Page 75 of Past

"Let me guess, he knows you’re cooking," I say.

"Yeah, he does. Sebastian found out, too, and is coming over with Maisy and Jake." She laughs.

"I can help you cook if you want,” I suggest, wagging my eyebrows.

"I don't want anything burnt, thank you, cookie,"she replies, knowing full well that I forget about the cooking every time she walks in the room, focusing on her instead.

"We really need to get you a new nickname for me." I growl, picking her up, and she wraps her legs around my waist.

"I like ‘cookie,’ one taste of a cookie and you know it tastes as delicious as it looks." She licks her lips, and I grin at her.

"Uh-huh," I say, undoing the buttons on her shirt.

"I have to finish cooking." She wriggles in my arms, trying to get down.

"I have to persuade you to call me ‘Elliot.’ I think making you scream my name a few times might help," I say, kissing her strongly and pushing her back onto the couch.

It doesn't take long until Allie screams my name, and I know she won't give up my annoying nickname because, in a way, I like it. I won't admit that to her though, I would never hear the end of it.

Epilogue

Harley

"What do you think?" Tilly asks Izzy when she walks into the kitchen, where I'm sitting holding a beer. I don't hear Izzy’s response as I can't stop staring at Tilly. Her shiny, red hair is half up with the rest in spirals down her open back. She is wearing a green dress that makes her green eyes shine. Her eyes look over at me with the same interest. I can't help but notice how fucking hot she looks.

What the hell was I thinking inviting a very hot girl to live with me?

I don't do relationships, or anything other than one night, with girls. I haven't since I was eighteen, and I don't plan to change my life for this pretty siren in front of me.

"Come on, we are leaving, man." Luke pats me on the back, knocking me from my gaze on Tilly.I really haven’t got a clue how long I just stared at her.

We all get in the mini-bus that takes us to my brother, Elliot's, club in town. The club has only been open two weeks, and it’s a massive success for Elliot. I'm not surprised, seeing how it’s the only nightclub in this small town, and it's a bit of a drive to the main city.

I look over at Tilly, who is sitting in front of me gazing out the window. Izzy and Blake are sitting behind me, and I don't want to look back to see them kissing.

I pull my gaze away from Tilly, even if it's damn hard to do. Luke clears his throat and looks at me with a clear question on his face.

"What?" I say.

"She is hot," Luke whispers, nodding to Tilly. I love my brother, but the urge to punch him is high right now. My fists tighten, and I have to force my breathing to slow. What the fuck is wrong with me?

I can't be jealous.

"Dude, it's you she’s been looking at since she moved in. I don't have a chance, but you do," Luke whispers.

I don't reply to him, but my eyes look back at Tilly for a moment too long and she catches me watching when she turns. We both stare at each other, but it's broken by the cab stopping. Luke opens the door, and everyone gets out. I hand a load of cash to the driver, who smiles and says thanks as he takes it.

We head straight in, thanks to the bouncer who recognises us. I go straight to the bar, needing a drink and maybe some random girl for the night to get thoughts of Tilly out of my goddamn mind. I can’t date my little sister’s best friend, not without her attempting to plan a wedding or trying to kill me. It doesn’t matter anyway. Tilly clearly is hiding something. I’ve hid many secrets from everyone for years, and it’s written all over her face that she has secrets.

My brothers leave me alone to have more drinks after I ignore them. I don’t even like to drink much, it’s better to be on guard all the time.

Losing count of how many beers I have drank, I look around the dance floor before my eyes spot a flash of red hair. My feet are moving before I can stop myself, and I stop just next to Tilly as she dances. Her hips are swaying side to side, looking unbelievably sexy, and she seems to be in her own world as my hands wrap around her tiny waist, pulling her back to my chest.

She stiffens instantly, and I whisper in her ear, "Only me, siren. I couldn't help but want a dance." I feel her shiver from my voice before she turns around, and we start dancing to the music.

Everything fades away as we stare at each other; our bodies are pulled close together, forcing me to feel her soft curves.

I'm taken back when she leans up and kisses me. Our lips meet, and I groan at how sweet she tastes. As quick as it starts, she pulls away and then leans up to whisper into my ear. "Thanks for a memory I won't forget. I needed an escape, even for just a second."

When I look down at her, she is gone. I am standing in the middle of the dance floor wondering what the hell happened and why it feels like I'm not going to be able to escape her ever again.