Page 45 of The Devil In Disguise

The insinuation embedded in his words ticks me off, but I reign in the storm of emotions.

“Can’t tonight. There’s still one more thing I need to take care of.” Leaving his stupid smirk to his devices, I head for the door with my final parting words.

“And I don’t share.”

“Suit yourself,” he snorts.

The sun is setting when I step outside, painting the sky in hues of orange, pink, and purple. Rolling my shoulder back and releasing a breath I didn’t know I was holding, I allow myself to take a moment in the quiet. Standing with the bold colors surrounding me, I breathe an inkling of life into me—as much as it can.

Chapter 19

I went back to the bookstore Amaris and I went to yesterday after I left Dario and bought all the books I noticed she got excited over, but put back on the shelf. Little did she know that I was typing down the titles of each one.

I have no idea what is happening to me. I should not be feeling this way or doing any of these things. She’s the enemy and always has been…Right?

Yet still, I find myself unable to resist her. She is slowly seeping into my veins like poison, spreading and taking over me wholly.

Ace follows me to her house to deliver her books, but I stop moving when I catch a glimpse of her through her window. Though the music is barely audible, it’s obvious she’s blasting a good song in the kitchen right now.

Amaris enthralls me with her singing and dancing, I couldn’t look away if I wanted to. When her eyes lock on mine through the glass, she stops singing, but doesn’t stop her dancing. She beckons me with her finger as she shimmies to the door, opening it as wide as the smile on her face.

The first words tumbling out of my mouth are, “You are enchanting, foxy.” And she is, in her silky blue nightgown with her hair down in messy curls.

She blushes and thanks me while petting Ace. Noticing the bags in my hands, she asks, “What’s that?”

“Just a little something I picked up for you.”

When she takes a look and sees the first book she freezes and jerks her head back to look at me. “Wha-? Are those all books?” She looks at me incredulously.

“I don’t know, look through them and find out.”

With an eye roll and a small smile, she takes a bag from me and I follow her to the kitchen where the music is blasting. After seeing the first three covers she looks at me in shock. “How did you even know I would like these?”

I shrug my shoulders in response and walk over to her trash can to spit my gum out. There’s a fresh batch of cinnamon rolls on the counter, but she was also in the process of making something else. When she comes back out from her bedroom I ask, “What are we making today, chef?”

That earns me another eye roll, but an even bigger smile. “I’m making strawberry cheesecake Danishes,” she says, turning the music up a notch—it’s a reggaeton song I’ve heard at the club before. Patting her thighs, Ace stands on his hind legs and dances with Amaris. This is the same dog that has ripped grown men apart. I shake my head at the thought.

“Not that I’m complaining, but what has you so perky today?”

She sets Ace’s front paws on the floor, dancing by herself while she answers. “Well, I don’t want to let my thoughts drive me crazy and I feel happy when I’m active. This music always gets me moving and grooving, that makes my day,” she shakes her hips to the beat, “start off great.” Crouching down to the dog's level, she rubs his head saying, “We’re gonna make today a good day. Right, boy?”

Spinning back to her workstation, she continues on her Danishes, talking over her shoulder. I listen while washing the dirty dishes in the sink.

“Did you know your hips store emotions and tension? So, when you move and stretch your hips, it releases some of that.”

“I can think of a few other ways we can stretch your hips,” I murmur low, but she hears me anyway and throws a kitchen towel at my head.

“Get your head out of the gutter, and why did you do the dishes! I was going to get to them.”

Using the towel she threw at me, I dry my hands off. “Too late for any of that, they’re done.”

She groans and just as she places the tray in the oven, there’s a knock at the door. My hand instinctively goes over my gun and I’m on high alert. Placing a hand on my arm she says, “Relax, macho man. I’m pretty sure it’s just Marco.” That doesn’t ease my nerves at all, especially not when she’s walking around in that nightgown, even though it isn’t revealing.

When Marco walks in he pauses upon seeing me, eyes bouncing between me, Ace, and Amaris. “Hey, boss,” is all he says, but when he looks at Amaris, there’s a knowing grin and a look on his face that says I told you so. Nodding my head in acknowledgment, I sit back and observe, watching them interact.

Marco’s whole demeanor changes and I’m worried that I’ll snap right there, until he opens his mouth. “No fucking way. You can’t make cheesecake and not tell me about it!”

Amaris snorts, glancing at the oven. “They aren’t ready yet, it’s not my fault you came so early.”

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