All-American Princess - Maggie Dallen Page 0,20
I lied. “No sparks.”
Just an inferno every time my eyes met hers, every time her body was near me, every time she was anywhere within earshot.
I could admit it. I felt desire for the girl. It was lust, plain and simple. Any red-blooded male would feel that way around Lila.
I glanced over at Brandon and forced my jaw to unclench. Good for him. Wasn’t I just thinking how he needed a nice girl? Well, Lila wasn’t exactly nice, but if she made him happy, who was I to judge?
“I hate to interrupt them,” Amber said. She was gnawing on her lower lip. “But it’s almost my curfew, and Brandon is my ride home.”
I was in action before I even knew what I was doing. I strode toward them. No, toward her. Brandon had walked away, and she stood there alone, a sweet little smile on her lips as she watched him go. They’d been off on their own, partially hidden in the trees, cozy and separate in their own little world in the forest.
But now, she was on her own… and I was here to ruin their fun. “We should head out of here,” I said when I came to a stop at her side.
She looked up at me, and that cute smile faded fast. “What are you, my dad?”
I clenched my jaw at her sharp tone. “Do you talk to Brandon like that?” I shook my head. “He’s never been big on mean girls, you know.”
She arched one perfect brow. “Jealous much?”
My nostrils flared as I fought the urge to… kiss her.
No. Not kiss her. Man, get your head on straight. I fought the urge to shout at her. The girl was beyond frustrating.
“Your sister’s home alone on her first night in town,” I reminded her.
She squinted at me like I was speaking a foreign language. “What is it with you and my sister? Do you like her or something?”
Did I like Tess? Yeah. At least, I liked her better than this high-maintenance rich girl. But then again, I didn’t really know Tess, so I kept my mouth shut.
Lila’s lips hitched up in a mocking smile that made a dimple appear on the right side of her mouth. I couldn’t look away from that dimple, and my hands clenched at my sides as a now familiar tension swept over me. Did she feel it, too?
My gaze shot up to hers, and I caught it—the way her pupils dilated, how the pale blue darkened with desire. How her lips parted when my eyes met hers.
I also saw the moment she shook it off, the sudden intensity replaced by a cold glint. “If boring, flat-chested brunettes are your thing, you’d be better off sticking with Amber over there.”
“Jealous much?” I shot back, echoing her words to me.
She frowned as my words hit their mark. She was jealous. Of course she was—Amber was exactly the kind of girl Brandon wanted. The kind of girl Lila could only pretend to be.
“Careful, Princess.” I leaned in a bit and lowered my voice. “Your claws are showing.”
She rolled her eyes, and her haughty expression made me want to kiss her until she dropped it. It was an act, of that I was almost positive. When it came to this girl, it was always an act.
I took another step closer, wanting to get to her the way she got to me. Why? I couldn’t really say. Maybe so I could get a glimpse of the girl underneath all the masks. “Tell me, Princess, are you pissed that Brandon likes Amber or that I prefer brunettes?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Stay away from my sister and I promise you won’t have to worry about claws or any other sharp objects being shoved into your gut.”
I let out a little huff of air that was part exasperation, part amusement, and all surprise. This girl would never cease to surprise me. Just when I thought I’d seen all her sides, the uppity debutante threatened to shank me. “I thought you didn’t like your sister.”
Her brow furrowed in confusion, as if what I’d said was beside the point. “I can’t stand her. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t kill to protect her.”
I laughed under my breath. “Are you threatening murder?”
She arched her brows. “Are you going to mess with my sister?”
“Mess with your…” I shook my head. “Why would I do that?”
She tilted her head to the side, and her scrutiny was unnerving. Like she was looking straight through me and picking