Page 75 of Death is My BFF

But I had an idea.

“Faith.” The hair at the back of my neck stood on end. David stopped in front of our table. The whole restaurant had become silent, except for a few people whispering and stealing photos of David. Every muscle in my body tensed, ready to launch me into flight at any moment. “We need to talk.”

Up close, everything about him was intoxicating, but I forced my pitiful self to look past his façade to see the jerk who had burned me today. “Um, no thanks.”

He opened his mouth to reply, when Marcy came in hot. “She said no,compadre. Now take your hoity-toity fuckboy haircut and skedaddle, before I call my father. He’s the sheriff in this town. Last time I checked, stalking is a criminal offense.”

A smirk etched its way across David’s lips. He tilted his head down to Marcy. “How rude of me.” Slipping off his sunglasses, he tucked them into the pocket of his leather jacket and reached out a hand. “You must be Faith’s garrulous best friend, Marcy. David Star.”

She shook his hand numbly. Her mouth slowly fell open.

“Wow,” was all she could muster. “You smell yummy.”

“Marcy,” I hissed and shook her tray. Startled, she blinked a few times, exiting dreamy mode. “He justinsultedyou, and we’releaving.” I wrapped my tacos and stuffed them into my purse.

“Right,” Marcy said, frowning. “Right, okay.”

“Marcy.” Her head snapped back to David. He flashed another charming smile, and my arms broke out into gooseflesh. I looked anxiously between him and her. “May I have a word alone with Faith? You have to use the bathroom.”

“If you’ll excuse me, I have a urinary urgency.” She got up too fast for me to grab her, retreating to the restroom.

David turned his attention to me, and I jumped out of my chair, putting the table between us. “What the hell did you just do to her?”

“Don’t make a scene,” David said so low I had to read his lips.

“You’ve already done enough of that for the two of us!”

“Give me a chance to explain myself.”

“There’s nothing for you to explain.” I inhaled a shaky breath, energy rushing through my veins. “Just go. Stay away from me.”

He looked around at our audience, chuckling a little. Then he started to walk around the table. “I understand why you’re upset. I have answers for you, but we can’t talk in here.”

“Do not come any closer.” I whipped out my pepper spray and aimed it at him. “It’s not locked, and it’s pointing away from me.” I arched my brow. “Thanks for the tips.”

Unfazed by my weapon, David slid on his sunglasses. “I’ll be outside.”

“That’s nice. I’ll be in here, calling the police.” I increased my personal space and knocked into a couple sitting at a table. Muttering an apology, I reached into the back pocket of my jeans for my phone.

Empty.Seriously?My eyes darted to my backpack, which was closer to David.

David and I stared each other down like cowboys dueling in a wild Western film. My fingers twitched at my side.

I lunged forward. At the last second, his hand shot out and fisted my backpack first. Grinning, he shouldered the bag and sauntered toward the exit.

“Hey! Hey, I need that—you—youthief!” He ignored my protests and shoved through the glass doors into the parking lot.

Glancing around at the puzzled faces around me, I released a disgruntled curse. “Ever hear of the bystander effect, people?”

I raced after him.

“Give me back my backpack!” I demanded, feeling lame as hell as I jogged across the parking lot to David’s retreating frame. “I’m talking to you!”

He pivoted sharply. I smacked into him. My vision filled with his handsome features and all thought suspended. “I’m not who you think I am.”

“We’ve already established that,” I said a bit breathlessly and lunged for my bag again. He lifted it out of reach, and I stopped myself before I jumped for it like a child. “We’re both adults here, David. Give me the backpack.”

“What I mean is,” David said as he lowered the bag, “I’m nothim.”

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