Page 5 of What She Deserves
“Why?”
“Now that I know you’re in town, his days are numbered.”
Her lips tightened, but the heat of desire banked in her eyes.
She tossed her head so that her black hair swished to the left in her signature move—which meant she was about to give him a piece of her mind. Sweet-natured Layla had a sharp tongue when pushed too hard. But instead of a soul-slicing barb that cut him to pieces, her lips paused in an open position, and her gaze drifted to a point beyond his shoulder as if someone had caught her eye.
Almost at the same time, a hand touched his shoulder. Rashad didn’t have to turn around to know Natasha was standing behind him. She came up beside him, wearing a friendly smile on her face.
“Hi,” she said, looking between them.
A flash of—hurt?—filled Layla’s eyes.Dammit. Natasha’s appearance had reversed what little progress he’d made, which hadn’t been much at all. He’d conveyed the message loud and clear to Layla that he still wanted her, but Natasha’s appearance had the potential to make him look like a liar. A game player, like she thought him to be.
Her lips expanded into an equally friendly smile. “Hi, I’m Layla.”
“I’m Natasha.”
“Nice to meet you.” Her gaze lifted to Rashad. No emotion in her eyes, only a cool exterior that was in direct contrast to the passionate woman he knew her to be. “It was good to see you again, Rashad. I have to go. Take care.”
She glided away—back straight, steps fluid and graceful. If not for the silver high heels that played peekaboo with the hem of her flowy dress, one could easily believe that she was floating on air instead of walking across the floor. She took her position at Ethan’s side, once again rejoining the conversation she abandoned earlier, and the absence of her presence unearthed an unexpected longing. Layla Fleming had rocked his world on many occasions, and right now he was hard-pressed to recall why he’d wanted to slow down.
“Who is she?” Natasha asked, following his line of sight.
“No one,” Rashad muttered, but she wasn’t no one.
He’d never met a woman he couldn’t persuade to his point of view, until Layla. After six months together, he’d asked for them to slow down, and she walked away. Completely unexpected. And, apparently, she had lied to him.
No one was perfect, and he should accept that his previously perfect record had been tarnished. Losing Layla had been a one off.
But her dismissal and dishonesty not only piqued his interest, they challenged him in a way that caused an exhilarated tightening of his body. No person on earth loved a challenge more than he did, and he was determined to get her back into his bed.
Yes, there were other fish in the sea, but he wantedthisfish.
He’d have to cancel with Natasha. No way he was sleeping with her tonight after that interaction with Layla.
Envious of the cling of the fabric that lay against her soft skin, his eyes didn’t leave her rear view as he moved toward the exit with Natasha.
Dick hard. Fighting the urge to go get her.
