Still Jaded by Tijan Page A

and clean up the mess.
    "The bruises make you look hot." Denton Steele whistled from the doorway. He leaned a shoulder against it. He looked good: trim waist, broad shoulders, and lean build. His green eyes sparkled at me from above movie-making cheekbones. His hair was rumpled like he'd just made love. I snorted, he actually might've.
    "Tell me how bad it really is?" I gestured to my face. "Am I a domestic abuse victim?"
    The corner of those luscious lips curved up. His eyes twinkled as his dimples appeared next. "You've looked better, but you still look hot." He chuckled. "I was in the area. One of the physicians sent me a text. She knows I used to keep tabs on you from before."
    As international heartthrobs went, Denton Steele was in the top tier. He'd become a successful movie actor when we were in high school, but not long ago he'd graduated to the top of global stardom. Growing up as his neighbor and a few years younger than him, I might've embellished a couple of our rendezvous on purpose. I liked to make some of the girls jealous and they had been. One even attacked me. However, things went sour with him when Bryce and I got more serious. Then there was the whole thing with his sister.
    "How's Mena?"
    The cockiness vanished. He straightened from the doorway. "She's better. She's in a group home now."
    "Is she happy?"
    Not long ago, I could've asked her that question until she was pushed away by Bryce and Corrigan. Our friendship had taken a downward spiral, but I still cared. I would always have a soft spot for her.
    "She is." Remorse flashed over the heartthrob's face. If anyone ever questioned Denton's love for his little sister, they'd look like a fool. He always went above and beyond for Mena, even threatening me to stay away because my life was too dangerous for her. He'd been right, but I hadn't understood why until I learned she wasn't mentally stable. "She's seeing someone. We're making plans for her to move into her own apartment. She's going to stay in the New York area. She likes the artsy atmosphere there."
    I nodded, relieved for her. A part of me felt guilty, like I had caused her to relapse. I knew I'd been part of the reason but not all of it.
    "And you?" He moved into the room and closed the door. As he sat in the chair Grace had abandoned, he cupped my face. His thumb brushed over some of the bruises. "You look like you got run over by a car."
    "Not quite. Shoved into a glass table." I caught his hand and placed it in his lap. He couldn't touch me, not anymore.
    His grin widened, but he leaned back in the chair. "So you and the soccer stud still going strong."
    "I love him. I always have."
    Surprise flared in his eyes. "And you say it so easily. My, my—a more mature Sheldon. What happened to the other girl?"
    I winced at the pain and readjusted the bedding so it wasn't wrapped so tight around me. "If you'd gotten me a few hours earlier, I might've jumped your bones…well, no. I still wouldn't have, but trust me the new and improved 'feelings' Sheldon is temporary. It's the drugs kicking in. I feel braver now."
    "No, there's a different look to you. I know you, Sheldon. I've been inside of you. You're different." One of his eyebrows lifted. "Maybe more mature?"
    I rolled my eyes at the tease. "How is it that you're here again?"
    Denton laughed as he stood up. "I know what that tone is telling me. It's telling me to get the hell out, so I'm going, Sheldon." When he got to the door, he paused and looked back. "You do look good. The bruises will fade. I'm not talking about that. You look strong."
    When wasn't I strong? I could tear anybody up. Yeah, right. "Can you tell Mena that I asked about her? I know Grace would like to know too."
    "Grace should already know. She's gone to visit Mena three times this year," Denton informed me before waving. "See you around, Sheldon. I doubt this will be our last run-in. It's good to see you're okay."
    Grace had never said anything about visiting Mena. Three times?