“See? That’s jealousy.”
She snorted. “Of who? Ms. Perfect Cheekbones?”
I smirked. “Sheisperfect.”
Elise glared at me, and I watched the fire light behind her eyes.
“And she’s alsomarried.” The fire sputtered, just like I knew it would. Elise blinked, her mouth parting like the words she wanted to say got stuck behind her pride. I leaned in, brushing my knuckle lightly against her jaw. “Like I said, you’re cute when you try to pretend you don’t care.”
“Idon’tcare,” she insisted, voice breathy and defensive. “I was just proving a point.”
“Uh-huh. And what point was that? That if you laugh loud enough, I’ll think you’re not still thinking about our kiss?”
Her eyes flashed to my lips. “Barely remember it.”
That made me grin.
She looked like trouble in silk and lipstick, and I was past the point of pretending I didn’t want to deal with the consequences.
Her glass was empty. Her cheeks were flushed. That little pink tongue of hers darted out to wet her lips like she didn’t know it drove me insane.
“Let’s get out of here.”
“Why?”
Because I can’t stop thinking about how your skin would feel if I peeled that dress off you.
Because I need to be the only man who gets your smile tonight.
Because I’m one minute away from throwing you over my shoulder like some caveman.
I cleared my throat. “Because it's been a long day. And if I have to watch one more asshole look at you like you’re a midnight snack, I’m going to end up on the internet.”
Elise licked her lips slowly, eyes dancing with mischief.
“Fine,” she said, setting the glass down.
I smirked. “Good girl.”
* * *
AWAY FROM THEglitz and the glamour of the night, the dark cloud that followed Elise this week was back, hovering over her as the two of us sat in the backseat of the limo as it wove down the streets of downtown LA to Elise’s home.
“Are you ever going to tell me what’s wrong?” I asked. Unease gnawed at me knowing there was something bothering her.
“What?”
“Something has clearly been bothering you this week.”Who do I have to kill?
“It’s nothing.” She shook her head and continued to stare out the window.
“Try again, Cupcake.” I told her. “We’ve worked together long enough for me to know when something is bothering you.”
“It’s…” Elise hesitated. “It’s my ex. He’s been calling me and asking for a second chance.”
I briefly remembered her dating someone two years ago. Some kind of sports management guy or maybe he played sports? I couldn’t remember. I just knew he stopped coming around a year ago and Elise seemed happier because of it.
“And that’s not something you want?” I didn’t know the reason behind their breakup, but the fact that he was dumb enough to lose Elise told me all I needed to know about him.
