Chapter 26
Dex
Daniela steps out in her pink satin dress, swaying her hips, looking insanely gorgeous.
It hugs her curves in all the right places.
If I weren’t a gentleman, and if she hadn’t already made it clear that she wants nothing to do with me, I’d already be imagining her bent over in that dressing room—my hand over her mouth, stifling her cries as she tries to scream out my name.
On second thought, maybe I’m not a gentleman at all.
My eyes remain glued to her, trailing up her body shamelessly as she turns to look in the mirror.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, surprising myself.
I’m starting to lose control around her again.
I told myself when she first returned at the beginning of summer that I wouldn’t let her get to me—that I’d be the picture of indifference.
But it’s getting really fucking hard to maintain that the more time I spend with her.
I know she shut the door on anything happening between us, but…
sometimes I swear she looks at me like…maybe there’s a chance.
Like maybe she’s pining after me too.
I’m delusional. I gave it so many chances, and she never showed any interest.
“Nothing,” she replies somberly, not meeting my eyes. For some reason, she doesn’t seem happy with what she’s seeing in the mirror.
“You look beautiful,” I tell her. It’s the truth.
Her eyes meet mine in the mirror. She musters a sad, half-smile, then shakes her head.
“I’m serious,” I insist, demanding her attention. “It’s perfect.”
You’re perfect.
She exhales slowly, lifting her shoulders a fraction.
“Okay.”
She goes back to change, and I wait patiently in my seat.
I wish she saw herself the way I did. She walks around with so much confidence, but I’ve caught the quiet moments—the ones when she thinks no one’s looking—where the doubt creeps in.
I wonder why she’s so guarded all the time.
Why she feels the need to constantly put on a brave face .
By the time we leave the store, she’s looking pale. Something’s off in her expression.
“You okay?” I ask her once we’re back in the truck.
“Yeah…I don’t know.” She squeezes her eyes shut for a moment, taking a deep breath. “Would you actually mind if… can we go back to my place really quick?” Her voice sounds strained.
“Yeah. No problem.” It’s still early afternoon and we have no other errands to run. Her apartment’s only ten minutes away.