“Now you’re just being rude.” She crosses her arms and starts walking down the pier toward the Ferris wheel.
I’m quick to follow her. “I’m not the one who tailed me here and won’t tell me the reason.That’sfucking rude.”
If this were back in New York City and someone had been sent to spy on me, I’d have them in a basement somewhere, tied up and tortured until they told me what I wanted to know.
But not her.
I can’t imagine ever hurting her.
She side-eyes me as we walk. “You’re a smart guy. I’m sure you can figure it out.”
I click my tongue and nod.Her uncle. That’s what I thought.
If Iwerea smart man, I’d be navigating the possibilities of her playing me entirely, of having this night with me and then running back to Trent and giving him all the dirty details. Not that I’m worried about him, but itwouldbe an issue if word got back to my pops.
But I don’t think she will. Not after the time we’ve had here. It feels too genuine to be a ruse.
She beams up at me with a wicked grin.
Goddamn,she’s beautiful.
Then she stops so suddenly, I almost run into her back.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
She points to a booth set up in between two shops. It’s got a line of red, white, and blue bull’s-eyes a few feet back from the front of the counter, and above them hang hundreds of stuffed animals of varying sizes. Live goldfish in small bags are lined up on a low shelf behind the guy running the place.
I lift a brow and look at her. “You’re challenging me?”
She looks down at her nails. “What if I am? You scared?”
I undo my suit jacket, flashing the gun holstered to my side so she knows what she’s getting into. “I just didn’t realize you enjoy losing, is all.”
“Ha!” she barks out. “Big words.”
We walk over to the game, but before we get there, her footsteps stutter.
“You okay?” I ask, slowing down with her.
“Yeah,” she replies. “I just went to high school with the guy working the counter.”
“URCH!” he yells, his voice obnoxious.
Venesa’s spine straightens.Urch.I hadn’t realized it was a nickname used outside the family, and suddenly I’m wondering how she got it. The sinking feeling in my stomach tells me it’s the woman I’m marrying who crowned her with the name.
“Hello, Rusty.” Her tone is flat.
He grins at her, his beady eyes trailing up and down her body like she’s a show at the carnival. “Damn, girl, you’re a sight for sore eyes.”
I bristle. I know she’s not mine to get protective over, but he doesn’t know that, and I’m standingright fucking here.
“Hey.” I snap my fingers in front of his face and take out a bill, waving it at him. “Quit looking at her and do your fucking job.”
His gaze moves to me, clearly sensing the dangerous position he’s in, and then he clears his throat and pastes a customer-service grin on his face. “You got it, buddy.”
He takes the money before handing us both neon-green water guns. His eyes land on Venesa again, and he licks his lips.
I stifle the urge to take out my real gun and shoot him.
