Page 23 of Between Never and Forever

I hated that he still remembered the nickname he gave me. Screw him. “Great.” I yanked the card out of the machine and stood abruptly. “I should go cash out then.”

He stepped in front of me, and I bumped into his chest. “You didn’t do as I said, Kee.”

“What did you say to do again?”

“Tell me that all this is a joke,” he reiterated.

“Dex, let’s not do this.” I shook my head at him. It was one in the morning. I was tired, emotionally drained, and ready to tap out. I needed to, because it was that or I was going to unleash every emotion I had on him.

“Do what?” He tilted his head, and I couldn’t stop myself from taking in how good he looked. He’d always cleaned up nice, but he filled out the suit he wore perfectly, his broad shoulders and large chest showcasing that he’d stayed in shape over the years. His hair probably had been combed nicely to start the night, too, but I could tell he’d put his fingers through it more than once now.

“There’s no reason to act like there’s something between us when there isn’t.”

“We’ve got more than what you have between you and Ethan Phillipe.” He rubbed his jaw. “The chin wobble was top notch though. You lie to every guy you’re with, or just him and me?”

“You know what? Fuck you, Dex,” I grumbled and tried to walk past, but he caught my elbow.

“We’ve been damn close to you fucking me, Kee, and I’d bet if I allowed it, you’d take me up on the offer to get close again. Maybe even go all the way.”

I spun on him, pissed that he had the audacity to goad me when I’d tried to be the bigger person tonight. “If you allowed it? If I gave you the chance, you mean.”

He stepped close then. Too close. My breath hitched, and I licked my lips instinctively. My body knew this stance, knew how it would feel to have him, and immediately I wanted to give in, wanted to rake my nails over his skin and claw at every part of him the way the memory of him tore at me.

“And look at you. Those pretty eyes are full of hunger, heartbreaker. Want to give me the chance tonight?”

I jerked back at his words and stepped out of his orbit. Long ago, my body had gravitated toward Dex Hardy but I couldn’t get caught in revolving around him now. “I’m engaged.”

“Not for long.”

“Excuse me?” I glanced around, but it was late. The people in the casino didn’t care about us. Our friends and family were all off celebrating a real marriage.

“You think I’m letting the headliner at the Black Diamond Resort and Casino marry a man I hate?”

“You don’t hate him. You don’t even know him,” I sputtered out as he slid his phone from his pocket. Was he for real? “Don’t you dare call my record label, Dex, or I’ll—”

“Or you’ll what?” Each word came out pointed.

What was there to even threaten? Dex had it all. He had the money, the casino, my stupid contract, and now even my record label in my pocket. “What do you even want from me? I’m not harming you. Just stay out of my way, and I’ll stay out of yours.”

“Stay out of your way? This is my place. I don’t go home—back tomyhometown—just to ensure I don’t see your venomous ass.”

“Venomous? Are you kidding me right now?”

“No. You poisoned that whole town against me. And then you came home acting like you loved me when really you were going back to hang on Ethan’s arm a week later. Now you’re here doing the same.”

“I did no such thing.” He made what I’d done sound so evil, so calculated. He didn’t know how I’d cried, how I’d suffered, how I’d barely been able to get out of bed.

He barked out a laugh and then bent over and laughed his ass off. “Did you read the news when you left? They practically labeled me a murderer, and I didn’t even want you in the car that night.”

“I…” I shook my head and stepped back. I hated talking about that night. It haunted my dreams and then the news after tortured me. “I didn’t control the news, Dex.”

“No. But you damn sure didn’t rebuke it, which was tantamount to an affirmation coming from the shining star of the town, Ms. Keelani Hale, who could do no wrong.”

“Oh, don’t act like they all hate you. You’ve done just fine since then.” He and his brothers owned a whole freaking empire.

He narrowed his eyes. “Have I?”

“You know you have. So, just let things between us lie. Ethan and I will—”