Page 64 of My Undead Heart
Ican’t believe she’s here.Violet. My worst frenemy, only she’s now been unequivocally downgraded to pure enemy.What a bitch!She was the one who wormed her way into our group. Into being friends with Rae. I have no doubt she begged to tagalong to the casting call. Rae didn’t drag her because Rae knows how much I despise Violet. And she was having as much fun as everyone else! She’s embarrassed about liking it. About being labeled a freak so she feels the need to make fun of me instead. I actually feel sorry for her, not being comfortable enough in her own skin to own it.
Only when she pretended she didn’t know or see me, which I fucking know she did the moment she squeezed her bony little ass next to mine, I couldn’t resist my knee jerk reaction. Or rather, digging the heel of my boot onto her designer shoe. It wasn’t very nice, but it was so worth it. Now as everyone chatters on I can’t fight the smile that tries to take over my face.
“Mia, you need another drink?” Matt asks from across the table.
“Yeah,” I say and he lifts his brow, just the slightest toward Violet.Shit.He knows I hurt her on purpose. Probably thinks I’m acting like a stupid, petty girl. It shouldn’t bother me because I shouldn’t care what he thinks, but it does. I don’t have any desire to embarrass him or his brother’s friends. He stands from the table and I do the same. “I’m not sure what I want. I’ll come with you.”
I follow him out of the dining room, through the living area, and into the kitchen. He walks toward the refrigerator, but before he opens it, he stops on a dime and whips his gaze around so I almost lose my balance or crash into him. His response is automatic and his hands grab my hips to hold me steady. They slide along the waistband of my jeans, and a shiver works its way up my spine at the touch of his fingers. They dig just slightly into my flesh and he holds me steady. As if his hands belong there.I want them to. It’s a dangerous thought and one that has me taking a step back out of his reach.
Matt doesn’t miss a beat and opens the fridge to retrieve another beer for me and a water for him. “So, women’s footwear isn’t just for wearing? When the description called them killer boots they weren’t kidding.” His lips pull up with a wide smile as if he finds it funny I stepped on Violet’s foot. I take that as a good sign.
“You better watch yourself, Haywood.” I tap my toe near his as I twist the top off my bottle and take a pull. His gaze follows my drink and his eyes zero in on my mouth. They heat like warm honey and that look alone causes my body to thrum with need. “Cross me and I’ll bring these bad boys on the mats.”
“You play dirty, Mia.” His deep murmur spikes the space between us full of desire. I should quash it. Nip it in the bud. But my inner woman roars with the power of it all.
“Wouldn’t you like to know just how much?”
His eyes darken and that woman inside claps with approval. I wonder if he might kiss me. He’s more likely to prop my ass on the counter and devour me the way he’s staring now. I’d enjoy it, too. I can guarantee it. That part doesn’t scare me. It’s the moments after when he becomes clingy or things get awkward that keep up my guard.
“So, now you know. Never cross me.” I grin and tip my drink, breaking the mood, and Matt recovers as if it never was.
“Noted.” He grins and downs his entire bottle of water.
I sip my beer and a roar of laughter from the other room reminds us both there’s a party we’re avoiding. Before we head back there’s something I’ve been dying to ask Matt since his brother answered the door. Matt’s not easily offended—ever in my experience—but I know the topic can be a sensitive one so I drop my voice in case of any eavesdroppers. “So, I’m just going to come out and state the obvious. Your brother is ... black.”
Matt’s laugh, the one that booms from his belly, fills the kitchen with his amusement and it takes a moment for him to catch his breath. “He’s actually half black, but I get what you mean.”
I shake my head, because I’d like to know the story behind that. I find myself curious about his life, family, and upbringing, but when he doesn’t expand on the topic I decide to feel out his take on Nikki. “And his girlfriend is ...”
His brows rise and he nods for me to continue. “Say it. You won’t hurtmyfeelings.”
A mean girl. Pretentious. Un-fun. None of them are acceptable answers so I go with the most positive thing that pops in my head. “Not right for him?”
“Right?You got that vibe, too? Just from a few hours. But how about that friend of hers, the one you foot stabbed? She’s a real piece of special.”
Violet. Yeah there’s a place in hell for women like her. “Oh, I’ve met her before.”
“Wait, what? She didn’t act like she knew you. Wow. That only makes her even more of a bitch.”
“My sentiment exactly. For the record, I’ve also met Nikki before.” I didn’t put two and two together, not until Violet walked in, but I knew there was something familiar about Danny’s girlfriend. She came to Rae and Jared’s blowout Halloween party two years ago. Threw up into a ficus planter on their community rooftop deck after hooking up in front of everyone with some random guy on a lawn chair. But since she’s dating Matt’s brother I leave out those details.
Matt’s brow etches with concern. “What? Wow. That’s really disappointing. That doesn’t make her any better than her friend.”
“Not that I’m defending her or anything, but I’m pretty sure she didn’t recognize me. It was a few years ago at a Halloween party. Costumes were involved and we were all heavily intoxicated.”
“Yeah, she’s a real catch, that one.” He rolls his eyes. “But more about this infamous Halloween party. There was a pillow fight and you kissed a girl, didn’t you? Do we have pictures?”
“I most certainly did not.” Laughter bubbles from my belly and I roll my eyes. “And I’m sure Jared has them somewhere.”
“Can I see them?” His grin is like that of a little boy.
I shake my head because there are some things that are universal when it comes to men. “God, what is it with guys and Halloween costumes?”
“Honest truth. They tend to unleash the inner slut in even the most sensible of single women.” His smile is not deterred by my scoff.
“I’m not sure if I should be more offended by you calling me a slut or boring.”
His eyes widen and he shakes his head. “No, no, no. I would never. You are neither, I swear it.” He clears his throat and stands a little taller. “Let me try again. The reason most straight men love the costumes that come with Halloween parties is because they’re basically themed lingerie. Sexy butterfly, sexy mermaid, sexy cop, sexy Catwoman ... Make that just Catwoman. She’s inherently sexy.”
