Page 121 of Pay for Your Lies

“Ha,” he says, his British accent coming across snobbish instead of sexy. “I’ve had my eye on you for a while, but you’ve always had your guard dog watching. Since the coast is clear, I wanted to introduce myself officially and make plans to take you out.”

“You’re hitting on me?” I ask, my tone disbelieving.

“I’m making my interest known while I can.”

“You don't even know me.” I point out.

“I like what I see.” He gives me a slow once over, making me squirm in discomfort. I don’t like the way he looks at me, like I’m something to be stolen away. “The rest I can find out once you’re sitting across from me or writhing under me, far away from him.” He adds with a sickening smile.

He’s delusional if he thinks that’s ever going to happen.

I quirk an eyebrow at him. “Who are you calling my guard dog?”

“Rhys, love. Don’t pretend you don’t know he’s been marking his territory since you got here.”

“Don’t call me that.” I tell him, keeping my voice calm even though having him call me ‘love’ sounded like nails on a chalkboard to my ears.

“Why not?”

“I don’t like the way it sounds when you say it.” I answer with a sharp smile.

He barks out a boisterous laugh and it too grinds on my ears, my previous uncertainty about him turning to annoyance now.

“I can see why he wants you.”

“Is there a purpose to this conversation?” I ask, because I’m truly unsure what he wants from me. He seems to be playing a game, but one I can’t see and it’s starting to frustrate me.

Devlin is classically handsome with blue eyes and blond hair but I’m dryer than the Sahara desert. He does nothing for me. All I can think of, all I can see, is dark blue eyes, dark hair, a slashed eyebrow, and a tall, warm body.

Where is Rhys? He’s the reason I’m here, he’s the one I want to see.

“You keep avoiding my comments,” he says, taking a step closer to me. I resist the urge to step back, his presence making me almost physically uncomfortable, and hold my ground. “About whether there’s something going on between you and Rhys.”

“Then take the hint.”

That doesn’t deter him.

“Is there something going on?” He asks, bluntly.

“None of your business.”

He chuckles, his hand drumming a steady beat right next to mine on the kitchen island. He’s not touching me but I can feel his presence looming closer and closer to me like a bad omen.

He takes another step towards me and this time, I do step back. If I didn’t, we would have been standing close enough that our chests touched.

I’m suddenly happy that at least we’re in public. There's something about him that’s setting off all my internal alarm bells.

“It is my business if I’m interested–,” he starts.

“Pass.” I cut in.

“You don’t even know what I was going to s—“

“You were going to reiterate your earlier attraction to me and, like I said,” I tell him, my upper lip curling as I speak, “pass.”

“Just like that?” His eyes narrow as his fake smile drops off his face.

“Just like that.” I confirm, giving him a bored look and barely resisting throwing a yawn in there.

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