd to me… I’ll keep that fact to myself.”
Despite the tension hovering between us, I feel the corners of my mouth pull up. Hey, my ego needs a win. “Gorgeous, huh?”
She leans in, resting her elbow on the bar, her chin settling into her hand. “Absolutely. I’m pretty sure every woman in this place wants to jump you. But don’t worry, I’ll be your bodyguard.”
All of a sudden, the Kiki from the last couple of months is gone, replaced with the version I dated, the fun, witty, flirty as fuck woman that drove me wild in the best ways.
“I can’t blame them for wanting you,” she continues, idly tracing the rim of her wine glass. “Because you are gorgeous. Not that I’m telling you, though. So don’t get any ideas.”
Then she winks at me, barely containing the sexy smirk daring to break free on her mouth.
“What the hell is going on with you?” I ask. “What did you and Nolan smoke out there?”
“Nothing, actually.” Her arms fall back to her sides. “I just miss the version of me you brought out. I really miss her.”
“I miss her too.” The words slip out before I can stop them.
Damn it, Eddie. Way to play it anything but cool.
Clearing my throat, I pivot to sarcasm, because I can’t allow her words to mean anything. Not anymore. “So all of this is an act, then? I’m not actually good looking? You won’t fulfill your obligation as my bodyguard to fight off the supposed swarm of women coming for me?”
She snorts, taking another swallow of wine. “Trust me, you’re staggeringly stunning. I think you know that already.”
I lean on the bar as the warmth of the whiskey mixes withthe warmth of her proximity, giving me one hell of a buzz. “But it’s so much nicer hearing it from you.”
Look, I hear my brain’s warning to be wary of Kiki, but I can’t pull the plug on this conversation, and it’s not because she’s singing my praises, although that doesn’t hurt.
