Page 39 of Deceit
I swivelled on the seat I’djustsat down on, giving him my best innocentlook.“My makeup.”
His eyes narrowed on me.“You don’t need makeup, you’re fine as you are.”
If anyone else had madethatstatement, I was sure I would have taken it as acompliment, but not coming from the mouth of Miles Wolfe, the man who had vowed to hate me for all of eternity.
“I’lljustbe a few minutes,”I replied dismissively, turning back to startapplying a layer of primer.
Truthfully, I didn’t normally wear makeup. Yes, I had a table full ofexpensive brands, but I only bothered to put it on when Papa insisted I made an effort. But I wasn’t going to miss this opportunity to drag my heels.
Like I said. Fuck Miles.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering something about my attitudebeing as bad as Riley’s, before sitting down again. Only this time, he didn’t examine his phone; his intense gaze was fixed firmly on me as if he could get me to hurry up with the power of his mind.
Ignoring him, I took my time applying my makeup when a thought occurredto me. This would be the last time I’d be sitting at my makeup desk. Last night was the last night I would ever sleep in my own bed.
I hadn’t allowed myself to think about what came after the marriage.Sure, I knew I’d be living with Miles in Hollows Bay, but it hadn’t sunk inthatthe home I’d grown up in wasn’t going to be my home anymore.
Notthatit felt like home these days. Since returning after I finished my finalschool year in Italy, the house had lost its warmth. I’d miss the memories of my mama the place held, and of course, I’d miss Rafe, butthatwas all.
With reality dawning on me, I let my gaze drift around my room as if itwould be the last time I would ever see it.
“Hey,”I said, twisting to look at Miles, who was still glaring at me.“Whatabout all my stuff? I need to pack. I can’t move without any clothes.”
His face remained expressionless.“You don’t need to pack. I’ve madearrangements with your father to have your belongings moved by the end of the day.”
“Oh,”I replied glumly, not liking the idea of people rummaging through mystuff.
Checking his watch, Miles stood.“If there are any essentials you want totake now, you’d best get them because I’m not waiting any longer.”
I didn’t need to think about it. I crossed to my bedside table and pulledout a framed photo of Mama with her arms wrapped around me and Rafe, the three of us with our heads thrown back as we laughed together. It was taken shortly before she died, and it was probably the last time I was truly happy.
“That’s it?”Miles asked with a raised brow, no doubt expecting me to havedemanded he wait while I packed up expensive jewelry and shit.
The photo was the only priceless possession I had, or needed.
“Yeah.”
“Right. Let’s gothen,”Miles huffed after a few seconds of silence as I staredat the photo.
Saying goodbye to Rafe was the hardest thing I’d ever done in my life. Hehugged me tight as I failed to hold back my sobs, telling methatwe would speak all the time, and he’d come to see me as soon as I was settled.
When my sobs eased, Papa pulled me into his arms, kissed me on the cheek, and whispered in my earthathe was depending on me not to mess up thisunion.
I nodded before getting in the car, and as soon as Miles pulled away from thehouse, surrounded by his entourage of bodyguards, a sense of relief swept through me. I was free of Papa.Evenif it did mean I was trapped with a grumpy asshole.
Maybe living with Miles wouldn’t be too bad; he’d made it clearthathewanted as little to do with me as possible after the wedding was over, so who knew? Maybe we’d find a way to co-exist around each other.
Nowthatwe were on the road to Hollows Bay, a million questions racedthrough my head. What would it be like living with the Wolfes? Would I have a room to myself, or was I expected to share with Miles? At least I’d have Riley to keep me company. And Angel. I’d managed to learn a few words in American Sign Language, and with extra time with her, I could learn more. For the first time since Papa had agreed to marry me off to Miles, a zap of excitement hit me.
I’d only been to Hollows Bay three times in my entire life. Once, when Iwasn’t supposed to set foot in the city. The second, for Riley’ssurprise birthday party, and most recently, when Miles had found me at Bar Forty-Four and brought me back to his house. Something I was still yet to get to the bottom of.
So, as much as I didn’treallyknow where we were going, I was somewhatconfused when we drove past a turningthatI was certain would take us to the Wolfe mansion.
“Um...where are we going?”I asked tentatively, breaking the silence.
“Home,”Miles replied, not taking his eyes off the road.
“But-”
