The Beauty of Us (Fusion #4)

Stop being so fucking nice to me.

“No, it’s not far. But I’m going to order a pizza, if you don’t mind.”

There will be an enormous amount of stress eating tonight.

“I don’t mind.”

“Okay.” I take a deep breath. “I’ll be there in a few.”

I’m already walking toward his building.

Correction: I’m stomping toward his building.

Because I’m pissed. And not a little hurt, which just pisses me off more.

I make my way up to Trevor’s place and knock on his door. When it swings open, I’m met with him wearing sweats, a T-shirt, his glasses, and a remote for something in his hand.

“Gotta go,” he says quickly, “She just got here. Bye, guys.”

He yanks an earbud out of one ear.

“Am I interrupting?” I ask.

“I was just playing a game,” he says. “No biggie.”

I nod and walk in, pacing around his tiny apartment.

“What’s up, Ri?” he asks.

I shake my head, and he leans against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, watching.

“I’m pissed off.”

“I gathered that much,” he says, watching me through those sexy-as-fuck glasses.

“Why are all men horrible?” I finally ask, and toss my bag on the kitchen counter. Not hard, because it’s a Louis, but hard enough to be satisfying.

“In what way?”

I just roll my eyes and keep pacing. I’m getting dizzy. I hope the pizza arrives soon because I’m starving.

“I went out with this guy I dated in high school,” I begin, and tell him the whole story, all the way through me leaving the restaurant. “I mean, what in the actual fuck, Trevor?”

The doorbell rings with the pizza, and I immediately run for it and fling it open.

“Thank God you’re here.”

The kid grins. “I wish all the pretty girls I delivered to answered the door like this.”

“They don’t?” I ask, and walk over to retrieve my wallet.

“Hell no.” He smiles wider, then sees Trevor across the room. “Well, it’s a bummer you already have a guy here.”

“Huh?” I ask as I count out the money. The food smells amazing.

“Here,” Trevor says, and shoves several bills into the kid’s hands and closes the door in his face.

“It didn’t cost that much.”

“I don’t care,” Trevor growls.

“What’s wrong with you?” I demand. “I mean, is there just a rude gene in all men that kicks in when you’re around me? Because you were a complete asshole to that poor kid.”

“Fuck that, he was flirting with you.”

“Oh no, we can’t have that. Not a kid, who’s about ten years too young for me, by the way, flirting with me! Call the police! Call the motherfucking FBI!”

He grabs my shoulders tightly and lowers his face to mine.

“Enough!”





Chapter Four





Trevor


We’re both panting, both riled up, and I want to shake her and kiss the fuck out of her, all at the same time. Her blue eyes are dilated, her lips wet from her pink tongue licking them, and Jesus, I want her.

“Stop this,” I say, and loosen my hold on her. “Not all men are assholes.”

She lets out a deep sigh and her shoulders sag. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I’m taking it out on you, and it’s not your fault. You weren’t even there.”

And that’s one more thing that pisses me off. If anyone is going to take her out, it should be me. Not that it makes any sense, I have no claim on her, but damn it, the thought of her going out with some dickhead cuts me.

“You need to calm down and maybe eat some pizza,” I say at last, and she smiles up at me softly.

“I didn’t get to eat at the restaurant. I left too quickly.”

“Well, we have plenty of food here.” I pull down plates, also hungry, and we dish up, then sit in my living room. She’s on the couch and I’m in the recliner.

“What did I interrupt?” she asks as she takes a big bite of her slice.

“I was playing Xbox online with some friends.”

“Do you do that a lot? Are you a gamer?”

I grin and shrug one shoulder. “Yeah. It’s okay, I’m a geek. It doesn’t bother me.”

“It shouldn’t,” she says with a frown.

“Are you a gamer?” I ask.

“No.” She smiles. “No, I’ve never tried to play. Not really my thing. I just think that no one should be embarrassed about their hobbies. It’s cool that you can talk to other people.”

I nod and reach for another slice. “My best friend and I have played together since we were kids. We grew up together. And this is how we hang out together.”

“Cool.” She smiles and wipes off her mouth. “I’m sorry for going off on you.”

“I’m concerned about the people you choose to go out with, Riley,” I reply honestly. “They’re not just guys with different interests, they’re complete and utter pieces of shit.”

“Boy, you’re not kidding,” she says. “I mean, I didn’t even meet Dave online. I’ve known him a long time. He wasn’t this big of an ass in high school.”

“But he was probably still an ass, but you were young and able to overlook a lot.”

“True,” she replies with a thoughtful nod.

“I’m glad you were smart enough to walk out, but I don’t like that you were stranded in downtown Portland alone.” I finish my pizza, tossing the last few bites aside. “You could have been hurt. What if I wasn’t staying so close by?”

“I would have called one of the girls to come get me,” she says, like it’s no big deal. “Besides, I usually drive myself.”

I narrow my eyes, watching her eat. I’ve known her for just over a week, and I like her. I’m fucking attracted to her. But more than that, I feel possessive and protective, more than I did even when I was married. Which is crazy.

What the fuck is wrong with me? Has it just been too long since I got laid?

I immediately cast that thought aside. I’m not simply horny.

I care.

“What are you thinking?” she asks. My gaze finds hers.

“I have an idea,” I reply.

“Okay.”

“I’m going to take you out on a date. I’m going to show you how a woman should be treated.”

She tips her head to the side. “What if I say no?”

“You can’t.”

She busts out laughing. “Trust me, I can say no.”

“Okay, I’m hoping you won’t say no. I have a fragile ego.”

“I call bullshit on that as well,” she says with a smile. “What do you have in mind?”

“Let me worry about the details. I’ll pick you up tomorrow around four.”

“I’ll be at the restaurant then.”

I grin and nod. “So will I.”

“Convenient.”

I nod and push my glasses up my nose, already forming a plan.

“What should I wear?” she asks.

Nothing at all.

“Whatever you want. We’ll start out with something casual.”

“Okay.” She smiles. “Has anyone ever told you that the glasses are sexy?”

Many times. But I grin and shake my head no.

“Well, they are.”

“So, you think I’m sexy?”

She giggles. “I didn’t say that. I said the glasses are sexy.”

“I think you’re sexy,” I reply honestly. “And I’m not quite sure what to do about that.”

She looks taken aback for a moment, blinking quickly, but she recovers and tucks her hair behind one ear.