Page 37 of Bounty
Daria deflated but nodded. “I suppose you’re right. I’ll be right back, then.”
She disappeared into the crowd, heading to the breakroom where refreshments were kept.
“You should’ve gone with her.” Effie set her camera down and dropped into one of the seats at the table. “She probably wanted to talk to you about Cassie.”
Oh, fuck, thatwasher name. No matter, Cassie, Bassie, Dassie, she didn’t interest me. She could be as stunning as her mother and sister, and I wouldn’t want her.
“I’m sure you’d love to add another girl to your roster.”
“I don’t want Cassie, Effie,” I murmured, the jab annoying the hell out of me.
She paused, then shrugged. “Then you did good not going with Mom, because she wants y’all together.”
“I’m aware, but I don’t care. I want—”
“Save it,” she interrupted, pinning me with a hard stare. “We don’t have to talk, Slice, and you don’t have to lead me on. You got what you wanted, and I’m not going to say anything to my mother, so there won’t be any drama on that end.”
I slammed my hands on the table and caught the attention of a few people nearby. Effie jumped. I closed my eyes and took a breath, willing myself to calm down. She was hurt and had every right not to talk to me, but her dismissive tone and curt words grated on my last fucking nerve.
“I didn’t just want to fuck you, Effie.” I deliberately stayed quiet to avoid attracting more attention. “I had no intention of fucking you, but—”
“Oh, so I seduced you?” she asked sarcastically. “Poor little you, the big bad college girl using her feminine wiles and dragging you to bed.”
Jesus fucking Christ, this girl.
“Don’t pretend you weren’t sending signals my way all night, and don’t pretend to know what I’m thinking,” I growled, meeting her glare with one of my own. “I like you, Effie. I liked fucking you, yes, but that wasn’t all it was. I enjoyed your company, enjoyed talking to you, so don’t think you’re just a piece of ass.”
Finally—fucking finally—she started to soften, vulnerability creeping onto her face. “Then if you like me, why can’t we be more?”
Fuck, maybe this was a mistake. Maybe she had the right idea, and I should’ve left well enough alone. But her ignoringme, and the disdain in her eyes the few times she looked at me, affected my ability to think rationally. Because I wasn’t considering anything but fixing the damage I’d done, even if it’d been a necessary move. Perhaps I was a selfish asshole, wanting to have my cake and eat it too, wanting Effie to want me even while I knew the complications that being with her would bring.
“Well?” she whispered, the hope in her eyes tangling me the fuck up.
Sighing, I ran a hand through my hair. Even if the thought of making Effie mine appealed to me, she wasn’t my ol’ lady. Maybe once the bounty on my head was dealt with, I’d come clean and lay everything out for us to have a shot at something serious. But for now, I’d give her a watered-down version of the truth.
“My lifestyle isn’t cut out for a girl like you, babe.” A million scenarios flashed through my mind. They all involved Effie hurt if I staked my claim. “Believe it or not, I’m just trying to protect you.”
She laughed, devoid of humor. “That isn’t for you to decide. I’m a grown woman, Slice, capable of making my own decisions. Stop acting like my parents and babying me because you don’t want to admit the truth. You don’t want anything serious with me, so don’t bullshit me. It hurts, but I’ll get over it.”
For fuck’s sake, was she not listening to me? If she could read between the lines, the conversation would be much simpler.
“Goddamn it, Effie—”
“Save it, Slice.” The mask she’d been wearing all day slipped back in place. “It’s better if we just keep things professional and forget about our lovemaking.”
“I don’t want—”
This time, it wasn’t Effie who interrupted me, but her mother.
“What’s going on here?” Daria asked, her sudden appearance taking me aback.
Shit, but I needed to get it together. If she’d been an enemy, I would be a dead motherfucker, all because I was hung up on the pretty little thing seated before me.
“Nothing, Mom.” Effie stood and reclaimed her camera. “Slice and I were just talking.”
Perhaps I hadn’t given Daria enough credit, because she looked ready to call bullshit. Her eyes flickered between me and Effie, brows furrowed. “Talking about what?”
“Stuff,” I grumbled, my already shitty mood plummeting. “I’m ready to eat now.”
