Page 167 of A Little Tempting

Her gaze darts from left to right as she curls in on herself. “Neither do I.”

“Do you…wanna talk about it, or…”

The girl scoffs. “You know what?” She starts to turn away. “You’re off the hook. I changed my mind.”

“Wait.” I reach for her arm, and she flinches away from me. And fuck, it hurts. The way her body tenses up. The way she thinks I’d harm her. I don’t even know her. Lifting my hands in surrender, I rush out, “I won’t touch you, all right? Just…wait for two seconds.”

She scowls but stays in place, studying me. “Why?”

“I don’t know? Because”––I wave my hand toward her––“I promised my friend I’d step in if someone wanted to hire him since he’s in a relationship, and you obviously need…help.”

Another scoff escapes her as her eyes fall to her feet. She shifts from one foot to the other. “Obviously.”

“What, it’s not obvious?” I push. “You’re wearing sunglasses inside.”

Her dainty fingers brush against the dark frames, but she doesn’t take them off. “Maybe I don’t want the world to see what a fist can do when provoked.”

“Yeah, well, you’re not fooling anyone, so maybe you should give the facade a break.”

She nods, though I don’t know if it’s for me or if she’s trying to convince herself it’s a good idea. To give the facade a break. To not cover up the damage some asshole left her with. Regardless, her hands tremble as she slips the glasses off and folds them, lifting her chin and hitting me with a stunning pair of eyes. They’re forest green and almost knock me on my ass as soon as our gazes lock. But the fire in them does me in. The anger. The determination. It’s almost enough to distract me from the purple and black bruising along her cheekbone and the blood-red veins tainting the white surrounding her left iris.

“Fuck,” I breathe out.

As if my words are a lash, she forces a smile and starts to unfold her glasses again, avoiding my gaze. “And this is why I keep the glasses on.”

I reach for her, hesitating at the last second to keep from touching her and scaring her all over again, feeling like I’m going in circles. Likewe’regoing in circles. I don’t know this girl, but whoever she is, she’s like a scared little mouse, and if I don’t tread lightly, I have a feeling she’ll bolt.

She stares at my half-outstretched hand the same way she did when I offered it for her to shake during our introduction. Then, slowly, her gaze trails along my bare torso. Fuck, I forgot to put on a shirt when Reeves dragged me out here. When she reaches my eyes, she mutters, “I don’t want your pity.”

“Whatdoyou want?”

“From you?” She slides her glasses back into place. “Nothing.”

“Then why come in the first place?” I ask. I shouldn’t be offended, but, dammit, I am. When she stays quiet, I push, “What? I’m not good enough to help you, but Reeves is?”

“This wouldn’t have been Reeves’ first rodeo. Not if the rumors are true.”

I move closer to her. “And you think it’s mine?”

“By the look on your face? I’m gonna go with yes. This will be your first time helping someone in my situation, and I’m not stupid enough to risk pissing off my boyfriend even more than I already have by being here.”

“Yet you’re stupid enough to date him in the first place. Am I right?” Regret clogs my throat as soon as the words roll off my tongue, but it’s too late.

Her sharp inhale of breath lingers in the otherwise silent corridor as she stares at me—glares at me. And I’m surprised. By this girl’s tenacity.

“Fuck you, Everett.”

The words slam into my chest, leaving a heavy dose of shame in their wake. Moving in front of her, I block her escape. “Look, I’m sorry?—”

Heavy footsteps break the building tension and echo off the walls, distracting us both. Raine glances over her shoulder, searching for the culprit. The way her body tenses and how she looks like a ghost is chasing her is what gets me. What pisses me the fuck off.

“I have to go,” she rushes out.

“Wait—”

“Ican’t.” She scurries down the hall like the little mouse I pegged her for, disappearing around the corner and cutting off the heavy footsteps from moments ago.

I should be grateful. For the get-out-of-jail-free card. For the chance to wash my hands of this entire thing and go back to the locker room to celebrate today’s win with the rest of the team. Instead, I fucking stand here. In the middle of the empty hallway. Waiting. For what, I’m not sure, but I can’t walk away. I can’t make my feet move.

“Where the fuck have you been?” a low voice growls.

“I was looking for you,” Raine answers. There’s a tremor in her voice, and, dammit, it urges me forward.

I have a feeling I’m gonna regret this.