Page 135 of Tempting Little Thief

So why doesn’t he?

There’s no doubt in my mind there’s a reason. People like him in places like this don’t make moves on a whim.

From the left, golden fucking hair catches my attention, but I don’t bother looking, and he doesn’t need to step in front of me to announce his arrival.

Damiano places himself at my side with his hands in his pockets, attempting to stand taller and stretching out his chest as he does it. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“You should fuck off.”

He looks around the room, shaking his head slowly. “You’re putting her in a bad spot by coming.”

“You’re putting me in a bad fucking mood tryin’ to tell me what’s what with a girl who ain’t yours.” My eyes slide his way.

He shifts so his body is facing mine slightly, but I keep mine pointed toward the bar. “She would come to you if she could.”

“I know.”

“She’s kept you away with good reason.”

“I’ve been in her bed every night for the last week, with the exception of the last two.” Raising a brow, I look to him. “That sound like she’s keeping me away.”

If he’s shocked by my announcement, he doesn’t say it. “You know what I mean.”

This time, I do face him. “No. I don’t ’cause there is nokeeping me away. You should have plenty of proof of that by now. I go where I want, and if she’s there, chances are I’m not far.”

“So youhavebeen watching …” He trails off, but he’s gonna have to do better than that. “Do you not have a life back in Brayshaw?”

Okay, he wants to pussyfoot around. Got it.

“No.”

He waits for more, but it ain’t coming. Do I have shit to handle? Yes, more than normal since Raven Carver showed up in town and flipped the Brayshaw family on their ass, but that ain’t my life. That’s work. That’s doing what I can for a friend and what I’m paid for.

My sister isn’t there, and if my mother was, I would know.

So, again, no, I don’t have a life there. There’s no trust fund sitting around with my name on it, so I have to work my way out of the gutter.

Sighing, Damiano faces forward as I do and finally says something real that’s on his mind. “You’ve seen him watching her.”

I press my tongue to the back of my teeth to keep my jaw from clenching. “I have.”

“It’s not about his proposal.”

My head whips around so quick I can’t fucking stop it. “Say what now?”

Damiano’s brows jump, and then he scoffs a laugh. “Yeah. He thinks he’s got a shot at a union between them.”

A union, he said.

“That all relationships here are agreements between two people who ain’t even the ones stuck together?”

Damiano tips his head, smiling as if to saypretty much. He eyes me a minute, and when he speaks again, it’s with a watchful tone, almost as if he’s attempting to reassure me. “She’s not interested.”

I can’t help the laugh that leaves me, and my eyes snap forward as Rocklin’s spine shoots straight, the sound reaching her from across the giant room.

Yes, baby, I’m still here, but you knew that.

I don’t bother with a reply to his little informative note that I did not need. I know she’s not interested, just like I know some things aren’t her choice, and from what she’s said, I’m betting whose ring ends up on her finger falls into that category.

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