PERFECT DEAL: HE WILL PROTECT ME FROM MY SCOUNDREL EX

ARNOLD

When my creepy birthday performance is over and the stereo comes back on, my sister pulls Layla to the dance floor, and she goes willingly. Daphne and Ziggy join in and they all laugh as they dance around. Seeing them having a good time makes me crack a smile.

At least someone should enjoy this party that’s been forced on me.

As people continue to come up to me and talk my ear off, my eyes keep roaming back to Layla and her little pink dress. It’sgot long sleeves and dips low in the back and swishes around her knees. It’s far less revealing than the other women’s outfits tonight. Even still, it’s a heart-stopping departure from her usual jeans and sweaters. And she is hands down sexier than everyone else in this bar.

After way too much useless chitchat, my social battery is completely drained. With a tired sigh, I collapse into my favorite booth in the back of the bar, cringing at the fact that my face is plastered on poster paper hanging above my head.

I stare at Layla. I don’t even bother trying to hide it.

She twirls carelessly around the dance floor, her laughter floating up in the air.

Soon, her eyes find mine, and she catches me staring.

I should look away. But I don’t. I can’t. She holds my gaze for a moment and my pulse ricochets in my neck.

With a sly grin, she leaves her friends on the dance floor and finds her way to me.

“Hey there,” she says playfully when she makes it to the edge of my booth. “Has anybody asked you to dance tonight, birthday boy?”

A jolt zips through me but I try to play it cool. “Eh. Sorry. I’m not really in a dancing mood.”

Layla rolls her eyes, scoffing at me. “Are you ever? Come on.” She stretches a hand out. “You only turn thirty-seven once. And thirty-seven calls for dancing.”

I glance over her back, finding all my nosy siblings watching our exchange. Ugh. It’s times like this that I wish I could have been an only child.

Returning my attention to Layla, I sluggishly lift a shoulder. “I’ll be thirty-seven for the next three hundred and sixty five days. And then, guess what?”

She leans in, gaze riveted on mine. “What?”

I lean closer, too. “Then, I’ll be…thirty-eight.”

She barks out a laugh, throwing her head back. The dazzling sound makes the wires spark to life inside my chest. It’s sad to say, but this beautiful girl laughing at my lame joke is the highpoint of my whole day.

“Exactly!” She points a dainty finger at me. “By this time next year, you’ll be too frail to even get out of your chair, and you’ll regret that you wasted this youthful night.”

I want to turn her down because there are way too many eyes following my every move right now. But I’m reminded of the night of Karli and Mason’s wedding. At the reception, I’d really, really wanted to dance with Layla. But long story short, I’d missed my shot when I practically head-butted her and almost gave her a concussion instead.

After that, I spent countless nights lying awake, wondering what it would have been like to dance with Layla. To hold her close. To have her in my arms. I can’t make the same mistake tonight.

She waves her still-outstretched hand at me. “Everybody’s watching.” She smirks. “Don’t leave me hanging. Dance with me, old man.”

I let out a sigh, knowing I’ll have to listen to my brothers’s bullshit later.“Fine.”

There’s a victorious bounce in Layla’s step as she leads me to a spot on the floor near the jukebox. Then suddenly, the most beautiful girl in the room is encased in my arms, exactly the way I’ve always wanted her to be.

And for the life of me, I can no longer remember why it even bothered me to have my siblings all gawking at me.I couldn’t care less who’s watching. Not right now, at least.

I’m far too busy, focused on how to keep from pulling Layla’s soft body flush against mine and wrapping her up in a way that’s not appropriate for a pre-ten o’clock birthday party.

Every soft brush of her skin.The fruity scent of her shampoo.The warmth emanating from her body.

She’s the perfect combination of sassy and shy. Sweet in a way that’s borderline angelic. But every now and then, the snarkiest words come flying out of those rosy, heart-shaped lips, always catching me by surprise.

