The Vargas Cartel Trilogy (Vargas Cartel #1-3)(78)

He raised one eyebrow, searing me with his gunmetal gray eyes. “Hi, Evan,” he said as he released my hand.

“Ry,” Evan said through clenched teeth as he laser focused all his attention on me. “I didn’t realize you were already dating other people. It’s been what,” he lifted one shoulder casually, “three or four days since you broke off our engagement?”

I bounced my leg up and down under the table. “That sounds about right.”

Evan folded his arms across his chest. “I thought you needed space to figure out your life.”

“I do,” I snapped. “That’s what I’m doing.”

“Just tell me how long you waited.”

I blinked. “How long I waited for what?”

Evan’s eyes cut to Ryker. Then, he leaned forward, bracing his palms on the edge of our table. “Did you start f*cking him immediately after our engagement party, or did you wait until we broke up?”

My eyes flared as I sucked in a breath, but I didn’t get the opportunity to respond. Ryker jumped out of his chair and grabbed Evan by the collar of his shirt, yanking him forward so only inches separated their faces. “Apologize.”

“Apologize?” Evan laughed bitterly, his face hard, his eyes dark and narrowed. “Why? She’s the one who needs to apologize. She’s the one who ended our engagement and moved on five seconds later.”

Ryker’s fist twisted in the fabric of Evan’s shirt. “She’s not your concern anymore.”

Evan tried to grab my hand, but I lowered it to my lap and out of his reach. “I love you, Hattie. I stood by you. I accepted you back into my life. I didn’t even make you explain anything. Is this how you repay me?”

I popped out of my chair, and it tumbled backward. He said those three words with conviction, but I didn’t believe him. Not anymore. I saw a man who loved the idea of us, and what we could do together, but he didn’t love me. “Accepted me back into your life? I didn’t do anything wrong. I was a victim.”

“Did you tell him what happened?” Evan asked, his eyes narrowed into dark slits.

Ryker released Evan’s shirt. “I know everything,” he said, answering the question for me.

“You hardly know him.” Hurt flashed across Evan’s face. “You told him, and you wouldn’t tell me anything. Not a single f*cking detail. Why? Don’t you trust me?”

Guilt dissected my heart like a sword. “Evan,” I said, holding my hand over my chest. “Can we talk about this later? This isn’t time or the place.”

Evan surveyed the restaurant. Everyone was watching us with a mixture of horror and excitement. What a disaster. He squared his shoulders and took a few steps back. “You’re right.”

I nodded. “I’ll call you soon, okay?”

Without responding, he spun around and headed to the entrance. He whispered something to a blonde woman in a short emerald green dress. Her eyes flashed to me. Then, Evan threaded his arm through hers, and they strolled out of the restaurant as though nothing had happened. I guess he could date, but I couldn’t. Typical Evan logic. He had the audacity to accuse me of moving on too quickly and act as if I had wounded him when he brought a date too.

For a frozen eternity, I didn’t have the energy to do anything. I exhaled shakily. Fatigue had settled into my bones, and I wanted to go home, climb into bed, and forget about everything…everyone. Tears beaded in the corners of my eyes, but I refused to cry over Evan. He had already claimed too much of my life and wasted too much of my time. I cleared my throat and shifted on my feet. “Well, that was awkward.”

Ryker stared at me, the silence ballooning with every tick of the second hand, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his. Then, his sensual lips curved into a smile, jumpstarting my heart. He chuckled under his breath as he slapped some money on top of the bill. “I think we outstayed our welcome. Let’s get out of here.”

His lips swept across mine, and his scent swaddled me, soothing my frayed nerves, uncoiling the tension holding my muscles hostage. “Tell me what you’re thinking,” he whispered.

“That I can’t believe you wanted me to get back together with him.”





Chapter Eleven




Ryker



“This looks amazing,” Rever said, leaning over my shoulder.

“It’s not for you,” I said, elbowing him in his stomach.

Rever stumbled back. “What the hell?”

I turned off the stove and snagged my keys from the counter, stuffing them into my pocket. “You need to leave.”

He leaned against the kitchen counter, his ankles crossed. “I don’t have anywhere to go.”

“Go out to dinner. Check into a hotel. I don’t care. You can’t stay here tonight.”

“With what money?” he challenged.

I opened my wallet and pulled out five crisp hundred dollar bills. “Take this.” I dropped the stack of bills on the counter.

Rever eyed the money, but didn’t make any attempt to grab it. “No.”

“We’ve already been over this. Hattie’s coming over for dinner, and you can’t be here.”

“I’ll stay in the guest room. She won’t even know I’m here.”