Page 34 of Shallow

“So, she just sits there like she owns the damn place, and you know what she says then?” Waving her third Crown and ginger in the air, Taryn’s voice gets louder as the liquid sloshes all over the table. “This bitch tries to tell me I’m still chasing her shadow and flips meoff!”

I quickly bring my beer to my mouth to hide my smile. Taryn has always lived in Shiloh’s shadow. Shiloh’s a selfish bitch, but sometimes I see flashes of something way darker in Taryn. As if her intent is to create fire just to watch itburn.

I hold in a chuckle at the mental image of Shiloh raising a middle finger, refined, but with enough country girl left in her to mean business. Changing the subject would be the smart thing to do. However, when it comes to Shiloh, no one has ever accused me of beingsmart.

“Did she say anythingelse?”

“Why?” The lines in Taryn’s foreheaddeepen.

“No reason. Just makingconversation.”

Lie.

It’s her fault for bringing her up in the first place. Damn, that’s another lie. Shiloh has been on my mind since the minute we walked in. Hell, since I woke up. I can’t allow old feelings to resurface. I’ve fed off the person she was when she left, but now she seems different. It’s fucking with myhead.

“No, she didn’t say anything else.” The right side of Taryn’s mouth twitches, and I fight a sigh. “She’s still the two-faced bitch she was in highschool.”

If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s people with selectivememories.

“You were just likeher.”

Her half-lidded eyes blaze with bitterness just before her attention focuses over my shoulder. “Speak of the devilherself.”

Turning around, I follow her gaze, and my stomach twists at the same time the blood rushes to my pants. They’re standing together just inside the doorway. His hand is pressed to the small of her back and she’s not doing a damn thing aboutit.

Frankie andShiloh.

I don’t know what stripper’s closet she shopped in before coming here, but I want to thank them on my knees for existing. The kind of dress she’s wearing makes boys want to be men, and men want to be single. It’s tight in all the right places and short enough to make a man instantly hard. I don’t know whether to jump over the booth and punch Frankie or fuck Shiloh on the table to prove apoint.

My choice is made the minute Frankie sees me. He nods in my direction and pushes a panic-stricken Shiloh toward our table. As soon as they arrive, I grab Frankie’s arm and jerk him away fromher.

“You aren’t supposed to be in abar.”

Shit. When the hell did I get out of thebooth?

Frankie takes everything in stride as I come unraveled. “You’re right. Good thing I’m in a restaurant. This dive serves food too.” Bracing a hand on the edge of the table, he picks up one of my fries and grins. “And I’meighteen.”

“You broughtherhere?” I hiss, motioning toward Shiloh. “Whose side are youon?”

“Her?” Shiloh’s hands immediately go to her waist and she pops a hip out for emphasis. “Heris standing right here, you jackass. It’s a public place. I have just as much right to be here as you do.” She holds my stare in a showdown that has my dick hardening by the second. “If you’ll excuse me, Frankie, I’ll wait for you by the bar.” Turning on her sky-high fuck-me heels, Shiloh stomps off, her gorgeous ass swaying as she makes her way to the other end of thebar.

I’ve always wanted to watch Shiloh come. But I have to say, watching her go isn’t sobad.

Apparently, I’m not as subtle with my appreciation of Shiloh’s assets as I think Iam.

“For once, the bitch has a point,” Taryn snarls, slamming her glass down and sliding across the vinyl length of the booth. “When you decide to put your eyes back in your head, call me. I’m going home with myfriends.”

I give her a half-hearted protest, but she’s already across the room talking shit aboutme.

Frankie chuckles and slides in her newly vacated spot. “Are you calmed down from that show you put onearlier?”

“Fuck off,junior.”

“Shiloh’s not that bad. A little uptown for my blood, but she’s not the evil bitch you go on and onabout.”

My response is automatic. “Don’t touchher.”

Frankie smiles. “What do you care? You hate her…remember?”