Page 12 of Tony

And listen, I’m not saying no because I don’t want to fuck him. Or let him fuck me. It has nothing to do with the fucking.

It’s the principle of the thing, OK? He’s not gonna sail into this town—my town—for one last forget-me-forever fuck and then go back home to his stupid little Key West life, OK? That’s not going to happen.

Not on my watch.

This is my town. He and his family were the ones who chased me out of Key West eight years ago. I’ve settled in. I have friends.

Well, one friend. Well, sort of. Tara. Why did you have to move away? We were a team! We were good together! We could’ve run this place!

And now… now who am I stuck with?

Right on cue Vann Vaughn’s truck pulls up in front of the theater coffee shop. He’s talking on the phone, grinning. That boy is always grinning.

And even now, when he’s on the other side of the window, still in his truck, almost twenty-five feet away—his eyes find mine. And then that grin is only for me.

Vann has a thing for me. It’s a little bit sad the way he has a thing for me. Because it’s all very one-sided.

I involuntarily glance over my shoulder at Tony and find him glaring at Vann.

Hmm. Now that’s an option. I could use Vann to get rid of Tony. He’d do it. He’d do anything for me.

And it would work. Vann is kind of a catch. Sure, he’s a player. And yes, he’s one of those happy people. But he’s a talented artist. He’s very good and he’s offered to tat me up on several occasions, but I’ve resisted. Getting a tattoo from a cute guy like Vann feels… personal. Especially when he’s made it very clear he would like to date me.

It’s my turn at the counter so I tell the pretty brunette with the bright blue eyes what I want. I don’t know her personally, but she’s very friendly with the Vaughn brothers, so when the little bell jingles and her eyes flick to the door and she beams a huge smile, I know Vann just came in.

The next thing I know his hand slips around my waist and he plants a kiss on my cheek. “I’ll take what she’s having,” Vann tells the blue-eyed woman.

The girl laughs. “Is this your girlfriend, Vann?” She winks at me and then turns to get our coffee.

“Maybe,” he says coyly.

“No,” I say.

“She will be,” Vann offers.

“Will not,” I say. And then I look over my shoulder and find Tony standing up at his table, staring at us.

Glaring at us.

Vann looks too. “Hey, is that—”

“Yes,” I hiss. “Don’t show fear.”

“Fear?” Vann laughs. “Hey! Tony!” Vann is yelling across the freaking room. He lets go of me and saunters off to greet my ex.

The brunette sets my coffee on the counter. “Don’t worry. I’ll put it on his tab.”

“Thanks.” I smile. But I take my coffee and turn away quickly, eyeing the door, wanting to escape, but unable to resist the magical polished-tiger’s-eye pull of Tony Dumas without at least looking back at him one more time.

Do not look back, Belinda. Don’t do it.

I look over my shoulder and find Vann trying to dap Tony’s knuckles.

Tony is having none of it.

“Hey!” Vann calls across the room. Only this time he’s talking to me. “Bring me my coffee, Belinda.”

I make a face at him.