Page 48 of Cross the Line
Dev is half turned from me when his head snaps back around, his eyes suddenly bright. ‘One last thing.’
I grip the door a little tighter. The butterflies are back in full force. ‘Yeah?’
‘Whose abs are better – mine or SRK’s in “Dard-E-Disco”?’
The unexpected question shocks a laugh out of me. I can’t even pretend to not find it funny.
‘Stop fishing for compliments,’ I scold him. Because Dev’s absarebetter. And that’s saying something.
His grin practically takes over his whole face. ‘Goodnight, Willow,’ he says.
‘Goodnight, Dev.’
He slips his hands into the pockets of his jeans and strolls off, shoulders back and chin lifted.
This is the Dev I know – confident and content. The dejection that followed him earlier has evaporated.
As I’m closing the door, motion further down the hallway catches my attention. It’s Mark, slinking back into his own room, though not before shooting the man coming toward him a sharp look. Dev doesn’t acknowledge him, but it has me frowning.
Because I have a sinking suspicion that’s why Dev had to leave.
CHAPTER 16
Dev
Reid Coleman has charmed my girl.
Technically, Willow is not my girl. And okay, yeah, Reid charmedeveryoneon the plane with his adventure stories and his southern drawl. But the point still stands. Boy’s on my shit list until the hearts disappear from Willow’s eyes.
The oppressive Texas heat isn’t helping the burn of jealousy as Chava, Mark, Willow and I make our way across the tarmac to the awaiting SUV. Mark hangs back next to me as Chava and Willow walk ahead, recounting Reid’s skydiving tale and acting like obsessive fangirls.
‘You forgive me yet?’
I spare a glance over at Mark, hitching my duffel bag higher on my shoulder. ‘Nothing to forgive.’
‘We both know that’s not true.’
‘We can pretend it is.’
He exhales and keeps his voice low. ‘I’m just trying to keep you focused.’
‘I’m not distracted,’ I answer, but it doesn’t lighten Mark’s frown.
He worries about me; it’s his job, but it’s also because he’s a good friend. Usually, it doesn’t bother me, because ninety-nine per cent of the time, he’s right and I need to be guided back onto the correct path. But his warnings against Willow and the way he all but dragged me away from her last night aren’t endearing me toward him.
‘Look, it was a rough day. She just wanted to cheer me up,’ I explain, though when the implications of those words hit me, I elaborate before he can jump to conclusions. ‘All we did was watch a movie. And honestly? It helped. She . . .’ I trail off, struggling to come up with a way to make him understand the lightness that Willow brings into my life. The way she chases away the storm clouds hanging over my head with her pure sunshine. ‘She fixed me.’
Mark narrows his eyes in warning. ‘That’s a lot of credit to give one person.’
Maybe it is. Or maybe it’s not enough. Because she dragged me out of the dark place I could have gone last night, and her presence now is what’s keeping me from dwelling on how stuck I feel with Argonaut. We’re about to step into the lion’s den of my team’s headquarters, but knowing she’ll be there too? I feel no fear.
Bathed in the sound of her laughter, I keep my eyes on her bouncing curls. ‘She deserves it.’
——
The week in Dallas passes in a blur of meetings, extra-long gym sessions and hours spent in the simulator. By the time we’re on the plane to Austria, I’m certain I could drive the circuit with my eyes closed. I’m ready to fight again.
Whether Argonaut will allow me to do that remains to be seen.
