More Than Lies (More Than #1)(94)

“What about this,” I point between us, “not happening again did you not understand? You can go back to banging every whore that crosses your path, and I’ll go back to . . .” I stop not knowing what to say. Pining over him probably. “Go back to doing whatever it was I did before I started sleeping with you. Are we done?”

“No, we aren’t done.” His words bite into me making me step back. “What were you doing before you started fucking me? The asshole out there?” He nods his head at the door. He’s talking about Preston. As if. “Why is he here? Why did you bring him here?”

Is he mad? Gee, I just don’t give a crap.

“Leave him out of this.” I don’t answer any of his questions. I need out of this small space. Angry Shawn may be a turn on. I’m so messed up in the head.

“No,” he barks. “Why is he here?”

His persistence causes a huff from my mouth to escape. I stare at him.

“Answer me this, where have you been since you left Mac’s the other night. Sam said you didn’t show up for class yesterday.”

“Why are you talking to Samantha?” My eyebrows draw inward toward my eyes and I place my hands on my hips. He raises his own eyebrows as if to say he isn’t answering my question if I’m not going to answer his. I breathe out, making it loud. “I went to my parents.”

“Samantha was at the house when I got home from work.” He doesn’t get home until after ten, sometimes even eleven. Why was she there? “What’s he doing here, Tara?”

“The evil queen, okay.” God. What does he want from me? I’m not with Preston. If he knows me at all, he knows that much. He continues to stare. Then he crosses his own arms across his chest. “My mother invited him along with me. I didn’t ask him to come.”

“So why did he end up here? Why didn’t you tell him to fuck off?”

“Because it was easier than dealing with the crap she would have thrown at me had I not let him come with me.” Hell, she was already threatening to kick me out of my own family. That’s probably going to happen in a few short months anyhow, so why should I push for it to happen sooner?

“I’m not buying that shit.” His facial expression is hard.

“Oh, so now I’m a liar.” Well, wasn’t that a foot in the mouth. Apparently he thinks the same thing because an eyebrow rises again. “I don’t care what you believe.” Keep the lies coming, Taralynn.

“I think you brought him to piss me off.” That may have been half the reason, but I’ll never admit to it.

“Again, I don’t care what you believe. It doesn’t matter now, does it? You’ll have another woman to get you off before nightfall. That is if you don’t already.”

I turn, open the door and walk out. No way do I want to see or hear him confirm my fears.





CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT





SHAWN





“Hey, Shawn.” Kammy’s voice filters into my ears. I look up as she walks my way.

It’s nightfall. The sun buried down toward the West a few hours ago, but I still have my sunglasses sitting on the brim of my nose. Obviously not because it’s bright out. With them on, I can watch a certain blonde without her knowing I’m looking.

Right now, Tara is lying across from me, stretched out on a lounger, nose buried in her e-reader. She’s been at it since before the sun went down. Pretty much since we finished eating and got a fire started, actually. It’s March, so the night air outside is still too chilly for just hanging out.

Tara’s eyes glance up when she hears Kammy call my name. Earlier today, Tara’s plan to make me jealous succeeded when she showed up with that douche-prick lawyer. She wants to claim her mother forced bringing the guy she went on one date with months ago on vacation with her, but I don’t believe for a second that is the only reason. After what happened with us a few days ago, I’m betting Tara feels has something to prove to me.

Two can play at this game, baby.

“Kams!” I exclaim. “Hey, doll, how’s it going?” She stops next to the lounge chair I’m lounging on. I haven’t taken my eyes off Tara even though it appears I’m looking up at Kammy. It just so happens I might have fooled around with her last summer. And by fooled around, I mean fucked. If I so happen to make Tara as jealous as she’s had me all day, then so fucking be it. She deserves it.

“Better now that I’ve made it and you’re here.” Kammy’s folks and mine are friends and a lot alike. Her family also loves trail riding on four-wheelers and side-by-sides. Whereas we stick to coming to Georgia to have fun, her family takes vacations all over the United States searching for new trails to ride.

Setting my beer down on the table frees my hand to run up her leg, starting from her calf going up behind her thigh. From behind my shades, I can see Tara’s eyes follow the movements of my hand. That’s it baby, let that green-eyed monster take over.

Kammy bends, sitting on the edge of my chair. Tara swallows hard and her mouth opens in a gasp of air. Pain is clearly evident on her face, making my guts tighten. Shit. I didn’t think this through. I didn’t mean to hurt her. I just wanted to piss her off. Make her as mad as I am.

She snaps her e-reader closed and turns, jumping up and leaving the yard where everyone lounges around the fire.