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Baz is a nice guy, if you can look past the hideous scar running down the whole left side of his face that tugs his top lip up into a permanent snarl. He went to school with Meg, and she says he was a sour ass who always had a scowl on his face, even before the wolf attack. But I still think he’s a big softy under it all.
Ten minutes later, I’m home and unlocking the front door while Bosco whines from the other side. When I push through, he wiggles his little butt as he growls happily up at me. I bend down, scratching behind his ear. “Hey, baby. Want some popcorn?”
He barks then trails after me on my way to the kitchen, where I go about fixing us a big ass bowl of sweet and salty popcorn to drown my sorrows in. When it’s done, I duck into my room and change into my comfy sweats and an oversized hoodie.
After heading out to the lounge room, I line upLove Actuallythen flop down on the couch. I sigh happily as I tug the fluffy blanket from the backrest and snuggle into it. Bosco jumps up and curls into a ball beside me, resting his boofy head on my lap beside the popcorn bowl.
He snuffles at it, and I slip him a piece before shoving a whole handful in my mouth. And that’s when I remember the cheesecake…
By the time Snow and Ariel get home, I’m sprawled on the couch in a sugar coma as the end credits of my movie roll up the screen, the empty popcorn bowl and cheesecake box on the floor, not a crumb left between them.
“Whoa! This is worse than I thought it would be,” Ariel says.
I peek one eye open, glare at my traitorous sisters, and grumble, “I hate you both.”
Ariel nudges the empty box with her boot. “Did you eat a whole cheesecake?”
“Half,” I mutter, then I stare down Snow as she moves farther into the room.
“He lives here, Kida, you were bound to run into him sooner or later. Better that we be there for moral support than you be on your own, don’t you think?” Snow says, lifting my socked feet and placing them in her lap so she can sit.
Pushing up on my elbow, I flip her off with my other hand. “Moral support, my ass. And I had a plan. I’m a very talented avoider-er. Is that a word? It should be. Anyway, that was my plan, and you two screwed me.”
“No idea on the word front,” Ariel says, lowering herself to sit on the floor against the couch. “And that wasn’t a very sound plan, Keeds. Also, Belle dragged you over to the table, so if you want to get technical, she’s the one who screwed you.”
My gaze flicks to her. “Semantics. What are you doing here anyway? I thought you were staying at Kass’s place tonight.”
She rests her head back against the cushion, then rolls it toward me. “Nah, I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“Oh,” I murmur.
“Are you?” she asks, her green eyes intent on me.
I swallow and take a moment to really think about how I’m feeling. “Yeah, I’m fine. Would I have preferred to never see him again? Hell yes! But as Snow pointed out, that’s not an option since he lives here now.” I flop an arm over my eyes, picturing his gorgeous face behind my closed lids as I groan. “He’s so hot, and he probably thinks I’m on crack or something.”
“He seems pretty decent, and nice, too,” Snow puts in.
“Thanks,” I grumble. “That makes me feel so much better.”
“I’m here to help,” she says.
Without even looking at her, I know she’s smiling again.
ChapterSeven
SeeingKida on Friday only served to confirm how much I want her. I’ve never reacted to someone the way I have with her. That smile… shit, I really like her smile. Even when it’s strained by nerves, it still lights up her whole face and ignites a fire in my chest.
She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met. For starters, she can’t seem to get away from me fast enough, which is a total mind fuck. That’s never happened to me before. I’ve never had to chase a girl in my life. And now I’ve come across one that intrigues me beyond anything I’ve experienced, and she wants nothing to do with me.
Kida is a curiosity I’m desperate to unravel.
I’ve thought about her a lot since the mistaken identity thing at the café, but now it’s worse. I have this intense desire to seek her out, to talk to her and find out everything I can. If I told her I’m not mad about what happened, maybe she’d be willing to give me the time of day. I want more than the two brief encounters we’ve had.
I saw her sister Snow every day last week at Perky’s, and I’m hoping she’ll be there again this morning so I can ask her about Kida. I’m disappointed when I walk in and don’t spot her right away. She’s hard to miss with her sharp black bob, blood red lips, and the fuck-offorI’ll-kick-your-ass aura that surrounds her.
A few people mill about in line ahead of me, so I take the opportunity to scan the new book display. This week there’s a whole new collection under theHe’s a ten, but…sign. I scan the Post-its stuck to the various covers. He’s a mafia prince. He’s incapable of love. He forced you to marry him. He bought you at an auction. He’s packin’ both down there. That one has me doing a double take, so I pick it up and flip it over so I can read the back.
“Nice, he’s good lookingandopen minded,” drawls a husky female voice from behind me.
