Page 37 of Loving My Enemy

If you gave a damn enough to look.

“I think you gave him something to think about, Liz.” Ty’s laughter barely penetrated my thoughts, which stayed on Elka for the rest of the night.

Chapter 22

Elka

“I’m not really in the mood.” Janey showed up on my doorstep fifteen minutes ago and ordered me to get ready for trivia night at Black Thumb.

“No one is ever in the mood for trivia night. Until they get there.” She beamed a pretty smile at me that I just knew got her everything she wanted in this town. “Come on. What have you got to lose?”

Nothing, really. Because I had nothing and no one. “Good point. Give me ten minutes.” I could use a night of beer and useless facts.

“Take twenty minutes. And maybe, you know, do something with your hair. Looks like it hasn’t been combed in days.”

It hadn’t been, but I didn’t need her to tell me that, because it was nobody’s business but mine. “Thanks, Janey.”

“Anytime. What’s going on with you anyway?”

“Nothing, just not feeling very social today.” Or any day for the last few weeks. I escaped to my bedroom before Janey could ask any more questions. Fifteen minutes later, I was showered with clean hair, fresh clothes, and nothing but lip gloss on my face. “Okay, let’s do this.”

“It’s trivia and booze, Elka, not the firing squad.” She wrapped an arm around me and pulled me towards the door, even as I cast one last longing look at my TV and sofa.

The Black Thumb was fairly packed for the middle of the week. As soon as we arrived, Nina and Max waved us over. “I can’t believe she got you out of the house. I thought you were going the rich eccentric route,” Nina said instead of saying hello. “I’m hosting tonight, so make me proud, ladies.”

Max wrapped me in a welcome hug and shoved me into the chair beside her. “I haven’t seen you since girls’ night. Thought you might have left town.”

I shrugged because I didn’t want to lie, but I couldn’t tell these nice people that Iwasplanning to leave their adorable little town in the dust. “Just been busy. Working.” That much was true anyway. I spent plenty of time in my workspace creating new scents and finding new ways to market my wares.

“You’re leaving.” Her words were low enough so that no one else heard, but I did. “Why? I thought you liked it here.”

“I do. I love it, but I just can’t do this anymore, Max. I just want to … be.” I didn’t want to spend my entire life apologizing for my existence, for being who I was. I couldn’t do that.

On the other side of the trivia-host podium was another table with Preston, Ry, Nate, Antonio, Dr. Cahill, and a few others I’d seen around town but hadn’t met yet. Antonio, true to form, had kept his distance over the past week and I was grateful. Only grateful. Not disappointed at all.

Only now that I was here in the bar, he kept casting looks my way when he thought I wasn’t looking. But I didn’t need to see him to know he was there. I could feel him. I could feel the weight of his gaze as it slid down my back and grazed over the curve of my butt. The looks made me shiver but I refused to look at him, to acknowledge his existence.

“And that sound means it’s time for our first break of the evening. Be back in five or get a one-point penalty.” Nina looked at both teams, more like glared, before she disappeared into Buddy’s office where Preston followed a few moments later.

I took advantage of the break, darting outside for some peace and fresh Texas air. The sun had just set, leaving streaks of gold and purple in the sky, and I closed my eyes to take in big lungfuls of crisp evening air. A low buzzing tried to penetrate my attempt at peace. A quick glance at the phone in my pocket showed it was my parents. Again. I tapped the ignore button and leaned against the brick face of the building, eyes closed as peace settled over me.

“You shouldn’t be out here alone.”

I knew my peace wouldn’t last for long. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself, Antonio.”

“Maybe, but precaution doesn’t cost a thing.”

I guessed I’d have to save the peace for later. Pushing off the wall, I barely spared him a glance. “Duly noted, deputy.” The door was less than ten feet away and I was halfway there when I felt his hand wrap around my bicep. “Why are your hands on me, Deputy Vargas?”

“Back to that, are we?” He shook his head and let me go. “I thought we were past all that.”

“Did you? Why?” As far as I knew, nothing had changed, except an entire week had passed without him calling or insinuating that I was a liar.

“Hell, I don’t know. It’s just … shit. Ah, hell.” One second later, Antonio’s big body was in my personal space, blocking out anything and everything that wasn’t his broad shoulders and wide chest. One hand cupped my face and tilted my head back a second before his lips crashed down on mine. His body pressed mine against the cool hard brick. The kiss was hot as hell—betterthan the others. Hell, it was super hot because it felt like my panties had gone up in flames instantly.

The moment his tongue touched mine, my body exploded just a little. Thousands of tiny explosions went off behind my eyes, deep in my veins. Something took over me, longing or need, and I sucked his tongue, making him groan. That sound sent tingles running all over my skin just as he grabbed my ass and pulled me close. Really close. So close I could feel just how hard he was behind his zipper.

I was so wrong about his gaze. His hands felt even better on my ass than his gaze had. Fire pulsed through my veins and his hands were everywhere, on my breasts and down my waist to cup my ass. Again. Then his fingers speared through my hair and held me while his tongue plunged the depths of my mouth, making me moan and making my body vibrate with desire.

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