Page 11 of Property of Woods

“Ew.”She scrunches her nose up as her lips twist into a disgusted expression.“He’s so gross.”

“He’s lucky he’s hot.”The words slip out before I can take them back.

Low busts out laughing.“Don’t let Faye hear you say that.”

“Who?”

“His wife.”

“Oh.”My stomach drops to my feet and shatters into a million pieces.Once again, I was an idiot.Gullible must be written on my forehead.Must be the first thing men pick up on about me.Like a flashing neon sign.Easy.Naïve.

Jessika Cohen is fucking stupid and an easy target.

Low must notice my horrified look because she says, “He didn’t tell you?”

“It didn’t come up.Not that we’ve talked that much.”

Her eyes widen.

“I didn’t mean that how it sounded.He doesn’t talk a lot.”I don’t want her thinking I’m a home wrecker.If I’d known Woods was married, I never would have gone there.A lump the size of a golf ball lodges in my throat, and I want to vomit.Woods is no better than Thad.I feel sick to my stomach.

What’s wrong with me?

Why do I keep making the same mistakes?

“Right.Your secret is safe with me.”

“There’s no secret.”No one can find out about us.No one.

“You’ve got the hots for my brother.”She winks and skips off before I can tell her any different.

Great.For all I know, Low could be going to call her sister-in-law to tell her she’s married to a cheating bastard.Just what I need.The wife of the man who is doing me a favor to want to beat me up because she thinks I’m trying to steal her man.That isn’t happening, but why do I feel disappointed?It must be the shock of the past twenty-four hours.Or maybe I stupidly allowed myself to believe that some of Gwynee’s good fortune was rubbing off on me.The day she ended things with Thad, she met Big Daddy, who treats her like gold.The night I left Thad, I met Woods.

I’m an idiot.Our meeting wasn’t fate.There was no higher power forcing us together.He just happened to be there.He owes me nothing, so why does learning he has a wife feel a lot like another heartbreak?

He didn’t tell me he was married, but I didn’t ask.I stupidly threw myself at him.

I won’t make that mistake a second time.

He glances back at me, and I look away to keep my tears at bay.

God, did I want him to be better than the rest.

I’m pissed, but mainly at myself.

I’ll never learn.

Seems like hard is the only road I know.

I’m more like my mother than I care to admit.

Attracted to men who only want to use me.

Maybe I can sneak off and make my way back home.I look around, trying to remember where we are.I have no idea where we are.I have no phone.No money.All I’ve got is a broken heart.

And what a stupid fucking heart it is.

I can’t believe I fell for the savior act Woods has going on.

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