not interested. I can’t say it any plainer. I know you’ve managed to wrap Reece around your finger this past year, but don’t fuck with him. Don’t hurt him.”
Her eyes search mine until she drops my gaze. There’s a quiver in her lips, but she sucks it up and juts her chin out. “I wouldn’t do that. We’re all just friends. I adored Willow, and I know everything you went through after she died. I was there for both of you.”
She was there, but not in a helpful way. No one was.
I study her. “Reece cares about you, Veronica. Do the right thing and either be with him for real or cut him loose.”
She swallows and looks over at the dartboard, her gaze landing on him.
“Go to Reece.”
“Because she’s coming over here?” Her eyes glare at Sugar, who’s almost to us.
“Because I want her.”
She stands up from the stool and sniffs, and I watch as she saunters over to my brother and throws her arms around his waist. He turns and looks down at her, a flash of adoration on his face before he gives her a kiss. Shit. I just want him to be happy.
Sugar stops in front of me, her gaze intelligent and blue, the color of a perfect summer sky with a hint of green.
I look at her, getting a read on her. I take it all in, the way she bites at her lower lip, her hand trembling ever so slightly as she plucks at the silver bracelets on her wrist. I inhale a deep breath and smell her, warm and sweet.
When I fuck her again—because I will—it’s going to be explosive.
Yeah, we have this boyfriend bargain, and I agreed to it. How could I not? It’s a chance to figure her out.
“Why are you smiling?” I lean against the bar, feigning nonchalance though my heart is a jackhammer. Somehow I’ve got to convince her to give me a chance.
“Because I was here first and you showed up. You’re stalking me.” Her mouth curves up in a smile. Then her gaze lands on Veronica. “I guess she ran off before I got here.”
I laugh and take a step closer to her. “Don’t worry about her. Maybe we need a very public kiss so the entire place gets the idea and leaves us alone?”
She mulls it over, a blush on her cheeks. There’s a small hitch in her breath, and her eyes go straight back to my lips.
I think back to the last time I kissed her—really kissed her—and my body tightens. “You with me?”
She doesn’t say anything.
We’re close, so close, and I can feel the heat from her skin. “May I kiss you? Please?”
Her chest rises. “Okay, but none of that fancy tongue work.”
I laugh softly. “Afraid of falling in love with me?”
“No.”
I lean in and lace one of my hands with hers. “Liar. Why else say it?”
She rolls her eyes. “Just get it over with. This makes three kisses if you count the one on the cheek this week.”
“Okay.” I cup her face and kiss her like she’s really mine, like she’s coming home with me, like she’s dying for me to touch her just as much as I’m dying for her.
Our lips move slowly, tasting and exploring, and my hand pulls her closer, until she can feel the hardness in my jeans. It goes on, our mouths taking more and more, and I don’t want it to end. We break apart with small movements, our faces still leaning in, and I brush my lips across hers again. I stare down at her. “Now that will give the gossips something to talk about for a while.”
“Sheee-it, get a room,” Boone calls from behind me, and she huffs out a laugh.
A few minutes later, the guys at the dartboard call out to us, and we walk over to where they are. Eric gives Sugar a hug while Reece hangs back, a reflective look on his face. Veronica just stares at her nails as she sits on the couch.
I introduce Sugar to the players. Boone finds out she’s taking law classes and starts questioning her about if it’s an easy major or not. He keeps a respectable distance between them and keeps his eyes on her face—trust me, I’m watching. She brings out all my alpha male instincts, and I feel protective just looking at her. She sends me little looks under her lashes every now and then as she talks to him, and I wonder what