Fallen Too Far (Rosemary Beach #1)(18)

I had to swallow the laugh that bubble up inside my chest at Jace's shocked expression. I turned on the cart as Bethy jumped back in beside me.

"Damn, that felt good. Where have you been all my life?" she asked clapping her hands as I drove off smiling and waving at Woods as we headed to the next hole.

We made it through the rest of the course then stopped to restock. No more issues. I knew we might see Woods and his friends again but I had faith in Bethy to stand firm. Bethy had chatted happily about everything from her hair color to the last pregnancy scare they'd had in town with a worker and a member.

I wasn't paying attention to the members at the first hole. I was driving and trying to concentrate on Bethy's endless chatter. Bethy's muttered "crap" caught my attention.

I glanced at her and then followed her gaze to the couple on the first hole. Rush was instantly recognizable. The tan shorts he wore and snug pale blue polo shirt looked so out of place on him. It didn't fit with the tattoos I knew covered his back. He was a rocker's son and that bled through on him even with preppy golfers clothing on his body. He turned his head and his eyes met mine. He didn't smile. He just looked away as if he didn't know me. No acknowledgement. Nothing.

"Bitch alert," Bethy whispered. I shifted my gaze from him to the girl with him. Nanette, or Nan as he referred to her. His sister.  The one he didn't like talking about. She was wearing a tiny white skirt that looked like she was ready to go play tennis. She had on a matching blue polo and a white sun visor sat atop her strawberry blond locks.

"You aren't a fan of Nannette?" I asked already knowing the answer from her comment.

Bethy let out a short laugh. "Uh, no. And neither are you. You're enemy number one for her."

What was that supposed to mean? I couldn't ask her because we had stopped just six feet from the tee and the brother and sister combo.

I didn't try to make eye contact with Rush again. He apparently didn't want to make small talk.

"You're kidding me. Woods hired her?" Nan hissed.

"Don't," Rush replied in a warning tone. I wasn't sure if he was protecting her or me or just trying to stop a scene. Either way it annoyed me.

"Can I get y'all a drink?" I asked with the same smile I bestowed on every other member when I asked this question.

"At least she knows her place," Nan said with an amused snide tone.

"I'll take a Corona. Lime, please," Rush said.

I chanced a glance his way and his eyes met mine only briefly before he turned to Nan. "Get a drink. It's hot," he told her.

She smirked at me and placed a well-manicured hand on her hip. "Sparkling water. Wipe it off though because I hate the way it comes out all wet from the water."

Bethy reached into the cooler and got out the water. I guess she was afraid I might hurl it at Nan's head. "Haven't seen you out here lately, Nan," Bethy said as she wiped off the bottle with the towel we were supplied for this reason.

"Probably because you're too busy in the bushes with God knows who spreading your legs instead of working," Nan replied.

I clenched my teeth and popped the top off Rush's Corona. I wanted to throw the drink in Nan's smug face.

"That's enough, Nan," Rush scolded her lightly. What was she his damn kid? He was acting like she was five. She was an adult for crying out loud.

I handed Rush the Corona careful not to look at Nan. I was afraid I might have a moment of weakness. Instead, my eyes met his as he took the bottle.

"Thanks," he said and slipped a bill into my pocket. I didn't have time to react before he was stepping away taking Nan by the elbow. "Come on and show me how you still can't kick my ass out here," he said in a teasing tone.

Nan nudged his arm with her shoulder. "You're going down." The sincere fondness in her voice as she spoke to him surprised me. I couldn't imagine someone as mean as she appeared, to be nice to anyone.

"Let's go," Bethy hissed, grabbing my arm. I realized I'd been standing there watching them.

I nodded and started to turn when Rush glanced back over his shoulder toward me. A small smile touched his lips and then he was looking at Nan again telling her which club to use. Our moment was over. If that even was a moment.

Once we were out of earshot I looked at Bethy. "Why did you say that about me being enemy number one?"

Bethy squirmed in her seat. "Honestly, I don't know exactly. But Nan is possessive of Rush. Everyone knows that..." she trailed off and she wouldn't make eye contact with me. She knew something but what did she know? What was I missing?

Chapter Nine

A few cars were parked outside when I got back to Rush's after work. At least I wouldn't catch him having sex. Now that I knew how good his kisses were and how nice it felt to have his hands on me, I wasn't sure I could handle seeing him doing that to someone else. It was ridiculous. But it was true.

I opened the door and stepped inside. Sexy music was playing loudly over the sound system that was piped into every room. Well, every room but mine. I started to the kitchen when I heard a female moaning. My stomach knotted up. I tried to ignore it but my feet had firmly planted themselves on the marble floor. I couldn't move.

"Yes, Rush, baby, just like that. Harder. Suck it harder," she cried out. I was instantly jealous and that just made me mad. I shouldn't care. He had kissed me once and been so disgusted he'd cursed and taken off running.