Page 17 of Ghosted

Her gaze cuts back to me.

Johnny goes very still beside us.

Alice catches that too.

Interesting girl.

“Why?” she asks.

I nod toward the bag where she tucked the camera away. “So I know when to watch for that flash of yours.”

Her brow lifts.

“Would hate for it to cost me a fight.”

The camera.

Not you.

Weak fucking lie, and judging by the way her mouth curves, we both know it.

There it is.

The smile I wanted.

Smaller than I expected. Sharper too. Not sweet. Not soft.

Dangerous enough to make me want more.

“Maybe I don’t know if I’m coming back.”

I smirk. “Yeah, you do.”

Her eyes narrow slightly. “You sound pretty sure.”

“I am.”

“And why is that?”

“Because we both know you liked what you saw tonight.”

Her mouth parts like she has something smart ready, but nothing comes out fast enough.

My smirk widens.

“And for someone who likes to watch?” I lean in just enough to make her tip her chin up. “You’ll be back.”

For a second, she doesn’t answer.

Then her mouth curves.

Small, but so fucking sharp and dangerous.

This time, she laughs.

It’s quiet with the crowd chaos, but enough to hook somewhere beneath my ribs and stay there.

Johnny exhales smoke beside me.