Page 54 of Beginnings By the Sea

I nodded in agreement. “I know how you feel. It was hard to be happy about anything.”

Nyla’s phone beeped and I groaned. Sliding my arms away from her, I stepped back so she could grab her phone out of her back pocket.

Her eyes met mine in the mirror as soon as she finished reading the text. “It’s him,” she whispered. “He’s on his way to pick me up.”

I clenched my fists and tried to ignore the tightness in my chest. Huffing, I walked out of the bathroom. “Of course he is.”

She followed me down the hall and past the living room to the kitchen. “What are you going to do, Miles?”

Spinning around, I flashed her a halfhearted smile. “I’m going to stand with you while you wait on him.”

After opening the kitchen door, I gestured for her to walk out with me. Nyla stepped forward and pressed her body against mine, encircling my neck with her soft arms.

“You have nothing to worry about.”

I didn’t doubt her feelings for me, but there was still that sense of insecurity at the back of my mind.

“I know,” I said, holding her closer. I pressed my forehead to hers and breathed in her strawberry scent. “It’s just I know Cohen can give you anything you want. Most women would jump at the chance for something like that.”

She snorted and clutched my face in her hands, her blue eyes never leaving mine. “I’m not like most women and you know that. I prefer pizza and pajamas on the weekend, not fancy dinner parties and multi-thousand-dollar dresses.”

She stepped away and lifted her brows, waiting for my acknowledgment. I nodded and kissed her again.

“I know. I’m just ready for you to get this pity party dinner over with. Cohen doesn’t deserve this time with you.”

I hated the fact that she felt she owed him dinner. Nyla was a strong and intelligent woman, but Cohen could manipulate anyone. If he tried anything with Nyla, I was going to make sure the paparazzi wouldn’t recognize him when he returned to New York.

A few seconds later, the sound of Cohen’s sports car rumbled just down the street before he pulled into the drive, arrogantly smiling at me from beneath his aviators.

Nyla stepped in front of me, blocking my view of him. “I’ll be back soon. Do you have any plans for tonight?”

I shrugged noncommittally. “I might grab some dinner from The Beachcomber.”

She smiled and nodded. “Sounds good. I’ll see you soon.”

Cohen came up behind her and glared at me, but his eyes softened when she turned to face him. Smug bastard.

“Are you ready?” he asked her.

She glanced at me again and smiled before walking with him to his car. It took all I had not to tell Cohen to leave and just lift Nyla over my shoulder and take her inside. But I couldn’t do that without pissing Nyla off.

Cohen opened the passenger’s side door for Nyla and shut it once she got inside. Instead of getting in to join her, he walked over to me.

“It’s mighty nice of you to let Nyla be with me tonight.”

My jaw clenched so hard I thought my teeth would break. “She’s coming home to me. That’s all I care about.”

Cohen smirked. “You never know, she could change her mind.”

Anger coursed through my veins, and I stepped toward him. “If you try anything with her tonight, I’ll break every bone in your face.”

Cohen chuckled and walked backward toward the car. “I’d like to see you try.”

That smirk still lingered on his face as he got into the car beside Nyla and drove away. All I could do was watch until the car disappeared around the corner, wishing I would’ve just punched him like I wanted to.

25

NYLA

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