Perfect Villain (Dark Lies Duet 1)

“Earth to Siân, are you still with me?” I don’t like her tone, so I fire back with the same intense tone.

“Well, look who showed up, and well over an hour late. Thanks for letting me know,” I retort.

“You don’t seem to be bothered since Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome is here. I’m sure he kept you company.”

I roll my eyes. “We didn’t plan to meet here. He came to see the band play.”

Kyla’s gaze whips to Christian. “Oh, really? In that case, why don’t you go get us a couple of drinks.”

What the hell? That’s rude as hell.

I pin Kyla with a scowl. “You don’t have to do that, Christian. Kyla’s joking.”

“No, no.” He pushes from the table, coming to a full stand. He’s so tall I have to crane my neck back to look up at him. “I owe you a drink, remember?”

“Yes, but that was coffee, not a fifteen-dollar mixed drink.”

I can feel Kyla staring a hole through me. I know she’s wondering what the hell we’re talking about and where I saw him last. She’ll find out soon enough.

“It’s fine. You can make it up to me by letting me collect on that rain check.” His eyes glitter with amusement. “Now what should I order?”

“I’ll take a Cosmopolitan,” Kyla answers before I can.

“I’ll have a beer.” I really shouldn’t have another drink, but the night is still young, and I want to enjoy myself. Christian walks over to the bar without another word.

With him out of earshot, Kyla leans into me. She’s wearing a short little summer dress, denim jacket, and a pair of strappy heels. Beside me, she looks like a goddess. I’m skinny, but I’m short where she has legs for miles.

“What the hell was that about?”

“Long story short, we bumped into each other at the coffee shop the other day when Taj and I had the fight. He ended up spilling my drink on me by accident.”

Kyla purses her lips. “Sure, he did.”

“I’m serious. It was an accident.”

“Maybe to you, but that man looks at you like you’re a goddamn all-you-can-eat buffet.”

I shake my head. Maybe he does, and I’m not ready to admit it. I’m still with Taj, and I’m many things, but I’m not a cheater. No matter how mad at him I am, I would never do something like that. Kyla seems distant tonight, and I’m not sure why. She doesn’t say anything else, and things are a little awkward once Christian returns to the table with our drinks, but I ignore it mostly. Kyla’s watching Christian like a hawk, and he, in turn, is staring at her.

It’s like they’re sizing each other up.

I sip my beer slowly, enjoying it and the band. Finally, a nice relaxing night. All that goes to shit when I spot Taj across the bar. He steps inside, a wide smile on his face as our gazes collide. He waves, and all I can think is… What the fuck?

My entire body tenses, becoming tight like a bow.

Christian senses the change in my demeanor right away and leans into my side. “What’s wrong?”

I’m still staring at Taj as he makes his way across the room. Christian must piece the puzzle together in his mind because he doesn’t press for me to reply. Kyla bounces on the balls of her feet with excitement. Anger ignites in my belly. I’m not ready to see him yet.

As soon as he’s within arm’s distance, he reaches out and hugs me. I’m stiff in his arms, unable to make myself return the hug.

“Oh, don’t tell me you’re still mad,” he says, pulling back to look at my face.

I shove at him. “Still mad?” I’m ready to blow up at him. “How did you even know I was here?”

His eyes dart to Kyla and then back to me. “Uh, Kyla told me.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I ask, “Oh really, and when did you talk to Kyla about coming?” I still haven’t talked to him about what happened. I’m not ready. Yet they did not give me the option of him coming tonight.

He scratches at the back of his head. “Oh, you know, school.”

My anger only seems to rise at how nonchalantly he acts about the situation. He hurt me, and now suddenly he thinks he can decide when we see each other. I don’t think so. The weight of my conversation with Christian just a bit ago settles on my shoulders.

Like he can tell what I’m thinking, Christian slips his hulking frame between Taj and me. His huge hands come into view, and he places them on my shoulders. I look up at him through my lashes. I feel both protected and vulnerable in his grasp.

“Dude, what the fuck? That’s my girlfriend,” Taj yells behind Christian.

It feels like we’re in our own personal bubble, where no one else can reach us, but that’s not the reality of the situation. The reality is that we aren’t alone, and if I don’t get Christian to leave, there is going to be a fight. I can sense it, smell it like rain.