Page 32 of Tied and Tangled

I was in fucking jeans and a T-shirt. Desperate. Twenty-four hours without hearing my girl’s voice, and I was fucking desperate.

“You want to…” she repeated, and her eyes darted daggers in my direction. “I don’t think so,” she clipped as she stared at me.

“Fernanda, right?” I guessed. She glared at me.

“I liked you. I thought you would be good for her. I saw the way you watched her. Carefully. Almost lovingly. But whatever happened….” She paused and took a deep breath. “I suggest you leave.”

“I can’t.”

“Why?”

“Because…”I love her.The words lodged in my throat as the door behind her opened and my girl stood behind her. Dressed to kill. Unaffected. And by the way Fernanda was watching me, she knew exactly what I was thinking.

“Aid— Mr. Stark,” Aria said as she stepped out looking like a breath of fresh air.

My eyes soaked her in from head to toe.Fuck, she is gorgeous.Her hair was down in soft waves like she had just blow-dried it. She was wearing an off-the-shoulder dress that had a split at the left side. And I knew that because the thing fit her like a glove and exposed some of her golden tanned thigh.

“Aria,” I finally managed to croak out. There was no hiding the heat in my voice. “Do you think I could speak to you?” Her eyes brightened and then dimmed.You did that, you dumb fucker!I cursed at myself.

“I don’t know.” Whatever hope I had talked myself into started to seep out of me. She was dressed up, makeup and hair done. She was obviously going to go somewhere. Without me.

“We can talk out here or anywhere, just please? Ten minutes, max,” I lied. I would steal every spare minute she gave me. She opened her mouth, but Fernanda, who was now standing next to her, answered for her.

“You have five. But if I peek out here and see her crying—"

“Fernie!” Aria hissed, but her older sister just rolled her eyes and didn’t stop with her speech.

“I see her crying, you better call the cops because I’ll rip your fucking tongue out with my bare hands,” she threatened, and I frowned.

I had a feeling she would be more than capable of that.

“I wouldn’t dream of it. Promise.”

“Good.” She smiled and whispered something in Aria’s ear before moving back into the house, shutting the door behind her.

“Hi.” I tried to smile, but I knew I looked like a fucking creep.

“Hey.” She crossed her arms over her chest. My eyes dipped to the cleavage.Focus, dumbass! You have five minutes!I scolded myself as I shook my head and walked closer to her until I stood less than a foot away. A breeze picked up, and her scent washed over me. It was sweet torture.

“You look good,” I complimented because there was no way not to. She looked fucking amazing. But I knew firsthand Aria was gorgeous in anything she put on.

“Funny, you look like crap,” she clipped, and I nodded.

“I deserve that.” I shrugged. Her dark eyes softened with slight regret.Maybe there is hope after all?

“How are the girls?” she asked. “Did they have fun at Amy’s?”

“A blast. They went ice skating and built snowmen. They baked all sorts of cookies. Have a tin for you in my car. Want them?” I rambled nervously.

“Sure,” she whispered, taking a step forward. The moment she was at my side, my hand found hers, and when her eyes met mine, they seemed confused and relieved all at the same time.

Silently, we walked hand in hand to the SUV I had parked in front of her house. The moment we reached it, I wished I had thought of parking further away. Anything to soak in the moment just that much longer. I beeped the car open, and when I let go of her hand to reach in for the tin, I missed her even though she stood right behind me.

“Here you go.” I handed them to her when I turned to face her. I leaned against the car, my arms dangling at my sides. I wanted to reach for her, hold her. But I knew I couldn’t. Not yet at least.

“Oh.” Her eyes were pinned on the tin in her hands. Her lips wobbled, and my heart lurched in my chest. I looked over her shoulder, and sure enough, Fernanda was standing at the window, glaring at me. “This is why you came? To give me cookies the girls made?” she asked the container. I swallowed hard.

Looking at her all put together but with the sadness in her eyes, I knew she wasn’t as unaffected as I had first thought when she stepped out. Her eyes were puffy and swollen. My stomach twisted. I’d done that. I’d made her cry. I’d hut her.

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