Page 7 of Captivating

“I hate that stupid nickname.”

Knew she’d say that too.

“No, you don’t.” The tequila warms my throat as it goes down, and I know I’m going to regret this shit when I run tomorrow morning, but I take another shot anyway before I pass it back.

Her hair feels like silk between my fingers as I tuck a golden lock behind her ear and smile as she leans into my hand. “You never did.”

For half her fucking life, I was the person she called when something went wrong or right. I was who she wanted. And fuck if I didn’t love being that guy.

“Oh yeah?” she whispers. “And what makes you think that?”

“Because ballbuster or not, you’re still a shit liar,” I challenge.

She licks her lips and leans in a breath closer. “That’s okay because it turned out you were a good enough liar for both of us.”

Shit.

Guess I deserve that.

“Why are you here, Killian?”

I run my thumb along her cheek, and for a minute, it’s gone. The anger. The hurt. The stupid teenage hormones. It’s just Lilah and me. “Guess I wanted to see for myself that you were okay.”

“I’m fine,” she murmurs as she pulls back, her mask firmly in place, and I drop my hand.

Footsteps sound in the hall as Lilah stands, refusing to look at me as Maddox walks in. “I’m heading back to the condo, man. You coming with?”

“Yeah. I’ll be right behind you.” I don’t bother taking my eyes off the woman in front of me as Maddox walks back out. “One day, you’re going to have to listen to me, princess.”

“One day, maybe you’ll say something worth listening to, champ.” She turns and, unlike me, has no problem looking away as she leaves me alone.

Not the first time she’s done that either.

LILAH

Blast the music until you can’t feel a fucking thing...

—Lilah’s Secret Thoughts

“It’s my parents’ house, Xander. No one is going to get to me here. Either go home or come inside and let my mother feed you.” I stand outside the front door, waiting for an answer I know I’m never getting but wishing for it anyway.

Xander has been with me for two and a half years. He’s a good bodyguard. Nice enough to be around and big enough that he deters most people just by looking at him. They don’t know he’d rather save a fly than squish one. They also don’t know he’s a better shot than most secret service agents are, which is just fine with me.

He also runs a team of men who look like silent assassins.

I don’t think they actually are, but they’re scary enough to look like they are.

“Now, Lilah,” he placates me. “You know I’m not leaving, and I already had breakfast, but thank your mom for me. I’ll be right here when you’re ready to leave.” With his big arms crossed over his chest, he waits for me to step through the front door before he walks back to the SUV, leaving me to follow the sound of laughter.

I’m not gonna lie. I’m half surprised Mom didn’t tackle me at the front door during my unsuccessful negotiation tactics.

As I stop at the edge of the kitchen and look at my family, I make a mental note to thank Noah for taking the brunt of the attention when we got here. My sister, Dillan, is sitting at the island picking at the strawberries Mom set out because she’s just that good and knows they’re my favorite. Asher tries to snag a berry from the bowl, and Mom smacks his hand. “Leave some for Lilah.”

He looks from Dillan to Mom and back again while he groans, “What the hell?”

I take a quick minute to soak it all in. The way Dad stands with Mom tucked into his side as she shoves a plate of food Noah’s way. The way Dillan looks at Noah like he hung the moon. He was always her favorite. The smell of freshly baked cinnamon raisin rolls covered in crushed walnuts from Sweet Temptations, and the way it mixes with the salty caramel coffee Mom and Dillan can’t go a day without.

It smells like love and warmth and safety.

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