Perfect Enemies

12

My eyes flitted from person to person as we submerged ourselves into the fray. Several people waved and shouted greetings, but I didn’t pause to talk. I was too distracted scanning the room for a single individual. I shouldn’t have been looking, but I was. My eyes flitted from one face to the next in search of sandy brown hair that always looked sun-dried after a swim in the ocean. I sought out the imposing stance of a broad body that commanded attention even though its owner projected an air of nonchalance. My breath caught for a set of kissable lips that challenged me in ways I’d never encountered. When I finally spotted the object of my growing obsession, my hands curled into tight fists, my nails burrowing painfully into my palms. I was still upset about the way he’d acted at school, but seeing him cozied up to Harper on one of the two long sofas stole the air from my lungs. The wretched truth of my reaction was exactly why I’d been wanting to avoid him. I was furious at myself for feeling such a nauseating sense of betrayal over a man who was as easy to read as ancient Sanskrit. Why did I expect any sense of loyalty from someone who couldn’t be bothered to follow a single rule? I knew better, but why did it have to be Harper of all people? She was so much more than my nemesis. She was the stereotype each of us as women was working to overcome. Shallow. Inept. Catty. If Kane couldn’t see the vast differences between someone like her and myself, then he wasn’t worth my time anyway. “Think you could grab us some drinks?” I asked Reyna. “I’d like to head out back and get some air.” Her eyes shot briefly to where Kane was seated before she gave me a tight smile. “No problem. You head out, and I’ll find you in a few.” I gave her hand a squeeze and moved toward the sliding glass doors. I should have stayed with Rey to make sure she was okay, but I couldn’t stand to be in the same room as him. Once I was outside, I discovered a second cluster of people around several propane heaters and a keg. The wafting heat from the fire and heaters banded together to create a bubble of warmth that made the patio more tolerable than I’d expected. “Hey, Val,” Bryson called over from the fire. “Want a drink?” He left his seat and grabbed a red Solo cup from beside the keg. “Sure, thanks.” I wasn’t a fan of beer, but I preferred to have something in my hand. It acted as a talisman—or maybe camouflage—however you explained it, the simple red cup could transform any outcast into a member of the crowd. I needed its magical properties to help me disappear. “Lookin’ lovely as always.” He grinned at me with glassy, hooded eyes. I took the cup from him and chuckled. “Nice try, stud. It’s not happening.” And certainly not when he was too drunk to see straight. He lifted his hands in a wide shrug. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.” “Hey, Bry,” someone called from behind us. “Tell them about the little guy you panced at the last match!” “Gotta go!” Summoned by his rabid fanbase, Bryson was eager to regain his role in the spotlight and hurried back to the group. Given the opportunity to be alone, I stepped to the edge of the patio, looking deep into the shadowed tree line. It was cooler away from the heaters, but I wasn’t in the mood for people, no matter how hard I tried. “It’s awfully cold out here for someone without a coat.” Kane’s rumbling voice resonated through me from behind just as I was enveloped in warmth. He draped his jacket over my shoulders, immersing me in his uniquely masculine scent—spiced cedar, stargazing at midnight, and a winding ride in an open-top convertible. The intoxicating pull on my emotions was disorienting. I wanted to breathe deeply until my lungs threatened to explode. Damn Solo cup had failed me. That or Kane’s sorcery was no match for its piddly magic. Either way, I’d been found. I slowly turned around and craned my neck to look in the face of the man who was quickly chipping away at my sanity. The darkness cooled his eyes to a deep maple, sticky and sweet and irresistible. “It was a little crowded in there for me,” I said with a dryness that should have clued him in to read between the lines. But that wasn’t Kane’s style. If he did catch my jab, he ignored it. His eyes strayed to my lips before his tongue wetted his own. “Did Reyna come with you tonight?” What other guy would have the gall to ogle me but ask for my best friend? None. Not one. Only Kane could send such mixed signals with reckless abandon. His callous disregard for anyone around him made me furious. I set my drink on the ground and slid his jacket from my shoulders, shoving it against his chest. “Here. I’d rather be cold than take anything from you.” I started to turn and flee, but a large hand clamped down around my arm. “What the hell did I do?” he snapped, bringing his face down close to mine where I could smell the harsh bite of spiced whiskey on his breath. I figured he’d been drinking, but how long had he been at it? Maybe he was drunk enough to be real for once. I wanted to know what was going on in that complicated head of his, but I was too angry to listen. “You didn’t do anything. Not one goddamned thing.” I tugged against his grip to no avail. Kane yanked me several feet farther into the shadows. His entire body bristled with furious frustration. “You’re not going anywhere until you tell me what crawled up your ass.” If looks could kill, I would have become a wanted woman. “You want to know what’s wrong? You’re what’s wrong. You and your f*****g charm and your … those god damn eyes that see everything and nothing.” I shoved at his chest, my words jumbled from aggravation. “For someone so smart, you are so f*****g clueless.” His jaw flexed and nostrils flared. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” “I don’t know? Ha! That’s f*****g hysterical.” I was acting like a psycho, but I couldn’t help myself. Hurt and anger spewed from deep inside me where it had been festering all week. “It’s not that simple, okay? I’m not trying to hurt you or anyone else.” Kane’s brows furrowed over pleading eyes set deep in shadow. I shook my head, not about to take his bait. “Stay away from me and stay away from Reyna. Okay? Just pretend she doesn’t even exist.” “What does Reyna have to do with this?” “She’s got a lot going on and doesn’t need someone in her life who’s going to screw her over.” I yanked away, and he finally released me. “What makes you so adamant that I’m going to hurt either of you? What if all I’ve been trying to do was be friends?” I scoffed, my hands settling on my hips.