I hear a high-pitched scream, followed by a loud, irritating cackle as I walk through the parking lot. Then, a woman runs in my direction with my dog on her heels. She sees me, looks back, and jumps into my arms, barely giving me time to catch her. We almost fall, but I wrap my arms around her while she climbs up my body and screams loud enough to perforate my eardrum.
“He’s going to eat me,” the beautiful woman in my arms yells. Once she’s situated in my arms, I notice how nice she feels against my body.
“Shhh,” I coo. “It’s okay. Finch won’t hurt you. She’s just a baby.” I whistle at the dog, but she’s rambunctious today. She gets on her hind legs and nips at the woman’s pants, sending her into another screaming frenzy. “You’re going to make me godeaf, Bella.” From the corner of my eye, I see Rip roll his eyes. “Calm down.” I use my most soothing voice. “Look at me.”
The most beautiful pair of light brown eyes locks with mine. And the eyes are the least of them. Just inches from mine are a pair of gorgeous, plump lips. She has an adorable cleft in her chin, and it takes some willpower for me not to kiss her. A splattering of freckles spread across her high cheekbones. They don’t look like they belong on her. Her skin is too rich for freckles, but they’re perfect on her. Those full, kissable lips part, and she exhales a breath. Her chest moves, and I break our stare to look down and wonder how in the world this perfect angel managed to run into my arms.
“Get it away,” she yells while she tries to climb on me. Finch jumps and tries to nip at her pant leg.
“Down, Finch,” I order, but she won’t listen. The beauty climbs higher.
“If you want to sit on my face, we’ll have to go somewhere private. I don’t want anyone else to see.”
She’s tall. I can feel her long legs wrapped around me. She feels strong. My hands press onto her back, pushing her closer to me.
“Put me down,” she orders.
“Do I have to? This is the best thing to happen to me in a long time.” She doesn’t reply, but her eyes don’t leave mine.
“What’s your name, Bella?” Our eyes resume their dance.
“Cori Lamb,” she says in the most musical voice. I already knew her name. I know who she is. I’ve seen her before, but I’ve never paid attention. I was a fool.
“Now, tell me why you’re scared of dogs.”
“On my first day of kindergarten, my mom was walking me to school, and a dog barked at me.” Her voice sounds like raw honey.
“Barked at you? Have you had therapy?” I do everything in my power not to laugh at her.
“I was late for my first day of school.” It’s like we’re both in a trance while we stare at each other.
“Yeah, because she pissed her pants, and my aunt had to take her back home so she could change. We laugh about it at every family function still.” Her loud, annoying companion snorts and giggles at the memory, but she doesn’t seem phased by Finch, who now rests its head on her stomach while she rubs behind its ears.
“Shut up, Selene.” Ah, yes. Selene Wilde. Her cousin. “What’s your name?” Cori asks me.
“That’s not important.”
I rub my hands on her back while we gaze into each other’s eyes. If a crowd didn’t surround us, I’d kiss her right here in the middle of the parking lot.
“Um, please put me down,” she whispers. I slowly put her to her feet, making sure that her body rubs against mine.
She runs to her car and, moments later, drives away from me. King looks at me with an uninterested smirk. He pulls his girlfriend’s hand, and they walk away without a word, but Eden Rose turns her head and looks at me.
When I can no longer see Cori Lamb’s car, I walk to the restaurant and enter through the service entrance.
“You’re late.”
“Sorry, Mom.” Mom’s a stickler for punctuality, but she hugs me.
“Hazel left us some food, and you know how she is if you let her food get cold.”
“I get violent.” Cousin Hazel pinches my cheek like she did when I was a kid. She points to her office and gestures for my mother and me to go. I follow, determined now not to go through with the plan.
Mom pulls out a binder for me to flip through.
“It seems so clinical.” I cut into the pancakes Hazel has for me.
“Do you want to buy the motel chain or not?” Mom puts her hand on top of mine. It’s warm like always, and her voice has a tinge of worry.
