Just as I'm about to open my mouth to ask another question, I spot a very pissed-off-looking Easton walking into the restaurant. My breath catches as his steel-gray eyes land on me.
9
EASTON
The moment I walk through the door of the pizza shop, a rush of heat called jealousy runs through my veins. There, sitting in a booth with another guy's hand on top of hers, is my woman. And whatever the bonehead says is making her smile. She throws her head back in laughter, and my neck and shoulder muscles tighten. I'm pissed. Just as my feet move me forward, Cat's eyes lock with mine, and the smile on her beautiful face quickly fades.
The guy sitting with her turns in his seat to see who is stealing Cat's undivided attention. I stop and glare at the asshole. "Who the fuck are you?" I grind my teeth and size him up.
"Easton, wait—" Cat pauses as the dickhead with her stands and offers his hand.
"I'm—" he goes to introduce himself, but I’m not interested in getting to know him.
"She's mine," I growl.
"Jesus. Easton. You plan on throwing me over your shoulder and carrying me out of here too?" Cat folds her arms beneath her breasts and cocks her head.
"The thought crossed my mind," I admit.
"Carter is an old friend," Cat says, exasperated. "Carter, I'd like you to meet Easton." Carter waits for me to shake his hand.
I do my best to snuff out the anger still stewing inside. My focus shifts back to Cat. I reach for her and guide her up off her seat, pulling her to me. I kiss her. My lips laced with an apology for being a dick and making it clear to anyone watching she belongs to me. I pull away and look at her. "I'm sorry."
Carter clears his throat. "Listen, I need to run."
Cat breaks eye contact with me and looks at him. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be." He takes some cash from his wallet and drops it on the table. "It was good catching up with you, Cat." Then Carter looks at me. "Nice to meet you."
"Same," I reply tightly.
A few minutes of silence hang between Cat and me before she walks away, heading for the exit.
"Babe." I fall beside her to open the door, and she steps outside. "Cat," I call out as she continues to walk down the sidewalk.
"I need to get back to work, Easton."
"Hey—hey." I take her by the hand, stopping her.
Cat sighs. "Easton, what is this—what are we doing?"
"I think we're having our first argument." I brush the red hair from her face.
"Easton," Cat says softly. "Don’t you think we're moving a bit too fast?"
"No." Cat tilts her face toward the sky, and the sun filters through her long lashes, casting tiny shadows on her skin when she closes her eyes. "Look at me, babe." I palm her face, running the pad of my thumb across the spattering of red freckles on the apple of her cheek. Cat opens her eyes and stares into mine. "Playing music and traveling the world feeds my soul, but I want more." Cat chews on her lower lip as I continue to open my heart and empty the contents into the palms of her hands. "You're itfor me, Red. There is no doubt on my end where I stand." I take her hand, placing her palm against my chest to feel the rapid beating of my heart. "This is what you do to me." And I can tell by the rapid rise and fall of her chest that I have the same effect on her. "I always thought love at first sight, that your entire center of gravity would shift, was a bunch of poetic bullshit." I press my forehead against hers. "It's real," I whisper, and Cat smiles.
"You believe in that phenomenon, huh?"
"I'm living it." I kiss her soft lips—slow at first before deepening it, and pour out what’s left of my confession until it leaves us both breathless.
"Um—I should get back to work," Cat says but doesn't attempt to move.
"Ask for the rest of the day off."
She shakes her head. "I can't. We need the money."
I look at her with understanding. "I can help, you know."
