Page 23 of Rogue’s Path (Sweet Chaos #1)

Dylan

Bear turns to me, for the first time since he saw Cordelia, aghast. “You’re Peaches?”

That’s technically not my name, but what am I supposed to say? I shrug.

“I didn’t know. There’s no way I would have asked her out if I knew she was Peaches.”

Rude. It’s not like Rogue and I were anything to each other.

“Don’t worry. She isn’t even worth the effort to get angry.” Rogue turns around and walks away.

WHAT? He didn’t just say what I think he did. Not worth the effort! How dare he say that?

Don’t go after him.

A woman with any kind of self-esteem wouldn’t chase a man who just said something like that.

But Rogue can’t get away with telling me I’m not worth it. Someone should flay him alive for that. And I’m just the woman to do it.

But only if I chase him down.

He’s moving pretty fast.

You know what? Rogue doesn’t get to say that and leave. I chase after him without a word to Bear, who I’m not sure I like as much anymore. What man just tosses away a woman because she kissed someone else—I mean, they were good kisses…great kisses even—but still, where’s his loyalty?

What am I going to say to him?

I can date anyone I want, because I’m not in a relationship with him or with anyone.

How dare you kiss me and run away?

Why didn’t you show up? It broke my heart sitting there waiting for you.

Not that. Definitely not that. I sound so pathetic.

Right now, I need to be strong. Mean even.

My side starts to burn. This is why cardio isn’t my thing. It hurts.

I, Dylan Oliva, have other choices—though Bear isn’t one of them, and I kinda hope Cordelia doesn’t give him her number—but here I am running, sorta, after a man that doesn’t think I’m worth the effort.

This is stupid.

Rogue’s awfully nice to look at. Which is an even worse reason to chase after him.

Why is he walking so fast?

Surely, he can hear me panting to catch up to him. It’s not like I can hide the fact that cardio isn’t my exercise of choice. Do I even have an exercise of choice?

Fork lifting counts as a sport, right?

What if I were running away from my stalker? He’d catch me and then lock me in a basement full of roaches and spiders. No, thank you. Cardio needs to start being a regular part of my life.

I press my hand into my side. “Will you just stop already?” That comes out as more of a pant than actual words.

Rogue stops under one of the lights towards the back of the park. There are a half dozen paths around us leading to secret little alcoves. Places, where if things had been different, we might have been kissing while everyone else watched the movie.

Rogue stops and slowly turns around. “Why do you want me to stop? Do you need more introductions to my brothers? It seems you took that dare to heart. Should I arrange for them to line up so you can kiss them all?”

A line of men for me to kiss. Like one of those reality television shows?

The reality of that picture isn’t just insulting but completely absurd.

“You’re a jerk, you know that, right? You ghost me for days.

Then suddenly you act like we’ve been married, and I cheated on you with your best friend.

We kissed. That’s it. I don’t even know why I’m following you except to tell you that you’re a jerk.

It’s certainly not because I sat for days waiting for you to show up.

And it certainly isn’t because those kisses were the best of my life.

You don’t deserve any of that, the way you just acted.

” I start to make a magnificent grand exit when his hand touches my arm.

“Say that again.”

“No, I’m not saying anything for a man who doesn’t think I’m worth it.”

His hand slides down my arm until he has my hand clenched in his.

Why don’t I pull away?

Rogue leads me down one of the paths, and I follow like a little puppy.

Is this what addiction looks like?

Just kick him in the shin like you would any other man.

No kicking happens. I just stand there staring at him like a doe caught in mesmerizing headlights that lead them onto a path to destruction.

Such a sexy path, though.

“But Bear?”

Men. “Do you know how many truly sweet guys there are around? Not many. When a woman meets one, she doesn’t kick him to the curb just because she isn’t interes—”

Steel bands, pretending to be arms, wrap around me. My mind stops as my body spins until I’m pinned against a tree trunk. The rough bark would be nipping into my back painfully if I weren’t wearing as many layers.

The man pinning me, turning sinful eyes and a dangerous smile into weapons.

You are not going to kiss this man.

Kissing him gets you nothing but pain and heartbreak.

Walk away.

Run away.

Rogue leans down slowly, giving me time to say no, to turn my head.

I should say no. I should turn away.

What do they say about weak women…

His lips crash into mine. Gone are the sweet and gentle, almost teasing kisses from before. This hard, all-consuming kiss is enough to make a woman beg for it never to stop.

For me to lose my mind and soul for a fleeting moment of passion makes all the sense in the world.

The joy evaporates as fast as it began.

“I’m sorry.”

What did he say?

“Peaches, open your eyes and look at me when I apologize.”

“Don’t tell me what to do.” I open my eyes and glare at him.

“I’m sorry.” He takes a hand from where it’s stuck in my hair and caresses my cheek.

It’s so not working. A kiss and an apology aren’t enough.

Maybe two kisses will work. I pull his head back down and plant my lips on his. Two kisses might be enough.

Rogue eases our lips apart, and I want to yank his head back to mine. Wow, I’ve become violent. Addiction is scary.

“When I saw you touching Bear, I lost my mind. It wasn’t right.”

It wasn’t. And if we had been dating, I would have been mad at him for not trusting me. But right now, all it means is whatever this is, he’s deep in. “Why did you ghost me?”

“I didn’t. My brother’s son died, and I needed to help take care of some things.”

Oh.

“But I shouldn’t have left you waiting like that. I could have sent someone to tell you I was busy. Or taken the hour to do it myself.”

That would have been good. Not that I can actually say those words with Rogue’s hands in my hair again. His fingers seem to be rubbing little circles on my scalp, giving me a better massage than I ever get at the hair salon.

This man doesn’t play fair at all.

“We need to start communicating.”

Those kisses said everything.

“I’m busy this weekend with the funeral and everything. Monday, you and I are going to sit down at the Ivy Café and get to know each other.”

We are?

“During that time, you’re going to tell me your name, so be prepared.”

“I am?”

He leans down and kisses the tip of my nose. “Yes, you are. Then, at the end, I’m going to ask you out on a date.”

“You are?” Little circles of pleasure keep making my brain into mush.

“I am. And you’re going to say yes, because whatever this is, it’s not ending anytime soon.”

Rogue could talk me into anything if he keeps this up.

His phone chimes.

Don’t answer it.

He ignores my silent plea. “I’ve gotta go.”

No. Stay with me. But that’s a selfish thought with all that his family is going through. “Okay.”

Hands intertwined, he leads me back to the edge of the path where people are watching the movie.

“I’ll see you Monday.” He tucks a strand of hair that he pulled out of my low ponytail behind my ear.

“Okay. But you should know. I plan on kissing you on Monday as well as talking to you.”

Rogue grins at me and touches his lips to mine all too quickly. “So noted. See you later, Peaches.”

Watching him walk away isn’t nearly as fun. He hops on his bike, gives me a little wave, and rides away.

Time to join Cordelia and Bear.

I turn towards the path back, and a little bit of red in the bushes by the light post catches my eye.

What is—

A red rose. Someone tossed a perfect long-stemmed red rose into the bushes.

Did he find me?

Was he watching us?

No. Stop. Your mind is playing tricks on you. I dash back to the safety of the group.