Perfectly Toxic (Sterling Shore 9)

I shrug. “I think so, because I’ve been feeling more and more. But not until that day at the hospital when she patted my cheek.”

“You tell Rye?”

“You’re the first to know. Anyway, it’s got my head all messed up.”

He grunts while looking in her direction. “Your head is the problem,” he reminds me.

“Well aware of that,” I retort.

My eyes trail over her back as she chases another guy across the room, shuffling her feet hurriedly, treading the line of desperate. It’s a kick in the balls to see her crestfallen look when he ignores her.

“Make your move. I need another drink if I’m going to watch this show,” Dale says, smirking when I look back at him.

“I’m going to need a little more to drink before I take her on. She’s a fucking nightmare,” I grumble, grabbing another glass of champagne.

He chuckles under his breath. “Wren is going to kick your ass.”

Chapter 11

BELLA

After being ignored and pretty much avoided by all the rich people here, I finally give up, even though I’m trying not to cry. Most of them gave me the cards to their assistants to set up meetings that may or may not happen in the next three months.

Daniel doesn’t have three months. The longer we wait, the less likely the surgery will work.

My heart actually hurts by the time I sit down, but suddenly there’s a body filling in the space next to me. When I turn to look at who it is, my breath freezes in my lungs.

How can this be possible?

My eyes float down the tux he’s wearing too damn well, hiding all the tattoos that prove he’s not the ritzy man sitting before me. When my gaze comes back up, his lips tilt in a knowing smile, and I groan while sitting back.

“Surprised?” he asks, entertained.

“A little. What are you doing here?” I grumble.

“Donating to charity. You know, I’m selfless like that,” he answers, throwing my words back at me.

I glare over at him, but I’m too tired to be mad right now. And defeated.

“What surprises you more? That I’m not some broke loser asshole, or that you really like me in a tux?” he asks, devoid of any modesty.

Against all odds, I actually smile.

“So you’re a rich asshole instead of a broke one. I’m still not having sex with you, so carry on. Find someone else to bug. This place is full of women who would take you up on it.”

His smile falters until his lips flatten completely.

“What’s wrong? You’re lacking your usual bite.”

“I don’t feel like biting right now. Sorry. Can we do this some other time? Tonight just isn’t a good night for it.”

“Well, tell me how to make the night better. I prefer you feisty.”

“I don’t even know your last name,” I tell him, arching an eyebrow. “And you don’t know mine. This is all a little… weird.”

His lips etch back up in a taunting grin. “Your last name is Pierson. And you like choking on bananas when you’re demonstrating blowjobs.”

My jaw falls open, and then claps shut, then falls open again.