I’ll tell Ethan the truth after the guests haveleft.
Not here,though.
Notnow.
Through the back window, the sounds of the party waft up through the late afternoon and early evening. Children laughing. Women gossiping. Men talking about horses and beer and cigars. The scent of barbecue and cedar floating in theair.
On a typical day, I’d love this kind of party. I’d be playing with the kids on the new swing set. Joking and mingling and having a blast. Taking Ethan’s hand so we could dance to the Rolling Stones drifting from the soundsystem.
Wild Horses,I think with a smile. Logan must’ve made theplaylist.
Instead, I’m hiding and confused andhurt.
Because it pains me to see Allison planted next to Ethan at the picnic table with her parents and his mom. It hurts to see the easy way they laugh, and the picture-perfect way they look when Cody climbs onto his dad’s lap, and Mila wanders over to her mom’sside.
But what can Ido?
Nothing.
Because they were a family long before I arrived on theranch.
Allison is obviously on her best behavior, and I feel murderous when she places her hand on Ethan’s shoulder and leans toward him to whispersomething.
“You’re in over your head, sugar plum.” Jamie’s voice in my ear makes me jerk away. “She’s a done deal. You think Ethan can resist that beautiful woman and her family’smoney?”
He trails a finger over my shoulder, and I slap it away. “Don’t fucking touch me,Jamie.” My breath is a harsh pant, that light-headed feeling back withvengeance.
“I just hate seeing you get hurt, is all. Don’t want you caught up in thismess.”
“That’s rich coming from you. I’m sure your great sense of altruism is at the heart of your advice.” I step around the island, needing to put space between us. He follows two steps behind like apredator.
“Honestly, I think you probably saved their marriage. Ethan might deny it to you, but I know for a fact they’ve been talking everyday.”
The air in my lungs stalls when I look for some hint that he’s lying, but he stares me straight in theeye.
In my head, the comparison is quick. I’ve barely spoken to Ethan during the last two weeks, but he’s been talking to Allisondaily?
The corner of his mouth tilts up and he continues his assault to my heart. “Want to hear the ironic part here?” He lifts his thumb over his shoulder. “Ethan’s the one who talked me into staying with Felicia. Said the side chick I was seeing wasn’t worth my time. Wasn’t worth my marriage. That marriage was sacred and worth any sacrifice. Wise words. Ones I’m guessing he’ll probably heed once Allison tells him she’s reconsidered the divorce and wants to come home. I think she saw the hot piece of ass Ethan was fucking and had a change of heart, and she has you to thank for showing her how good she had it. See. I told you.Ironic.”
He laughs, the sound scraping over my skin like white-hotcoals.
A boulder of emotion builds in my chest, and I shake my head. “You’re lying.” Isn’the?
“Sugar plum, I’ve lied about a lot of things in my life, but I’m not now.” With one hand on the counter, he leans back, cool andcollected.
He’s telling the truth.At least in part. But whichpart?
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he lowers his voice. “Why are you with Ethan anyway? I thought you and I had a goodthing.”
Laughter, shrill and maniacal, sweeps out of me. “You can’t be serious.” Why does this assholecare?
His spicy cologne and smug smile take me back to the days and weeks after that dreadful day at his house. The messages he left on my phone. Those stupid bouquets of carnations. How he kept trying to track me down atwork.
“Are you jealous I’m withEthan?”
He scoffs, but there’s that weird tick in his jaw. “Just saying when it goes to hell here, you know who you can turnto.”
Yeaaah,no.
