Page 106 of Lies Like Love

“So how do you know Jude?” I finally ask, not able to help myself.

A smile ticks in the corner of her mouth that makes my stomach flutter. “You’re worried he fucked me, right? Because you like him?”

Like him. Love him. Belong to him.

I shake my head, but she sees right through it, so there’s no use. “Maybe.”

It must be the whiskey because I shouldn’t have admitted that.

Candy’s neon green fingernails tap on the bar top, one by one as she watches me squirm. A final tap and her smile slowly shifts from devious to sweet. “Don’t worry, there’s never been anything between me and Jude, if that’s what you’re wondering. Unless you count him piercing my labia.”

My eyes go wide, dropping down her body in realization as my cheeks blanch.

“Wait, seriously?”

She shrugs. “Blaze likes it.”

The way her eyes twinkle when she mentions Blaze makes it clear I’m worrying over nothing. Jude left me with Candy because she’s Blaze’s girlfriend. And I’m the dumb girl so obsessed with him I didn’t see it.

“I like your bracelets.” Candy reaches across the bar and spins a sun and moon charm between her fingers.

“Thanks, I made them.”

“Damn girl.” She fans her face. “That’s really good. You should start a business or some shit.”

“It’s what I’m trying to do.” If only it didn’t feel like an uphill battle most days.

“Hey, where’re our drinks, Candy Kane.” Some guy shouts from the other end of the bar.

Her eyes narrow before she turns to face him. Volatile, terrifying. I’m not sure how he doesn’t see it.

“Not serving you a fucking thing if you ask me like that.”

“I’m a paying customer.”

“I don’t care if you’re Jesus Christ himself.” She taps her forehead, chest, then each shoulder in the form of a cross, and I can’t figure out if she’s actually religious or messing with him. “You talk to me like that, and I kick you out of my bar.”

“It’s Blaze’s bar.”

His comment makes her stand up taller, venom leaking from her eyes, while the most wicked smile stretches her face. “And I’m Blaze’s girl, in case you forgot. I don’t think your VP would appreciate how you’re talking to me, do you?”

Finally, that shuts the guy up. Whoever Blaze is, the simple mention of his name and status, has the guy shrinking in on himself.

“Give me one sec, babe. I gotta go serve these assholes now that they’re going to behave.” She pats the bar top in front of me. “I might not like ‘em, but I’m not passing up their money.”

Candy winks, before disappearing to the other side of the bar. By the time she gets there, they’re all laughing like old friends who weren’t just shouting profanities at each other.

I’m used to people having to act a certain way around others. Polite, pretend. This place is all rude and raw, but I can’t say I mind it.

“Haven’t seen you in here before.”

From the corner of my eye, I catch sight of someone leaning a little too close to me at the bar. His blond hair is short and messy. And when I turn to him, he smiles like he thinks highly of himself.

Only—his eyes.

Something violent brews beneath the surface.

And the soul always knows.

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