Page 40 of Wicked Dares
His smile is wide and fatherly, but I don’t miss the way Levi tenses.
He’s still holding my hand, but his grip has noticeably tightened.
Not exactly possessive. It’s more protective.
“Arthur Lockwood,” Levi says, his voice edged with tension. “Fancy seeing you here.”
Arthur takes that as an invitation to move closer, and his gaze is fixed on me with the deepest fascination. It’s almost unsettling, though he seems harmless.
His gaze shifts between Levi and me, assessing. “I was about to say the same thing about you. Doesn’t seem like your kind of restaurant.”
“I’m a man of many surprises.”
“So I see.” Arthur’s gaze drifts back to me, then drops to where Levi’s hand is wrapped around mine. “This must be the little lady you’ve been telling me about. Didn’t realize you were keeping such fine company, Levi Vale. No wonder you kept your girlfriend to yourself.”
I try to keep a straight face, but it’s obvious he’s misunderstood what Levi and I are.
I’m about to correct him when Levi’s thumb taps twice against my palm, and I feel it for what it is—a silent request to play along.
“Yes,” Levi says smoothly. “I told you… she values her privacy.”
I snap my gaze to Levi, silently asking what he thinks he’s doing, but the insistent look in his eyes stalls me.
“Well, it’s nice to finally meet the elusive girlfriend.” Arthur extends his hand to shake mine.
Levi releases my hand, and my mouth goes dry as I stare at Arthur.
Lord, what am I getting myself into?Again.
I paste on a nervous smile and shake Arthur’s hand. “Piper Andrews. Nice to meet you, too.”
Chapter Nine
LEVI
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
The universe clearly has a sick sense of humor.
Of all the things I thought could happen tonight,this—running into Arthur Lockwood and him thinking Piper is my girlfriend—was not one of them.
Arthur watches Piper as he shakes her hand, and there’s a softness to him I’ve never seen before. Like he’s kept his guard up with me the entire time I’ve known him, only to drop it now that he seesmy little ladyis real.
Except she’s not.
But my gracious butterfly is playing along, smiling away as she gives him a firm handshake.
She’s not even hesitating, or throwing me under the bus when she easily could.
I owe her big time.
This is a fucking nightmare. And Arthur couldn’t have shown up at a worse time.
Piper was sharing something important about her ex. Her hands were shaking. And her eyes…
That was fear.
I knew it the second I saw it. I always know fear when I see it. The monstrous woman who gave birth to me weaponized it.
