Page 55 of Flaunt
“Was that a real question or rhetorical?” I ask.
He scoffs. “I just got a call. Would you like to guess who from?”
“It doesn’t interest me enough to guess who called you this afternoon. And, as a matter of fact, talking to you doesn’t interest me enough to continue this conversation.”
Banks watches me as I wander around the driveway and try to control my frustration.
Why is Joshua calling me? Why does he think I care who called him? Why is it necessary that we ever talk again?
Banks lifts a brow and folds his arms over his chest.
Don’t look at him. You’ll get distracted.
“Myles Petterson,” Joshua says, spitting the words. “Myles Patterson called me this afternoon.”
“I’m not sure why you think that pertains to me.”
“Because he mentioned that you will be attending the gala this weekend.”
Oh, I see. I grin. “I’m not sure what I do with my time warrants a call from you.”
Banks’s jaw sets in a firm line.God, he’s hot.
“It warrants a call from me,Sara,because there’s absolutely no reason for you to be there. You’re no longer employed at Eubanks and Fields and therefore have no business at the gala. Period.”
I laugh. “You’re right,Joshua.”
Banks’s eyes blaze with the mention of Joshua’s name.
“What? You’re not going to fight with me about this?”
“I’m no longer employed by Eubanks and Fields,” I say sweetly, aiming my face to the sky. The sun feels so good against my skin. “And I have no business at the gala. You’re correct. Do we have anything else to discuss?”
He sighs. “I’m glad you came to your senses.”
“Me too. But I can’t help wondering if you were always such a prick or if this is a new quality of yours.”
My attention switches from the sky back to Banks. His arms are dropped to his sides; his eyes are glued to me as I pace the edge of his lawn.
The feeling of his gaze on me fills me with a warmth that makes my insides wobble. But I can’t think about that now. I have Joshua to deal with.
“Listen, sweetheart, I know you’re upset that we ended things. I know you’re jealous,” he says.
“What?” I laugh out loud. “You think I’mjealous?”
“Of course you are. And I understand. I’m quite a catch and you’re … well, you’re you.”
Steam rushes from the top of my head. “You’re a catch and I’m …me? You got a part of that right but probably not the part that you think.”
Banks walks slowly toward me like a predator stalking its prey. His posture makes me shiver.
“Try to manage without being bitter,” Joshua says. “You’ll be fine. You’ll find someone who fits your life better than me.”
Banks stops a few feet away, peering down with questions written all over his face. His cologne breezes through the air and his energy ripples across the lawn and dances around me—lifting me up.God, the man is sexy.
“It wasn’t as hard as you might imagine,” I say, licking my lips as I stare up at my new roommate. I don’t know where I’m going with this, but I know I’m not letting Joshua think he got one over on me.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
