Page 21 of Loving the Liar

With an eye roll, she takes another sip of her drink. “Sorry, Dad.”

“Rose,” he says in warning. “Don’t call me that.”

She laughs to herself, knowing exactly what she just did and how to rile him up. Being called Dad by your best friend when you’ve got a daddy kink isn’t hot to Chris. And I know first-hand what his kinks are.

“Ella.”

I startle, going back to Enzo.

“Damn, bella, what does a man have to do to keep your attention?” He looks behind him, seeing Chris. “Ah, you prefer the perfect gentlemen type of guys?”

“No,” I snort. “Please, anything but that.”

“Good. Because I’m anything but that.” An easy smile spreads on his face. “Kiss me.”

I lick my lips, enjoying the aftertaste of tequila, the remnants of salt, and the sourness of the lime. He lowers his head, and I push on my toes, but he suddenly freezes, then pulls back.

“What the?—”

“I’m so sorry,” a smooth voice apologizes. One I know too well. “I tripped.”

Chris’s solo cup now looks half-full, the other half on Enzo’s blue t-shirt. He appears truly apologetic, his handsome face the picture of innocence. But I’m not impressed, and I know what he’s doing.

“Don’t worry, man,” Enzo says. “It’s all good.” He turns back to me, but Chris puts a hand on his shoulder.

“No, let me get you a towel or something. We need to dry this.”

“I don’t ca?—”

“Ella,” he cuts him off. “You know this place. Could you give me a hand towel, please?”

I feel my jaw clenching. The fucker really has a plan, doesn’t he?

“Sure,” I mumble.

I’m forced to step away and round the gigantic island to reach the other side of the kitchen, Chris following closely.

I open a cabinet, looking up at the shelf with the hand towels. Reaching high, I try to grab one, only to realize I’m falling short. I don’t live here anymore, so I forgot how high these damn shelves were.

Chris’s body shifts, and then he’s pressed against mine, a hand on my hip and the other reaching over me.

I freeze, my hand still in the air.

“Listen to me,” he rasps in my ear. “I’m not exactly enjoying seeing you let some frat boy hit on you. I’m going to kindly ask you to be a good girl and stay away from other guys. But I’m asking kindly only once. If I have to say it again, I won’t be so nice.”

“Go to hell,” I hiss under my breath. “And stay there.”

“Seeing other men was a thing for when I was away, Sweets. I’m back now, and I don’t want to have to play mean.”

My pulse accelerates, my lower stomach tensing as he presses harder behind me.

“How does Megan feel about this? Is it a Shadow thing to have a girlfriend and still hit on your ex?”

He chuckles. “It is actually. But it’s different for us. I’ll only be like this until my ex becomes my girlfriend again.”

I don’t like the way my heart and my body react to this, and I need to cut this shit short right now.

“I’m not yours anymore, Chris. Now step back before someone realizes you’re acting like a crazy man.”

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