Page 37 of Kiss of Deceit

Riggs chuckled, barely giving her a glance. “Good to meet you. Want to play a game of pool, Dani? Give you a chance to learn more than just my name.”

My stomach flipped at the flirtatious note in his voice. “Not tonight. I’m not staying much longer, but thanks for the offer.”

“You use those knives yet?”

His question had Lexi’s eyes cutting to me. “What?”

“Pocketknives,” I clarified, my cheeks flushing. “And no. I only bring them when I’m walking in the woods.”

“The woods,” he echoed, amusement lacing his voice. “You think a little blade like that will help you against a bear or mountain lion?”

The wildlife wasn’t why I armed myself, but no one here needed to know that. Just like they’d never find out that I had one in my purse, and the other strapped to my ankle under my jeans. Something about this town put me on edge, and I wouldn’t get caught off guard again like I did in the forest.

“It makes me feel better,” I finally replied, forcing a small grin.

“Riggs, let’s go,” a man called from a nearby pool table, holding two sticks. “We’re up.”

“Looks like you already have a partner to play with,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “Have fun.”

He leaned down to whisper in my ear. “I’ll ditch him in a heartbeat if you want to play.”

I jerked away, creating space between us. “Maybe another time.” My words came out with no hesitation. When I met his eyes, my pulse thudded. He frowned slightly, realization filling his eyes as he took a step back, clearly figuring out I was bothered by what he did.

Ice chilled my veins as I kept his stare. The two drinks I had were making me sloppy. I shouldn’t have reacted to his closeness. Ineverrevealed a hint of my traumatic past. Until now.

“Another time, then.” He flashed me a smile before joining his friend at the pool table.

I hid my emotional scars just as much as my physical ones. The mask I’d created had only slipped a few times, and I detested when it happened. No one needed to know what my fears were. That was weakness. Something Ineverwanted to show in front of strangers. I was aware of the evils people kept secret.

“He likes you.” Lexi nudged my shoulder, jolting me back to reality. “He talks about you all the time.”

“Miles?” I asked, with a small laugh. “He’s nice.”

“At least you’ll have a warm body to snuggle up with this winter.” Lexi giggled before taking a sip of her beer. “I hear the cold here gets brutal.” Her eyes darted to the pool table where Riggs was. “It seems like you have more than one option though.”

I didn’t correct her. I had no plans to initiate anything with MilesorRiggs.

Lexi leaned back in her chair when Miles came back to the table. He only had a beer in his hand, and when I met his gaze, I didn’t miss the annoyance sprawled over his face.

“I can’t get your drink,” he grumbled. “That bartender is a dick.”

I frowned, turning my attention toward the bar where I met Kole’s eyes for a second before he began talking to a guy sitting in front of him.

“What happened?” I asked.

“Other than him calling me by the wrong name?” Miles sagged in his chair. “He told me I couldn’t buy drinks for anyone else. It was against his policy.”

Lexi tucked her dirty blonde hair behind her ear as she eyed me with new interest. “That’s interesting. You know the hot bartender, Dani?”

“Everyone in this town knows who he is since they all come here,” I mumbled.

“We can just go back to my place,” Miles said, hope in his voice. “Then we don’t have to deal with the townies who hate us interns.”

“No, I’ll go get my drink.” I stood up. “I know Lexi wanted to finish watching the game.”

I stalked toward the bar, shooting Kole a glare as he watched me come closer. He moved to the end of the bar where no one was sitting, and once I was in front of him, I crossed my arms. Instead of his usual frown, his lips were tipped into a small smirk as he rested his palms on the countertop.

“You’ve been here twice since you swore that you’d never come back,” he murmured, keeping his voice low enough that I had to lean in to hear him over the music and football game. “Yet this is the first time you’ve come up here to get your own drink.”