Page 39 of Heartbeats and Hashtags
She gives me an knowing look. “But you wanted it to, right? All that tension between you two is obvious. It's making me kindahaaat.” She wiggles her thick black eyebrows.
I feel my cheeks growing warm and take a hasty gulp of coffee. “Can we change the subject, please?” I mutter.
Tanya shrugs, unconvinced. “Fine, play it your way. But the heart wants what it wants, honey.” She sing songs the last part.
I bite my lip, glancing over at Cole's broad shoulders in his well-cut suit. Maybe my heart does want him, but it's not that simple. Last week was just a lapse in judgment, I remind myself firmly.
“Alright, fine, change of subject,” she relents with a dramatic sigh. I resist the urge to slump in relief. Discussing my disastrous non-relationship with my bodyguard,when he’s only two feet away, is the last thing I want right now.
“So give me the latest on the new guy you mentioned...” I lean toward her.
As Tanya delves into the story about what she and Eddie have been up to, I find myself stealing glances at Cole, but luckily I don’t think she notices.
Tanya glances toward the entrance and suddenly goes pale. She grabs my arm in a vice-like grip. “Oh no,no, no, no, no, this can't be happening!” she whispers frantically. I follow her panicked gaze to see a rowdy group of men stepping out of a sleek sports car. They're dressed in expensive-looking suits, hooting and jostling each other, clearly already a few drinks in.
Mr. Park's lip curls in undisguised contempt. “Degenerates,” he declares, oblivious to his daughter's distress.
The apparent ringleader, a cocky guy with artfully messy hair, spots us, and his eyes glimmer with recognition. “Hey, beautiful!” he calls out to Tanya with a crooked grin, sauntering over. She pales and shrinks back behind me, clutching my arm like a shield.
“Everly, do something, please!” Tanya begs under her breath. “My dadcannotknow we're together!”
My mind spins.The things I do for this woman.As he approaches with arms wide, I make a split second decision and slip between them.
“There's my guy!” I exclaim brightly. Before he can react, I grab his startled face and plant a forceful kiss on his mouth.
I release the stunned man and latch firmly onto his arm, steering him away from Tanya and her oblivious father.
“Play along if you want to keep your balls,” I instruct in a hushed tone. He gulps and looks down to his package, face turning white. I continue in a rushed whisper, “Because that man right there will rip them clean off if he thinks you're seeing his daughter.” His eyes widen as they dart to Mr. Park's intimidating form.Message received.
I paste on a huge smile, though my nerves are jangling. “Babe, I didn't know you were meeting us here!” I loop my arm through his and propel him reluctantly toward our table.
“Tanya, meet my boyfriend, Eddie,” I lie smoothly, avoiding her astonished stare. “Eddie, this is my best friend Tanya.”
Eddie mumbles something unintelligible, clearly knocked off his usual cocky stride. Mr. Park assesses him coolly, and I can feel Eddie shrinking under his piercing gaze.
“A pleasure,” Mr. Park forces out eventually, eyes calculating.
I risk a glance at Cole and find his nostrils flared, eyes boring into Eddie with thinly veiled hostility. His muscular frame is coiled tight as a spring, radiating menace.Shit.
I try to catch his eye, silently pleading for him to go along with the ruse. But Cole's gaze is locked on Eddie like a missile homing in on a target.
Eddie notices the searing glare and straightens his back, puffing out his chest.Men.
Cole takes a predatory learn forward, stoney expression promising violence, Eddie visibly cowers.
“Anyway!” Tanya breaks the tension. “I think… Yep, it looks like we’re all done here. Daddy would you go and settle the bill please?” Mr. Park nods, not without giving Eddie another disapproving glance.
“Uh, yeah, I better get back to my friends too.” Eddie takes advantage of the moment to rush off.
I'd barely steppedthrough the front door and into the lounge before Cole is in front of me, green eyes blazing.
“Who the hell was that clown at brunch?” he demands, the barely leashed anger in his tone taking me aback.
“I..—” I start, but he barrels on.
“If you're dating someone new, I need to know. It's my job to vet anyone in your life. Plus, theres no way you’re dating that guy. For one, you’re really crappy at sneaking around. And two, he issucha tool.” His face twists.
I reel back in the wake of his accusations. He hasn’t even bothered to ask me what was actually going on.
