Excerpt

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Mya

The newlyweds’ limo disappears from view, leaving me alone with Anthony, yet again. Everywhere I turned tonight, he was there. Seemingly inescapable, like my shadow, or a foul odor. Only, he smells great. Too great. It’s hard enough trying to ignore his good looks. Having to breathe in whatever expensive cologne he wears too…

I should’ve stopped drinking after the champagne toast. The open bar—another gift from Anthony—meant cocktails constantly flowed my way, despite not asking for any. I’m blaming the buzzy lightness in my head for looking at Anthony way too many times tonight. It’s alcohol-induced appreciation. Nothing more. I won’t be notch number five on his bedpost. But replay everything he said to me earlier… I’ll be doing that all night. Including when I’m alone in my bed later. Well, not entirely alone. I’ll have my—

“What’s going on in that incredibly beautiful head of yours?”

“Bob.” Shit! Damn tequila.

Anthony’s dark eyebrows knit together. “Who’s Bob?”

“Nobody.” Thank God it’s dark out and I’m wearing gobs of makeup. The last person I want seeing me blush is Anthony.

“You’re thinking about Bob with a dreamy look on your face, but he’s nobody?”

“Fine, he’s my boyfriend. I just don’t like to talk about him. Our relationship is very private.” Haha! Nailed it.

Anthony’s ever-present smile fades. “I didn’t know you had a boyfriend.”

“Why would you? We’re not friends. We’re not anything.” Being bitchy is sobering. Also necessary. He’s already too close. I can’t let him get closer.

“I apologize for making you uncomfortable,” he says, tipping his damn handsome head. “Now or earlier. I’m going to call it a night. Do you need anything before I take off?”

Yes. I need him to look at me the way he did while we were dancing. And I need him to mean it—for more than one night. “No, thank you. I’m fine.”

“No lie there, you’re the finest woman in the place. Bob’s a very lucky man.” Sparks race up my arm when he catches my hand and presses a kiss to my folded fingers. “Goodnight, Mya.”

My throaty, “Goodnight” is swallowed by the summer night as he walks toward the parking lot, rather than return to the hall, where he could easily pick someone up. Maybe he’s not the consummate player I pegged him for. If that’s the case, why act the part? More importantly, why do I care? Shit.