Locked Away (Living With Lies Book 2) by Riann C. Miller Page B

phone?”
    Belle looks at me before she smirks. “Are you sure you want the answer to that? Because I might have to kill you afterward.” She tries to fight a smile, but she can’t stop herself from laughing. I guess I deserved that seeing as I’ve thrown out her past several times.
    “I’ll take the latest iPhone prepaid for three months.” The salesman’s eyes widen. “That’s not going to be cheap,” he tells her.
    “I’ll pay cash,” she counters.
    “Certainly.” He watches her for a moment before he heads to the back of the store.
    Belle turns toward me and looks at me. Her brown eyes are shining and when she finally breaks down and smiles, I swear I can feel it all the way down to my toes. My stomach turns and my mind starts racing. I swallow a few times, suddenly unsure of what I should say. I don’t do relationships, and even if I was ready to try, Belle is the very last person I should date.
    Take away the fact that she doesn’t live anywhere close to Denver...hell, she doesn’t even live in the same country. She’s Kate’s family and Kate made it clear that Belle is off limits.
    “White or black, Miss?” the man asks, breaking whatever spell Belle cast over me.
    “White.” The salesman nods his head and winks at her, which causes her to giggle...to fucking giggle.
    “Give me just a few seconds and I’ll have it ready for you.” Belle looks back at me and her smile fades. I know I can’t have her, but that doesn’t mean I’m okay watching this jackass flirt with her.
    “I need to go to the bank next,” she says as she nervously chews on her bottom lip. The few times we’ve carried on a conversation, I’ve flipped from hot to cold on her, and I’m not about to do that now.
    “Okay. Which bank?”
    Belle wrinkles her nose before she shrugs. “I don’t know. Whatever bank is closest.” I open my mouth to question her when the salesman returns with her phone.
    “Here you go.” He pushes a card in front of her. “I wrote down your new number on this.” Belle picks up the card before her eyes flash back to the salesman.
    “The top one is yours, the bottom one is mine,” he says before giving her a heated smile, one I know all too well.
    “Oh, thank you. I don’t know how long I’ll be in town but—” Belle looks down at the card “—Jared. You might hear from me.” The douchebag’s face lights up.
    “How about I save you the call and I’ll pick you up tonight for dinner?” Before Belle can answer, a growl escapes my throat, causing both of them to look at me.
    “We have to go,” I snap before grabbing Belle’s hand.
    “Oh God. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you had a boyfriend.” The man’s comment causes Belle to pull away from me.
    “He’s not my boyfriend.” She smiles at him the same way she smiled at me minutes before. Although her words might be true, it sends a jolt of anger through my veins. For the first time in my life, I wish I were something more to a woman than I actually am.
    “Then I can’t wait to take you out.” I swallow down my need to punch this prick in the face so Belle knows exactly what a tool he is.
    “I better go, but hopefully I hear from you soon.” She gives him another smile before she takes a step closer to me. I wait until she walks past me before I give the guy a look that causes his smile to vanish.
    I run to catch up with Belle when she stops at a small bank branch near the food court. Seeing as she had no idea what bank she needed, I can’t figure out what she plans to do.
    “I shouldn’t be long,” she says, clearly dismissing me.
    I stand around while Belle starts talking to a woman before the two of them walk off to an office and close the door.
    I wander over to an empty bench and take a seat. This woman is officially jacking with my head. I run my hands over my face, trying my best to shake off this strange feeling.
    I fuck women, I don’t date them, but even as that thought pops into my head, I feel the