Page 78 of Devious Love

CHAPTER 21

needy little thing, aren’t you?

DOMINIC

Age 22

October

“There’sa party at the beach on Saturday,” Miles says as we head to Luigi’s for dinner after work. “You in? You need to let loose. You’ve been working too much.”

I scowl. “Don’t you ever get tired of going out?”

He dismisses me with a shrug. “No. And I’m doing it for you. You’ve been celibate for an awfully long time. It’s not healthy.”

I laugh. “I’m not celibate.”

He snaps up straight, brow arched. “You met someone?”

“Remember last Halloween? When I hooked up with that girl at Romero’s party?”

“Yeah. What about it?”

“I found her.”

“How? Wasn’t she wearing a mask and a wig?”

“She had a tattoo on her back, and when I saw it again, I approached her.” It’s not a total lie, but there’s no fucking way I’ll admit it’s Mia. At least, not now.

“Oh yeah, Alice in Wonderland ink, right? That’s awesome, man.” He claps me on the back. “You were hung up on her for so long.”

I chuckle, slipping my hands into the pockets of my jeans. “Maybe a little.”

He barks out a laugh as he opens the door to the diner. The second I step inside, I home in on her like she’s a beacon. Mia sits at a table with her friends, and fuck, if she’s not the most stunning girl in the world.

I didn’t see her before I left for work this morning, so now, I’m devouring the sight of her like a starving man. She’s in a black leather miniskirt and a pastel pink turtleneck that hugs her full tits in the most delicious way. Her hair is down, spilling over her shoulders, highlighting how effortless her beauty is.

As if she can feel my eyes on her, she peers over. When she sees me, her lips twitch into a smile, her dark blue eyes shining.

It’s been four days since our trip to Santa Clara, and I’ve had to keep my fucking hands to myself since. At home, it seems there’s always someone around, and I’ve been busy at the shop, busting my ass to finish a project for a longtime customer. By the time I get home, I can barely keep my eyes open.

Maybe I can change that tonight, offer her a ride home.

“Isn’t that your stepsister?” Miles asks, and that word—stepsister—brings me back to reality.

I shake my head to clear my mind, but I can’t look away. Mia grins, like she knows I’ve been lost in thoughts of her. When I’ve finally collected my few working brain cells, I wink at her and follow Miles to the empty booth near the window. I sit down with my back to her, saving myself from distraction.

“You didn’t answer my question,” Miles says. “That’s your stepsister, right?”

“Yeah, that’s Mia, Matt’s sister.”

He studies me for a moment. “Interesting choice of words.”

“Nah. She’s always been Matt’s sister to me. Our parents’ marriage hasn’t changed the way I see her.”

“Makes sense, I guess.” He cranes his neck, looking over my head. “She’s gorgeous. Her friend is too. What do you know about her?”

I force myself to focus on the second part. Otherwise, I’m liable to knock my best friend out.