Page 13 of UnWholly Angels (Crestview Cardinals #1)

Entering the bar, we were seated quickly, menus and waters appearing a moment later.

Mulling over the menu, I asked Chloe if she wanted to do our normal order.

One of us would get the soup and salad while the other got an entree, and then we’d split everything.

Less money was spent that way, and it was something we’d been doing for as long as I could remember.

My thoughts were interrupted by Chloe’s shrill tone. “That waiter’s had his eye on you since he took our order,” she giggled, raising her martini glass and clinking it with mine. “He didn’t drop that pen on purpose, but the way he knelt and looked up at you? Girl...”

I rolled my eyes and laughed, but was interrupted by a buzz against my leg. Reaching into my purse, I pulled out my phone and immediately cackled at the messages displayed on my screen.

What perfect fucking timing.

Unknown Number

What part of “text me once you read my message” did you not get?

Maya

My mom always said don’t talk to strangers.

Unknown Number

Well, my mom said we don’t meet the strangers we talk to on the internet.

Look how that worked out.

Now answer my question.

Maya

How did you even get my number?

*Contact changed to Fuck Nugget*

Fuck Nugget

Nick, obviously.

Rolling my eyes, I dropped my phone back into my pocket and turned my attention back to Chloe. We started talking about everything, nothing, and the in-betweens while sharing our food. It felt refreshing to just reconnect with her, and I found myself talking more than I had in weeks.

As our entrée arrived, I felt my phone vibrate again. I had tried to ignore the incessant buzzing during our soup and salad, but this was getting ridiculous. Taking it out, I opened my messages to see what was so important.

Fuck Nugget

I’m so much closer than you think.

Why are you ignoring me?

Fine. You just wait until I get my hands on you.

I could stalk a rock, and it would be more interesting than this .

Why did those messages cause a hot wave of longing to crash through my abdomen?

What I should have done was tell him to stop playing stupid games and pick a personality.

‘ DeviantKing ’ could wait patiently for my smart mouth, my dripping pussy, and maybe even my tight little asshole.

‘Fuck Nugget’ was a childish asshole who should really get a taste of his own medicine and be forced to wait three weeks with no contact.

Despite my annoyance with the situation, I felt a pulse of excitement for tomorrow. I hadn’t expected Riley to ever contact me again, let alone to cash in his auction winnings, and I needed to see this through.

The server appeared to check on our meal, and we spent a few minutes making small talk with him. As he left to make Chloe another drink, another message arrived, and I instantly rolled my eyes.

Fuck Nugget

Don’t you even think about hitting on that man-child.

You think he can use you like I can?

He probably has a two inch dick.

You have a beautiful laugh.

Can’t wait to feel the vibration when your lips are wrapped around my cock.

Maya

This is screaming red flag behavior.

Am I going to be your next victim?

Fuck Nugget

Only if you want to be.

I look forward to seeing how my taste buds react to such sweet, sweet nectar.

Maya

Whatever you say.

Chloe looks lonely, so I have to fix that.

Have fun with stalking your rock.

Fuck Nugget

Go ahead, play this game, but you’ll lose.

By the way…

Who the fuck eats chicken wings with ranch?

Don’t worry, I'll teach you the right way.

I froze, reading his last messages multiple times, as if I looked again, they would disappear.

Everyone I knew ate chicken wings and ranch, but how could he know I was eating them right now?

The hair on the back of my neck prickled as I subtly glanced over my shoulder.

I had to be overthinking it; Riley had no idea we were at the mall, let alone in this bar.

He must just really like the idea of my lips on chicken wings.

I couldn’t help the small amount of creamy goodness that dribbled down my chin as my small laugh rattled my body.

The look on Chloe’s face was priceless as she sat in confusion, wanting to ask but probably thinking against it. Her curiosity won in the end.

“So... want to share with the class who you’re texting?” she asked with a smirk.

I leaned closer to her and quickly shared the text exchange. She could barely keep her mouth from falling open as her cheeks turned bright pink. I gave her a minute to digest this conversation before asking, “Any ideas for my next move?”

She thought for a moment before a wicked, Grinch-like smirk curled up her lips.

