Page 12 of When The Night Falls

‘Then why are you objecting?’

‘Because I don’t want to be left alone with you,’ I said as Olivia and Andrew went to the bar without further ado.

William’s eyebrows furrowed. ‘Am I that terrible?’

I pressed my lips together.

‘I’d just like to get to know you better,’ he said, shrugging. ‘Isn’t that what you wanted in the first place? I mean, you approached us first.’

‘Specifically your friend,’ I reminded him.

He tilted his head and, even though he concealed it well, I thought I recognised hurt somewhere deep within his eyes. I must have bruised his ego.

‘Oh, so that’s what this is?’ he asked flatly. ‘I’m not cutting it?’

Was that the impression he was getting? Since it was far from the truth, my conscience suffered. Averting my eyes, I grabbed my gin and tonic. As I raised it to my lips, I quickly said, ‘No, that’s not quite it.’

He leaned forward again to attract my gaze, and when he captured it, he scoured it thoroughly. Folding his hands between his thighs, he twiddled his thumbs.

‘So . . . I do make the cut?’ he asked then, ever slick.

I couldn’t fight my smile. ‘There is no “cut” to make, Will. I’m not here looking for anything if that’s what you mean.’

‘Then how come you approached us to begin with?’

My eyes darted in Olivia’s direction, but since I didn’t want to expose her, I quickly looked away again. Alas, William didn’t fail to notice my wandering attention. As soon as he turned his head to observe Olivia and Andrew at the bar, he said, ‘Right. I get it now. You were winging her.’

He looked at me for confirmation, but I merely stared back so as not to reveal anything. Suddenly a grin claimed his mouth. I frowned in puzzlement.

‘It’s been a long time since I’ve gone on the prowl,’ he said, ‘but if I’m not wrong, you approached him because she was initially interested in me.’ He leaned back. ‘What a textbook performance. Didn’t work, though.’

I had to give it to him: the man was remarkably perceptive. His aptitude for reading social situations was outstanding. Even so, he still hadn’t detected my lies, or at least it seemed that way.

I scoffed. ‘Doesn’t matter. As soon as you opened your dreadful mouth, her interest shifted onto your friend instead.’

William laughed wholeheartedly. ‘I’m not even slightly upset. She’s not my type.’

‘You mean she doesn’t remind you of your mother?’

He rolled his eyes. ‘Either way, she’s clearly not interested anymore, so there’s nothing holding you back. You’ve got a green light to get to know me.’

‘I’m sorry, didn’t you hear what I just said? I’m not interested in anything other than helping Livy out.’

He surprised me when he suddenly stood up. ‘Right, well, if that’s the case, I’ll just head over to them if you don’t mind. Shame if that sabotages Olivia’s chances.’

‘Wait, wait – fine!’ I raised my hand to halt him. ‘I’ll entertain you.’

Releasing a satisfied sigh, he sank back down and folded his hands above his crotch. ‘That’s more like it.’

I desperately wanted to tear the smug smirk off his face. ‘You’re insufferable,’ I grumbled.

‘You’re only upset because I’ve outwitted you.’

‘Why are you so determined to get to know me?’

‘Because you’ve seriously piqued my interest.’

Again, his directness took me aback, and just like earlier, my heart began to pound. Each thump pressed against my ribcage to the extent that a keen eye could probably see it.

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