Page 64 of Smokin' Situation

He paused, tilting his head as he looked up. “She told you about me?”

“Well, yeah. Rhey—Annie—is really fucking loyal. She wanted me to know that there had been someone else before we took things too far. I thought she was your fucking employee, not your hookup. Although I guess with your track record, I’m not sure why I’m surprised.”

“And what did she tell you about the guy she’d been with?” His tone wasn’t accusatory, and it gave me hope that maybe he’d listen to reason.

“That she’d been in a situationship—whatever they’re calling it these days—with a guy she’d known since high school, but she didn’t have feelings for him beyond friendship.”

He nodded, looking down. “And you didn’t think to exchange names?”

“Why the fuck would I want to know the name of the guy whose hookup I was falling for?”

He nodded absently, staring at the ground for a beat before he returned his gaze to me. “You’re falling for her?”

I shook my head and saw his fists instantly ball at his sides. “Not falling, dude,fallen. I’m already there. And if that means you hate me, then so be it, because I know you don’t love her. You haven’t loved anyone since—”

“Please don’t say her name,” he choked out, turning away from me and thrusting his fist toward the wall. I laughed humorlessly as he shook out his hand, cursing under his breath.

“And that’s how I know you don’t love Annie, because otherwise you wouldn’t give a shit if I mentioned—”

He turned toward me, glaring as I held my hands up and clamped my mouth shut. But when the tension drained from his shoulders, I knew I’d made my point.

“Maybe you’re right. But she’s still my friend. She deserves someone who loves her. If you hurt her, I’ll fucking kill you.”

“Aw…it’s cute you think you could do any damage with those fake pretty boy muscles you like to post all over the internet,” I chuckled, knowing it’d rile him up.

“Didn’t stop your girlfriend from holding onto those muscles while she rode my…”

He trailed off laughing when I growled and lunged at him, wrapping my forearm across his throat with my lips at his ear. “Say another word, fucker. I dare you.”

“Word,” he choked out, laughing as he ducked out of my hold. He turned to face me and nodded at the window. I followed his gaze and saw the flash of the taillights of a Jeep headed down the gravel drive away from the house. I wasn’t sure whose car that was, but I knew Rhey was inside it right now. “Well, don’t just stand there, dumbass. Go after her. If you love her, go fucking tell her.”

Without hesitating, I pulled the truck keys from my pocket and headed for the door, my brother’s amused voice following me into the hallway.

“And I’m the one who’s a dipshit…”

Annie

“Yousureyoudon’twant me to take you back to the ranch?” Hazel asked, turning her Jeep onto the main road and heading toward town. “It’s on the way, if you need to get something. You know Hudson would understand if you don’t feel up to running the bar tonight. Tripp will probably come to look for—”

“No.” My voice was curt as I cut her off. Shaking my head, I watched the trees pass while I stared blankly out the window. “I’ve already started over from nothing once this week, what difference is twice going to make?”

“You’re not starting over, Annie. I’m sure once they talk, and things calm down a bit, he’ll want to see you.” She may have been certain, but I wasn’t so convinced. “You don’t look at a woman like that and just walk away from her.”

Biting the inside of my lip, I fought back my remaining tears, determined to not show up at the bar a sobbing mess. People were already going to feel sorry for me when they found out about my cabin, I didn’t need to add in the fact that I got dumped by both Harding brothers on the same day. Not that whatever Jay and I had been doing for years was more than a friendship with perks. The rift I’d created was going to cause ripples across town that I’d never live down.

It was the situation with Tripp that was going to crush me if I let it. And I wouldn’t let it. I’d survived heartbreak before, and I’d survive it again. Even if that brooding bastard had taken a huge chunk of me into that house earlier, and I was terrified I’d never get back.

His scars were on the surface—visible to everyone, but mine were a dark secret I pushed deep inside and never let anyone else see.

“You know you’re welcome to stay in the apartment for as long as you need, but don’t use it as an excuse to run from something good. You’ll regret it if you do. Running away from your problems never works, trust me, I’ve done it enough to have expert level avoidance certification.”

“There’s nothing left to run from, Haz,” I murmured, suddenly wishing I was going into the bar with my usual armor of jeans and a T-shirt. The dress that had felt liberating to wear a few hours ago left me feeling exposed.

“And here I thought they handed out PhDs in wisdom when they gave you permission to serve alcohol, but apparently all they handed you was the inability to see what’s right in front of your face.”

Biting my tongue, I returned to looking out the window on the quick trip to the bar, closing my eyes and trying to center myself when I saw the parking lot full of cars. It was time for me to turn on the charm and forget there was a gaping hole in my chest.

Once she parked, I opened the door to leave, but she placed her hand on my shoulder. “If you need me, call from the bar phone and I’ll come back to get you.”

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