He figured I was too uptight and conservative
<
to actually go through with it.
I turned to him. “Really?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Of course. My word is
my bond. You know I always keep my
promises.
99
“Like when I said I’d marry you? I came
through, didn’t I?”
He sounded so proud.
Like marrying me was some huge favor.
So I should be grateful and not make a fuss
about him and Bethany.
I looked away, towards the dark corner of the
room.
There was the man who’d been sitting silently
all night, his face like ice.
“Actually, I don’t need to go looking.”
“What?”
Ignoring Mason’s expression, I stood up and
walked over to the man’s feet.
I knelt down, looking up into his eyes.
<
“Wanna spend the night together?”
The man leaned back against the leather
sofa, looking down at me with cold.
indifference.
Like he was about to kick me away in disgust.
I heard a choked laugh behind me.
It was Mason. “Babe, why him?
“He’s been burned so bad he hates women!
He hasn’t been with a woman in years.
Hates women…
I thought, is that true?
وو
My heart pounded, and I couldn’t take my
eyes off him.
Since we’d met again, I hadn’t dared to look
at him like this until tonight.
My nails dug into my palms.
I wasn’t sure how he’d react.
Then, a shiny black shoe tapped my chin.
The man’s face was even colder, more
intimidating.
<
He spoke, his voice harsh.
“You sure about that?”
I didn’t back down, pushing my chin a little
harder against his shoe.
“Yeah.”
He stood up suddenly.
Everyone thought I’d finally pissed him off.
They thought he would push me away.
Word was that some starlet had tried to flirt
with him at a party a while back.
He’d shoved her into the pool without a
second thought.
She’d begged for help, and he’d just walked
away.
Mason rushed over, grabbing his arm.
“Dude, she’s my girl, don’t hurt her!”
“She doesn’t know you. Cut her some slack!
Take it easy!”
“Riley, get up!”
“I told you, you can’t mess with this guy! He
“I know you don’t care about other guys, so
don’t try to act tough. Go home with your
friends!”
I didn’t know what Mason had said wrong, but
the man shoved him back.
His eyes flashed.
“Who said I hate women?”
In a flash, he threw me over his shoulder.
His voice was low and full of resentment.
“Riley Carter, you came to me.”
As we headed for the door, Mason called out.
“Easton Blackwood, what the hell?”
His name.
Easton Blackwood.
The man paused, turning his head slightly.
“Exactly what it sounds like.”
Mason’s voice was desperate. “You can’t be
serious. She’s my girl!”
Easton gave Mason a look, then turned and
walked out the door.
<
Mason grabbed Easton’s arm.
“Easton, we go way back.”
He looked at me over Easton’s shoulder.
“Dude, don’t mess with your best friend’s
girl, you know?”
Easton shoved Mason into Bethany, pinning
her against the wall.
“Yeah, you do.”
“Don’t waste the night. Take care of
yourself!”
I was already dizzy from the alcohol.
Being slung over Easton’s back made it even
worse.
I wanted him to put me down.
“Easton…”
He cut me off.
“Don’t call me that. We’re not close.”
I bit back the rest of what I wanted to say.
I could handle a little dizziness.
I owed him.
<
Mason was still yelling.
“Easton! If you hurt her, you’re dead!”
His friends held him back.
“Mason! Easton’s been in a bad mood ever
since he got back. Don’t push him!”
“You offered him a low price for that project,
but he didn’t say anything because you were
friends.
وو
“He’s probably just messing with you to
relieve his anger, and he may abandon Riley
somewhere when he gets downstairs.
