Thief(25)

“I didn’t know I’d start to feel so much for you,” she says, looking away. “Or that we’d be ending so soon, just because you—”

“None of this matters anymore,” I tell her. “Move on, Vanessa. Leave me alone. I’m hanging on by a thread with your bullshit, and my patience is about to expire.”

“Dash,” she says, her voice catching. “I just don’t see how you don’t get it. We’re perfect for each other. You can’t just throw me away when you find something shinier.”

I shut my eyes and pray for patience.

“You need to leave,” I say in a stern tone. “And don’t f*cking show up at my house or work again.”

“Why are you being so mean?” she asks, lip quivering.

I inhale and exhale slowly. How can someone be so…desperate?

“Bye, Vanessa,” I say, walking away and leaving her standing there.

Some people just can’t take a hint.

*****

“Look at you, all smiling and shit,” Xander says, smirking at me.

“I know, right?” Summer adds, chewing on a carrot stick. “He’s like…glowing.”

“Can you two cut it out?” I groan, looking between the brother and sister. “Yes, I’m f*cking happy. Now stop giving me a hard time about it.”

“I don’t think we’ve seen those dimples so much…ever,” Summer continues, as if I hadn’t spoken. “Vi must have strawberry flavoured nipples.”

I throw Summer a look. “You need to stop.”

Xander chuckles.

Reid sits down at the table and eyes the snack selection before grabbing a chip and coating it in dip. “When will the real food be ready?”

“It’s already ready. These are just the snacks while we’re waiting for everyone to arrive.”

Reid stands and goes into the kitchen, probably to find some ‘real food’. Ryan and Tag arrive, sitting down and shovelling food into their mouths as soon as their asses hit the chairs. Summer brings some beer out, and we all move to the couch and put on a footy game. She wanted us all to get together, the original group, to spend some time together. I thought the idea was sweet, and it’s really nice to have everyone together for some quality time. It reminds me of the old days, back when Reid was fighting in MMA and Summer just moved here without really knowing anyone. I look over at her and smile. She smiles back and turns to watch the TV screen.

“So I hear Dash is in love,” Tag says when everyone goes silent.

I throw a pillow at his head. “How can you all give me shit, when I was the last one to hold out? I was the last man standing until recently.”

The men all go quiet and Summer bursts out laughing. “Reid was the first to fall. Are you calling my man weak, Dash? Because he taught me some new MMA moves, and I will take you down.”

Ryan starts singing ‘Take You Down’ by Chris Brown. I think he’s been hanging out with Summer too much, because she’s a big fan of that type of music.

Reid smirks as he watches Summer, amused by her antics. “She could probably take you all down.”

We have dinner and help Summer clean up before leaving. I drive straight to Viola’s, already missing her. Is this what it’s like for the men every day? Missing their women, wanting to be with them?

How the f*ck do they get anything done?

I’m contemplating this as I knock on her door. She opens it in a black silk robe, which has me hardening at just the glimpse of her.

“Hey, how was dinner?” she asks, smiling wide.

I step through the door, shut it behind myself, and lift her in my arms, throwing her over my shoulder. “Dinner was good, but now it’s time for dessert.”





Chapter Seventeen


Viola


I went back to his store for the third time in a week.

I sound f*cking crazy…I know. But the guy who works there looks so much like Max it’s uncanny.

Same brown hair and brown eyes. Same build.

I know it’s not him, obviously, but f*ck. It’s eerie being around him, yet I can’t seem to stay away.

I get off the phone with my parents then finish getting ready as I wait for Dash to come and pick me up. Tonight, we’re going out to dinner at a new restaurant that just opened, followed by some vintage car show Dash has been dying to go see. I’m just applying my mascara when he walks into the bathroom and whistles. “You look amazing, Vi.”

I’m wearing a black maxi dress that moulds to my figure, and my hair is down and dead-straight, parted in the middle and framing my face. I contoured my cheekbones and brushed on a little bronzer, finishing with a bold red lip and the mascara I’m applying.

“Thank you,” I say, smiling widely. “You look pretty f*cking sexy yourself.”

He comes closer and lifts my chin up, staring at my mouth. “I better be able to kiss you. I don’t care how sexy your red lips look; if I can’t kiss you all night, I’m not going to be very f*cking happy.”

I peak my tongue out, running it over my bottom lip. “It’s smudge proof, see? You can kiss me as much as you want.”

His lips are on mine just as I finish the sentence. I smile against his lips, my hands wandering over his body.