Page 78 of Cold Hard Truth

Having Reed here feels like home. If sharing a room means I get to spend more time with her these next few days, I’ll take it.

“So what’s everyone up to tonight?” Reed asks. “We should grab drinks to celebrate the group getting back together.”

“You make us sound like a lame-ass boy band.” Sage sighs.

“Speaking of bands…” I grin. “Fel told me your buddies are in town. That’s why you were at the shop today, right? Making plans for later maybe?”

“No.” Sage shakes his head, already shooting me down.

“Your buddies?” Reed asks.

“Enemy Muse.”

Reed’s eyes widen as she grabs Sage’s arm. “You’re kidding.”

“Fel said the guys are going out with them tonight.”

“Well, Fel is wrong.” Sage shakes his head. “I told them I can’t make it.”

“We have to go.” Reed ignores Sage’s irritation. “It would be ridiculous not to.”

I cross my arms on the counter, leaning forward. “I don’t know… I’ve been locked in here since I got back to town. I’m beginning to think Sage doesn’t know how to have a little fun anymore.”

Mason bursts out laughing, and I’m sure it’s because he’s more familiar with how Sage was before I got to town. While now, he’s pretending he doesn’t know how to let loose.

“She just called you boring.” Mason nudges Sage’s arm with his elbow, still laughing.

But Sage doesn’t take his eyes off me. “You want to have a little fun, Lyla?”

“Maybe.” Raking my teeth over my bottom lip, his gaze drops to my mouth.

He watches as I wet my lips and press them together. My eyes narrow, and I issue him a challenge, just like Iused to do back when we were younger. Just to see how far I can push him.

The cold war is melting, and he knows it.

Electricity pulses.

Even when it dulls, it’s still there. And right now, it might as well be sparking all over the room. I’m pushing just to see if he’s going to shut me down or give in like he knows he can’t help himself.

“All right.” He smirks, and it feels a little like a challenge. “We can go.”

“Seriously?” I didn’t actually expect him to cave, even if it was fun trying to break him.

Sage pulled me out of so many biker parties in my teens, part of me thought he’d do the same.

“Seriously, butterfly.”

I swear every time he calls me that he makes the one on my skin flutter between my legs.

“Rock stars.” Reed claps, snapping the tension between me and Sage and pulling our attention. “Let’s get dressed then. And I need to do something about my hair and makeup.”

She grabs my arm, pulling me behind her down the hallway, but I can’t help glancing back at Sage, only to find him still watching me.

“Don’t worry.” I wink. “I’ll wear something bright. God forbid you lose me in the madness.”

And when I run my finger over the leather choker around my neck before disappearing into my bedroom, I get exactly what I want.

Sage’s full attention.

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