“Riley wants to play games? He seems to forget how competitive we are,” she drawled, sipping her martini.

“We still need to circle back to how he knows where we are and basically everything we’re currently doing, but I’m too focused on kicking his ass at his own stupid game now. ”

I grinned, looking up to find the perfect opportunity heading our way. “You know what? You’re right. It's his turn to lose. And I know exactly how to make that happen,” I murmured.

Chloe glanced over her shoulder and spotted the server approaching.

She squealed and shimmied in her seat while I wrapped my slender fingers around my martini glass.

Raising it to my lips, I took a small sip and licked the remnants away before smiling seductively at him.

Our server gave me a small smile in return before clearing his throat and waiting awkwardly.

I quirked my head in his direction. “Can we help you?” I asked, lacing my voice in false sweetness. The poor thing was nervous; sweat was beading on his forehead. He must not have been confident in this department, and a part of me felt bad for turning him into a pawn.

“Will this be on separate checks?” he asked quickly.

I couldn’t have given myself a better setup. Riley could somehow see us, obviously, and wanted to play. He must have forgotten I like to bite.

“You mean our meal isn’t on you?” The words slipped easily from my lips, but my cheeks still flushed with slight embarrassment. Would I have been this bold if there weren’t other things, or other people, on my mind? Probably not, but I couldn’t take it back now.

Chloe gave an awkward giggle as the server’s eyes tripled in size. “Sorry about my friend. Just one check, please,” she said quickly, and I pinched my eyebrows together in a glare, wondering why her demeanor changed so quickly.

The server paused for just a second before leaning into my space, his mouth practically resting against my ear.

It was so inappropriate to make this kind of contact with a customer, and I was caught off guard by his sudden move.

His warm breath caressed my neck as he murmured, “It wouldn’t be very fair if I paid for your dinner and got nothing out of it.

” My cheeks flushed as he stepped back, smirking as he ran his gaze over my body.

“I’ll be right back with that, ladies,” he offered before turning and walking away.

Chloe and I were dumbstruck and unable to form a coherent thought.

We stifled our giggles and waited less than two minutes for our server to return.

He placed the check on the table, and confusion marred my expression when he took my hand and flattened it, facing my palm upward.

A newfound confidence radiated from him as he took a marker from his pocket and began to write something across my skin.

It tickled my sweaty palm, and I fought the urge to laugh.

"What are you doing?" I asked breathlessly.

He pulled back, flashing a set of teeth that appeared too perfect to be real. “Giving you my number, in case you actually want to pay me back.”

I laughed again and tilted my head to tuck a stray lock of hair behind my ear. As I moved to face our server again, I heard a loud ‘thwack’ ring out from the bar. Startled, I quickly searched for the source of the noise, only to freeze seconds later.

Oh no.

Oh, fuck no.

There was Riley, seated at the corner of the bar with the menu clenched in his hand.

He had a black baseball hat pulled low enough to shadow his face, and his broad shoulders were hidden beneath a well-worn hoodie.

My eyes widened, and jaw dropped open as we stared each other down.

Even from a distance, his eyes radiated a jealousy so sharp, it took my breath away.

The way he looked right now was almost scary; I had no idea what his next move would be, but I was not prepared to find out.

Turning back to the server, I forced myself to breathe evenly and meet his gaze, attempting to quickly backtrack.

“Look, I’m so sorry. I have to be honest, you’re just not really my type,” I hurriedly admitted.

“I’m really sorry I led you on like this, and now I’m sure your feelings are hurt, and I’m rambling now. ..”

I could feel Riley’s stare burning into the back of my neck as our server chuckled. “Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find me,” he replied. With that, he sauntered off to the next table, and I turned my stare back to Chloe.

“Maya, what just happened? You had him literally in the palm of your hand, then all of a sudden it was like you saw a ghost,” she hissed, her eyes searching mine for answers.

Swallowing hard, I dared to look over her shoulder.

Riley was still seated at the bar, but his gaze began to bounce between my eyes and my hand.

He clearly knew what was there, and I had to bite back a smile as I watched him huff out a heavy breath before glaring at me again.

Truthfully, jealousy looked good on Riley, but he was about to learn just how far I’d go to win.