Page 12 of Dangerous Love

She shook her head. “No. I’ll go and see him in a minute. I just wanted to say hi.”

I opened my arms and waited for her to lean into the hug. She glared at me, a confused look on her face, but gave me a quick squeeze, her lips curling with the embrace.

“When did you get so good at this?” She winked and moved back so she could take in the whole stage.

“God, I’m hardly Bon Jovi.” I laughed. “But I got better in the last couple of months. Compliments of having to play for your brother every week.”

She pointed towards the new décor. “And all this. When did this happen?” Her eyes trailed the lights, the new bar, and the sound gear sprawled around us.

“Tonight’s our first night. Until now, I just played low-key for the good folks of Sanctuary Cove.”

Sienna scanned the crowd and narrowed her eyes at a couple of teenage girls in low-riding tops giggling a few metres away. “Something tells me this ain’t the usualBello A&G Italianonight?”

My head flung from side to side. “Nope.” I leaned in until my mouth reached her ear. “Save me. They look like they’re ferocious starving kittens.”

She laughed, her shoulders dropping. Her smile did something to my insides I struggled to process, and knowing she was right here, where she belonged—safe—kept me focused on not kissing the pink lips glowing in front of me.Don’t fucking think about it.

She ran a finger across my guitar, her gaze studying my face like she was discovering me all over again. Her cheeks grew rosy as she caught me staring at her mouth. Breaking the dangerous spell, I pulled the instrument onto my lap. Then, I played what used to be her favourite song.

My heart beats every time you’re around.

I can’t tell why. I don’t care why.

There’s something in the way you look at me.

Or maybe it’s the way you don’t.

But my heart beats for you every time you’re around.

Unshed tears filled her eyes, and she gasped when my fingers played the last chords like no one else was in the room. “You remembered,” she whispered.

“Of course, I remember.” I exhaled a deep breath as random notes filled the air and I added, “I remember that you love butterscotch muffins, that you only eat stuff cut in special shapes.” I closed my eyes and let the music show me in my mind. “You love anything yellow because it brightens your day, and I know that you drink Norco chocolate milk by the gallon since April gave you your first bottle.”

Tears ran down her cheeks as a small hiccup shook her. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Instead, she wiped her face with her sleeve as she took deep, settling breaths.

“I know that you’re bloody petrified to be here with everyone right now, but I’m so goddamn happy to have your pretty face back with us.”

She leaned down until her forehead rested on my shoulder. I kissed the top of her head, before she straightened back up. Then, she cleared her throat as some of the teenagers pranced towards me.

“Riley!” A blond girl, maybe fifteen or sixteen, squealed. “Can I have an autograph?” She handed me aBello A&G Italianonapkin and a marker as her friend blushed by her side.

I nodded, thanking the girls for coming tonight, and signed the white serviette. A mix of excitement and slight embarrassment battled inside me as Sienna waved the teenagers closer. They crouched down until their arms hugged me tight. Next to me, Sienna’s flash lit her phone. She looked down at her screen and smiled at the photo before she put it back in her pocket.

When the girls left, she grinned. “For safekeeping. It’s a big night for you.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Fine. Then I get my own retake of the night.” I pulled my phone from the back pocket of my jeans and lifted my arm until we were both in the frame. Something twinkled in her eyes as she posed for the selfie. “Happiness looks good on you, Si.”

She snaked her arms around my shoulders, and right as I pushed the shutter on the camera, she leaned in and pressed her lips to my cheek. With my other arm, I gripped her tight. A mix of coconut and spice floated around me as her body warmed my side.

“Si…” I mumbled, my heart pounding against my chest.

Before I could finish my sentence, she leapt to her feet and pointed to the main part of the restaurant. “I’m gonna find my annoying brother.”

I nodded and let my shoulders slump against the wall behind me as she disappeared. Closing my eyes, I ran a hand through my hair, visions of my soul burning in this dangerous-as-fuck fire projecting onto the underside of my lids.

I allowed myself a moment of reprieve before opening my eyes again, my fingers scrolling my screen until the photo came up. I stared at the woman kissing me, not one line marking her face. In the picture, my biceps bulged as I grabbed onto her like a lifeline, my own face hardly recognizable. It was like her body heat had erased all common sense, and the reason she and I could never be together. As desperately as I wanted to hold her tight, there was one thing I wanted more, and that was to keep her safe. Away from what my bloodline would bring her.

No Cooper will taint how perfect she is.

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