My senses are on overload, and I’m rocking side to side, silently losing my shit. But Layla? She is perfectly composed. Beaming a happy, relaxed, platonic-as-fuck smile up at me.

Holy hell.

I need a distraction. Anything to fix this growing erection before I accidentally poke Layla in the stomach and send her running for the hills.

I clear the knot in my throat and lean in to talk over the music. “Y’know, you really could have given me a heads up about this party.”

She shakes her head. “You didn’t need a heads up. Deep down, you already knew Karli would be throwing you an epic party.”

I open my mouth to argue, but then I realize that she’s right. I did know it. I was just hopeful that I was wrong.

For the past few years, Karli had been away at college, always missing my birthdays, and last year, she was busy basking in the joy of being a newly wed. So, thankfully, I was able to fly under the radar and escape the threat of her surprise parties.

But now that she’s married and settled here in Starlight Falls, of course my little sister is going to go all out and make a big fuss over me.

Layla carries on, her magical, little hands reaching up to rest lightly on my shoulders as we dance. “Besides, if Ihadwarned you, you might have stayed home and missed all the fun.”

My upper lip twitches. “True.”

“And if you’d stayed home, then who would I be dancing with right now?” She shimmies cheekily.

“Psht. So you’re just using me for my superior dancing skills?”

“Maybe I am.” She quirks a dainty shoulder. “That wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.”

“Not sure I like being taken advantage of, Belle.”

She raises a curious eyebrow at me, a questioning smile faintly tilting one corner of her mouth. “Belle…?”

Shit. Can’t believe I let that slip out. My earlobes heat and prickle.

Belle—it’s what I’ve been calling her in my head for years now. I never imagined I’d say it out loud.

Before she can question me further, I spin her around, catching her off guard as I sweep her off her feet. She gasps and then giggles, face alight with mirth.

Her laughter is enchanting. I could listen to it all day. But in recent times, it feels like life has been working overtime to take it away from her. I know she’s fought like hell to earn every drop of happiness in her life these days, and I respect her so much for that.

Layla’s eyes bounce between mine. “Seriously though, you really do need to put yourself out there more.”

“Eh. False.”

She slaps at my shoulder. “Oh, come on. You could meet someone…”

“Do you have any idea how unappealing that sounds?” I nearly shudder at the idea.

Layla shakes her head dismally. “Companionship? A partner to spend your life with?That's unappealing to you? You’re a great guy. You could make someone really happy, Arnold.”

I feel a painful thump inside my chest. I’m not sure what that foreign sensation could be. Because as far as I know, my heart has been dead for years now. The hollow space beneath my ribcage is nothing but a graveyard. Any dumb, hopeful dreams and positive outlooks on love I may have once held were laid to rest a long, long time ago.

“Too bad I don’t want that ‘someone’ all up in my space. I like being alone.” I sound stubborn, even to my own ears.

Layla huffs a little, looking defeated. “Well, fine then. You like being alone. But for the next three to four minutes, can you at least pretend you enjoy dancing with me?”

Her brown eyes twinkle up at me and she looks genuinely hopeful. Dark hair cascading in silky waves around her narrow shoulders. Pale, freckled skin glowing beneath the bar lights. She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

I sigh, acting like it’s all a burden. Yet still, my hands cling a little tighter to her soft waist. “Fine.”

She opens her mouth, but before she can say anything, her phone dings. She stops swaying in my arms to slide the phone out of the little purse slung across her chest. As soon as she reads whatever’s on the screen, the joy drains from her face.

Alarm bells sound in my head. “What’s wrong? Everything okay?”

Layla’s head snaps up to mine, and she paints on a brilliant smile. “Oh. Uh, yeah. Everything’s great, but…I’ve…I’ve got to go.” She’s already backing up, eyes darting toward the exit.

“Tell Karli I’ll text her!” she calls out over her shoulder.

She grabs her coat from the hook by the door. And then, she’s gone.