Throttled (Wild Riders #1)(27)
“Now how about I get you a drink and something to eat and you tell us what you’ve been up to,” Becky suggested.
“That sounds fantastic,” I agreed.
We sat there catching up for about an hour before I heard the voice of the girl whose photographs I’d been looking at. Becky had pulled an album from the bookshelf in the living room and was pointing out some of her favorite memories of my time with her daughter. It was nice to see photographic proof that we’d been happy and together at one point. Each time I saw Nora and she shut me down I was starting to believe that it had all been a dream.
When she didn’t immediately run out the door upon seeing me, I had to think that I was at least making progress with her. A little bit more time and I’d have her remembering exactly why we were perfect for each other.
Want to know what it’s like to have your thoughts hijacked by a guy you swore you’d never think about again? It’s ridiculously f*cking frustrating.
Reid had managed to not only infiltrate my thoughts, dreams, and my office, but he’d went and shown up at my parents’ house. He had to stop his relentless pursuit and I had to tell him.
When I pulled onto the lane and drove back to the cabin I knew he and his brother were sharing during their visit, I felt the anxiety bubbling inside of me. Could I really look him in the eye and lay it all on the line without letting him get to me with his sweet words and arrogantly, sexy ways?
I thought back and tried to remember exactly how it felt to hear him say that he wanted to break up with me. I remembered the disengaged look in his eyes and how easy it seemed to be for him to end what we had. I’d been with him for three years and he threw it all away like it hadn’t even mattered. Of course I could tell him.
I stood on the front porch for a good two minutes before I knocked. I took a deep breath as I waited for him to answer and tried to settle my nerves. The door opened, but it wasn’t Reid standing on the other side.
“Nora Elaine Bennett,” Brett said when he pulled open the door. “I was wondering how long it would take before you stopped by here.”
“Is Reid—” I paused, trying to ignore the ridiculous way he was leaning up against the frame of the door—one arm over his head, the other flexing in front of him. “How did you know my whole name?”
“I’ve been doing my research,” he said with laugh. “I know all about the Bennett sisters.” He winked. “How’s Georgia Yvonne this fine evening?”
“That’s creepy,” I said, earning a chuckle from him. Despite his stalking, I could tell he was harmless, and kind of cute which made him much less intimidating. “I guess I’ll have to Google you and find out your deep dark secrets.”
“There’s plenty,” he assured me with a boyish grin. “You here to see RT or did you finally come to your senses about the real stud shacked up in this place.”
“You are shacking up in an Airstream, Sally,” I heard Hoyt’s voice call out from inside. Brett swung the door open and I took it upon myself to walk in. “And it’s going to take a lot more than internet stalking to win over a Bennett sister.”
“Truth.” I side-eyed Brett, before turning my attention to Hoyt. “Is your brother home?”
“He’s in the shower.” he said, standing from the barstool he was sitting on in the kitchen. The cabin was small, but had enough rustic charm to overshadow its size—wooden beams and floors, and a stone fireplace. The small kitchen Hoyt was sitting in, had an island and full sized appliances. I’d stayed the night with Reid in this very cabin many times. I knew that there was a bathroom and two bedrooms up the flight of stairs to my right, which meant a very naked and wet Reid Travers was within walking distance. I swallowed hoping to wet the desert that was my mouth. “Can I get you a drink?”
“I’m good,” I answered too sharply. I’d readied myself to talk to Reid and now I had to wait for—and fantasize about—him. I knew if I stood there too long I might chicken out. “Sorry,” I apologized to Hoyt. He wasn’t the one I was frustrated with. “You know what, I’ll take a beer if you have one?”
“If we have one.” Brett laughed from the living room sofa. The cabin had an open floor plan, so it was easy for him to butt into our conversation. “That’s cute. Reid said you were funny.”
“Ignore him.” Hoyt smiled, walking over to the fridge to grab me a bottle. He opened it and tossed the cap toward Brett who was obviously planning the next sarcastic thing to come out his mouth.
“Thanks.” I took the beer from his hand and took a drink.
“So you here to give RT another chance or break his heart for good?”
Ironic, I thought, knowing exactly how it felt to have your heart broken.
“None of your business, Brett,” Hoyt said.
“Don’t act like you aren’t sick of listening to him piss and moan about how he screwed things up with this one,” Brett replied. “I just want to know if she is going to give the guy a shot so he’ll quit moping around, okay?”
Hoyt shook his head, while I tried not to think about the fact that Reid had been moping around. Over me. What if he really was sorry? What if he meant every word he’d said and I just wrote him off and regretted it for the rest of my life? Well, shit. Now I was even more confused.