Page 3 of His to Keep
“You’re in luck.” He winks, and while I wish I could say it did it for me, my reaction is lukewarm at best. Hot cop on the other hand… have mercy.
“Thank you.” I plop down onto a barstool and cradle the steaming mug to my chest while Atlas rifles through the cabinets.
“Aha!” He spins to face me, a bottle of cinnamon clutched between his thick fingers. “Here we go.”
I readily accept it and sprinkle some over the top of my coffee. “Mmmm,” I hum as I take my first sip. “So good.”
“So, how’re you feeling after last night?” he asks, his brown eyes shining with genuine kindness and concern.
I shrug, because while last night definitely sucked, I’m also not exactly surprised. “Let’s just say I have a tendency to go for Mr. Wrong.”
He nods like he gets it, which is laughable. Surely neither of the men living under this roof are single. “Well, I’d say I hate it for you, but then you wouldn’t be here.”
“True.” A small, surprised laugh bubbles up from my chest. I’m not used to men who are so… candid. “So, where is your?—”
But before I can finish my sentence,hewalks in, shirtless, his abs rippling and drenched in sweat. He looks like a freaking god, and, I swear, my mouth waters.
“Atlas, we need to tal—oh, you’re still here.”
My heart sinks to my stomach like a stone. He does not sound excited to see me.
“Oh, um, yes. Sorry?” I set my mug down on the island in front of me and clasp my hands together in my lap to stop myself from fidgeting.
“Why?” He narrows his eyes, taking in just how close Atlas is sitting next to me. “You two look awfully cozy.”
“Ellis,” Atlas barks, jerking his head to the side in a way that clearly sayscut it out.
So that’s his name. Ellis. It suits him.
“I’m Scarlet…” I push back from the bar and hold my hand out to him. “It’s nice to meet you.”
His lips curls. “You make a habit of going home with men you don’t know?”
I feel two inches tall. “No, I typically get their name first,” I quip, going for humor to lighten the mood, but judging from the way he glares down at me, it’s the wrong choice.
“I see.” He stuffs his hands into his pockets. “Well, don’t let me keep you.”
My eyes sting, but I refuse to cry over another man in less than twenty-four hours. Especially one I don’t even know. Good looks does not a nice guy make, apparently. Even though he was practically prince charming last night.
“I guess I’ll call a rideshare and get out of y’all’s hair.”
Ellis gives me one last, lingering look before pivoting on his heel and heading down the hall, not even bothering with a goodbye. Talk about a personality transplant. I know some people only smoke when they drink, but maybe he’s only nice when he does—who knows?
“Don’t be silly, Scarlet. I’ll give you a ride back to your car. C’mon.”
“Thanks,” I whisper, wondering when my taste in men will finally turn in my favor, because, god knows, I only seem to want the worst kind of guys.
For the briefest of moments, I thoughtmaybe he’s into me,but he put that notion to rest quickly and all but pawned me off to Atlas.
And so, we bantered. Until Nora was taken, and then his banter became barbs meant to do more than sting.
“Scarlet…” He somehow makes my name sound both sinful and scolding, and I hate him for it. “You should probably focus a little less on my dick when it’s something you’re never,evergoing to have.”
How it’s possible for someone so handsome to be so infuriating, I’ll never know. I swear, I can practically feel the steam pouring from my ears, cartoon style. “You know what?” I coo, my voice all soft and sweet, like I use with my best friend Nora’s baby. “You can fuck all the way off. Twice.”
“I wouldn’t fuck you if we’re the last woman on earth, Princess.”
The beast next to me laughs under his breath, I’m damn near ready to blow. These two are a double dose of bad news, and I know if I give them a second more of my time, they will undoubtedly ruin my night.
