Page 25 of Vas

If it stung a little that he didn’t try harder to get back into her good graces, she reminded herself to be happy because that’s the way she wanted it. She was done wasting her time, energy, and emotions on the man. So he did a few nice things and she thought maybe they could be friends, so what. That was water under the bridge. It really was best if they went back to how they’d started, waitress and customer.

She ripped his ticket from her pad and set it face down on the table. “Have a good night.” There, that was civil. More so than she felt, and she gave herself a mental pat on the back as she walked away.

Though Vas was hard to ignore, she steadfastly refused to acknowledge him in any way as he sat at his table and ate his pie. It wasn’t until movement in the periphery of her vision caught her attention that she dared to take a peek. He had stood to leave. He didn’t look in her direction as he made his way to the exit, nor did he look back once he reached it. She watched him disappear as the door closed behind him, then glanced in the direction of his table. From where she stood, it looked as though sugar had spilled across the top. Curious, despite herself, knowing he only took cream in his coffee, she made her way over, stopping short upon nearing it. It wasn’t just a sugar spill.

Because written in the strewn granules was the single wordsorry.

Anna waved to Tiffany as she got into her car and locked the doors. Then she stuck the key in the ignition and turned it, bringing the car to life. As per their new custom, she texted Tiffany, letting her know it was safe to leave while she waited for her engine to warm up.

As she was busy putting her phone back into her purse, a knock sounded on her window, scaring her so badly, a shriek flew from her lips. Her hand flew to cover her racing heart when she saw it was Vas who stood outside her car. She quickly rolled down the window.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Startle? You nearly scared me half to death. I didn’t even see you. Where did you come from?”

Ignoring her question, he planted a forearm on the roof of her car and leaned down to peer in at her. “I didn’t want to cause a scene in the diner, but I’m not taking no for an answer this time. We need to talk.”

Well, shit.

He popped the lock and opened her car door. “Come on.”

Not thinking of any way to avoid theirtalkshort of putting her car in reverse and speeding away, possibly injuring Vas in the process, she grabbed her bag and got out.

But she did it slamming her car door.

Chapter 10

Vas had tried to stay away. He really had. But seeing Anya from his balcony only two short times a day just wasn’t enough. He missed her in ways he couldn’t explain and didn’t dare overanalyze.

So he’d given in to temptation and went to the diner.

He’d expected her to be a little angry at first but figured he could ease it from her with some polite conversation. What he hadn’t been prepared for was her overly polite hostility that blocked him at every turn. He found that he… didn’t like it. It stirred an emotion in him that he was very unfamiliar with.

Fear.

The fear of letting the one thing he really wanted for himself slip through his fingers.

Getting involved with Anya was selfish.

It was stupid.

And it sure as hell wasn’t in her best interest, but he was so damn tired of being alone.

And the crazy thing was, he hadn’t even known just how lonely he’d been until she’d come into his life.

He had his work cut out for him though. She was mad and he had no idea how to fix it. He was skilled in many things—most of them deadly—but soothing a woman’s anger wasn’t one of them.

Silence stretched between them as they walked across the greenbelt that separated the diner’s parking lot from his apartment complex. Though March had made its arrival and the plants had started to bud, it was still damp and cold in the dead of night. Vas jammed his hands into the front pockets of his jeans, hunching his shoulders, wishing he’d thought to grab a jacket.

He glanced over at Anya. She was bundled in a light-weight parka, seemingly undisturbed by the chill. The long hours at work hadn’t dimmed her beauty. Her blond locks swept into a messy bun and her bangs held back with a clip displaying her features attested to that. But it was her lips that fascinated him the most, drawing his attention time and time again. Full and just a bit pouty even when she wasn’t angry, kissable was the best way to describe them.

And fuck but he wanted to kiss them. Had spent nights dreaming of doing just that.

Same as when he’d gone to the diner earlier that night, unease had settled in the pit of his stomach when he’d approached Anya after her shift. Relief had slackened his tense muscles when she’d agreed to accompany him without a fight, though he hadn’t been fooled into believing her complaisant. The snatching of her bag off the passenger seat and the exasperated huff he’d heard as she’d gotten out of the car had proved that point. Not to mention, the force in which she slammed the car door. And now, her continued silence and aggressive step, confirmed it. Her legs may be short but their fast pace quickly covered the distance, making it unnecessary for Vas to slow his long stride, and they came upon his building within minutes.

“Thanks for agreeing to come with me,” he said, trying to break the ice.

Her side-eyed glance and pursed lips, seen even in the dim lighting, were clearly hostile. “It’s not like you gave me much choice.”

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