Page 35 of Love, Hate, Love

“Alec, I’ve got this.” Leah stepped in between us, laying a hand on Alec’s chest.

It was all I could do to not grab it and rip it off him.

Alec shook his head. “I?—”

“Please, I can handle it,” she said.

Alec threw up his hands and backed away toward the house. “Thank God someone can.”

“What the hell is your issue?” she said, spinning back to me, ready to defendAlec.

As I looked at her, all I could think was, had he touched her? Had she enjoyed it? Did she want him now?

“My issue? While you were off with Alec, I was pretending to know where you were to the police who came by to do their check. You do realize I’m supposed to know where you are at all times, right?”

Her lips parted and her eyes flicked to the drive, where the car had just been. “That was…”

I could see her color fade. Her shoulders were rising and falling rapidly and there was a tiny tremble in her lower lip. She wrapped her arms around herself as she stared, as if terrified Paul would come back.

And damned if all I wanted to do was put her mind at ease.

“It was a deputy from the sheriff’s office. It’s fine. I handled it,” I said. “But you don’t get to go off with my brother and disappear whenever you want. I’m responsible for you. I need to know where you are every day for the next year. No exceptions. You can’t take off and not let someone know.”

She nodded, but her chin was up and her glare was hard. “I didn’t mean to put you in a spot where you had to cover for me. For that, I’m sorry. But that’s the only thing. Now I’m done speaking to you for tonight. I’m going to go take a showerat Missy’s. If you feel some urge to yell some more, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”

She turned and walked off while I stood watching. I let her go. I had to because I was barely restraining myself, and if it went any further, I wasn’t sure where it would lead.

I walked back to the house, wanting to be alone, but Alec was sitting on the couch, having a drink with his boots kicked up on my table.

His hands immediately went up. “I didn’t fuck her. I didn’t evenkissher. Not that you wouldn’t have deserved it. You’re acting like an unhinged lunatic.”

That was the only thing he could’ve said that kept me from beating his ass. Of all Alec’s flaws, he typically opted for the truth unless it would result in criminal charges or a divorce.

“Where the hell were you and what were you doing, then?”

“We went to the ridge. If I hadn’t been fucking with you on purpose, I might be annoyed with you right now.” He lifted his glass, toasting me.

“You did this on purpose?” How could I love him and hate him so much at the same time? “I had to lie to the deputy to save her ass.”

He scoffed. “Please, we’ve both lied to Barney Fife more times than I can remember. We used to consider it a sport. Now you’re saying that was a problem?”

Easy for him to blow it off as nothing. He wasn’t the one who’d felt like he’d taken a throat punch when that car pulled up. There was a limit, even with Paul. “What if he caught her doing something?”

“He would’ve pretended not to and we both know it. You’re only pissed because you couldn’t find her and you think I banged her in the bushes. Which Ididn’t, because Iwouldn’tdo that.”

“Then what exactly were you doing?”

“Our conversation the other day got stuck in my head. I was trying to diagnose how bad you really have it. Unfortunately for you, I might’ve misjudged the situation.” He took another sip and settled down a little farther into the couch. “I think you’ve taken a lethal shot from Cupid’s bow, and I’m not confident you’re going to make it.”

“So you’re swearing you didn’t touch her at all?” Slowly, my heartbeat settled down. Still, I headed for the cabinet and pulled out a bottle of whiskey. I poured myself a generous glass and downed it in one go, feeling the burn settle deep in my chest.

“That’sthe part you heard?” he asked.

“It’s the only part I’m willing to discuss,” I said.

Alec watched me, swirling his own drink in leisurely manner.

“No McCallan?” he asked, lifting his brow. “Where you hiding that new bottle? If we’re going to drink, where’s that good stuff you said you bought?”

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