Page 71 of Pretty Lies

The softer tone he took on had her shaking her head. Lifting her stare, she met his so that he could see she was telling him the truth when she said, “Listen, I didn’t mean what I said about you being a shitty guy—not really. I meant it, but it was more a reflection of what I feel about myself and less about what you’ve done to me or shown me. And I could give you my backstory and how every relationship I’ve fallen into with someone has turned to garbage, but that’s not what matters. What does is that I projected my issues onto you. That’s all. I needed a second to clear my head.”

“Huh.”

“That’s what you want to say?”

Cory shrugged under his leather jacket. “Isn’t that all I need to say? I didn’t realize us having a bit of fun was going to cause a problem, Della.”

“It didn’t. I made it. Because we were just having fun. I got ahead of myself—scared myself.”

Cory cleared his throat, his attention drifting upward to the blue sky overhead. “All right … so back to normal, then?”

“What is normal?”

“We’ll figure it out. As long as it’s good, what’s the problem?”

Well, to start, it scared her.

Cory quickly added, “Also, I think this is what my brother, Joe, would call growth. He likes that word, the prick. He also likes pointing out my growth every chance he can.”

Della laughed dryly. “My brother says it too. I have a lot of that growth going on lately. Just realized being here today why J doesn’t tell me much about his business. I thought it was about me or—”

“They can’t, Della. It’s not about you. It’s just what this business is sometimes. Seems like a lot of what you’ve done has been with family and when it came time for you to do it alone and for them to move on … shit just got messy.”

She went quiet because she’d also learned recently that listening taught her a lot more than talking did. Maybe she needed to be more grateful that she had the chance to learn—the people around her were offering that opportunity. She should put it to use more often.

“Hey,” Cory said, his tone husky but still sweet.

How was that possible?

Della looked up. “Yeah?”

“Never had a chick turn me into an asshole before.”

A sly grin curved her lips. “Do you mean to say I hurt your feelings?”

“I don’t really do or talk about those.”

She nodded. “Right.”

“But I’m sorry, too.”

“Good to know.”

There was no pause between their exchange and when he leaned in closer. His lips brushed over hers, softly at first. Searching, she thought. There was a big part of Della that didn’t like he had to search for something with her at all. Really, everything else between them had been so entirely easy when they didn’t let doubts and nonsense get in the way.

She kissed him back.

Harder.

Cory seemed to like that a lot if the way he smirked against her kiss was any indication. It quickly turned hotter when his tongue swept the seam of her mouth. Then he was tasting her. Their tongues dancing while a smooth, lovely hum built in his chest.

She stepped closer.

Needed him near.

Supple, worn leather found her fingertips when she let her hands travel over his chest. His gaze stayed on hers while he took and took and took with his kiss.

It still terrified her that this man could take her heart before she realized what happened. But wasn’t the beauty in how easy it could be? Della wasn’t ready to think about that yet.