The Nasty Rancher (Freezell #12)

Thirteen

AEIRYN

WANTING to mind my own business led me here. I was starting to doubt myself as days passed by. Hindi ako pakialamerang tipo ng tao pero sa lahat ng gagawin ni Ryl, gusto kong usisain and nakaka-bad trip ang ganitong pakiramdam.

"Tell me where we are going, Lawson," I commanded while we were walking.

We were at the mall and this freak kept on smiling mischievously as if he was up to something fishy! Ang hirap magtiwala sa kaniya. Malala na ang trust issues ko at pinalalala pa niyang lalo. Nakakapikon!

We went inside a boutique that sells long gowns, bikinis, and lingerie.

"This store should know their forte. How could they sell these products both at the same time?" I whispered and this freak beside me chuckled. "Tinatawa-tawa mo?" I asked as I raised my left eyebrow.

"It's a good way of promotion, babe," he replied and I rolled my eyes.

"Good way? Are you even sane?"

Hinarap niya ako at saka niya ibinaba ang mukha niya sa harap ng mukha ko at halos iisang hangin na lang talaga ang hinihinga naming dalawa.

"As a businessman, I salute the boutique owner for having such a good riddance when it comes to business," bulong niya sa harap ko saka pa kumindat. "I could really imagine you wearing a beautiful gown and underneath that gown is a very seductive lingerie. Damn, babe, just imagining it could give me a boner," dagdag pa niya at hindi ko alam pero parang may kasabikan na unti-unting nangibabaw sa pagkatao ko.

Sasagot pa sana ako nang may marinig kaming tumikhim. Lumayo tuloy sa akin si Ryl at hinarap ang taong iyon.

"Good morning, Lorenzo," bati sa kaniya ng babaeng naka-office skirt, at maroon na blouse sa pang-itaas. Mukha itong sopistikada and I could sense that she was quite different from those clowns and gremlins that I met before.

"Good morning, Sidney," bati ni Ryl dito, saka siya yumakap dito at bineso pa ito.

I would be lying kung sasabihin ko na hindi ako napipikon, dahil napipikon ako. How could he do such act in front of me? Did he want me to give them a bullet hole on their foreheads? Mabilis akong kausap, sabihin niya lang.

"How have you been, Lorenzo? It's been . . . three years, right?" anito at nakita kong ngumiti sa Ryl bago ito tumango.

Ipakangiti mo pa. Smile 'til your lips get torn, you fuckboy!

"Three years had passed and nothing change, Sid. You're still gorgeous as ever—"

"Saang . . . banda?" putol ko sa sinasabi niya at kapwa sila napalingon sa akin.

Nakita kong tumaas ang kilay nitong Sidney sa akin. "What do you mean?" anito sa akin.

Did she really think she could intimidate me? ME? OH GOD, SHE MUST BE DREAMING.

"Saang banda . . . ka maganda?" I straightforwardly asked and I saw how Ryl's eyes widened.

Not me, Ryl Lorenzo. You messed with the wrong demon.

"Who is she? Bakit ganiyan makipag-usap ang isang 'yan? Parang walang pinag-aralan—"

"Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science. How about you?" I asked cutting her off as I gave her a mischievous and mocking grin. "Is it bad to state the obvious? Hindi ka naman talaga maganda," I continued. She looked so shock and her reaction fascinated me. Mukha siyang tanga. Sopistikadang tanga.

"Lez, please. Calm down. She's my—"

"I don't care," putol ko sa kaniya at saka ako humarap sa mga naggagandahang lingerie sa gilid ko at doon ko na itinuon ang pansin ko.