Page 57 of Conflict
I’M SHAKEN.
My insides are definitely stirred.
It’s like Shane’s turned into 007 and I’m his favorite drink.
I blush at the memory of him between my legs, because that night? I was definitely the taste he wanted most.
I have to get the mental image of Shane’s tongue out of my head, so I turn to Branson. “So I hear you had the pleasure of meeting our parents today. How’d that go?”
Ariana chokes on the sip of wine she’s just taken. “How’d you hear about that?
I roll my eyes. She’s gone for two months and forgets the way things work down here?
“Are you kidding? As soon as they left your condo, they called me all in an uproar. Thanks for telling me you’re moving to Nashville,” I inform her. I toy with the stem of my wine glass. “Apparently, a lot has happened that you haven’t told me. Care to enlighten me on how a fake engagement turned into you packing up your things and moving in with the guy?”
The growl next to me takes me by surprise. Shane’s eyes have darkened, and he’s leaning across the table towards Branson. “A fake engagement? What the fuck, Branson?”
Oh boy. Apparently, I’ve let loose a can of worms I hadn’t known needed containing.
I squirm under the weight of Branson’s scowl, which is directed first at me and then at Shane. “It’s not fucking fake,” he growls, his voice low and husky.
Ariana’s eyes fill with warmth as she places a hand on Branson’s. It’s like the balm he needs to calm his temper. “Calm down,” she tells him. “She didn’t mean it that way. I haven’t exactly had the chance to tell her everything that happened after the wedding.”
Good God, how much has Ariana been keeping from me? What is thiseverythingand what does it mean for their fake engagement?
I can practically feel Shane stewing beside me, so I’m quick to ask. “What happened after the wedding?”
“Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?” Shane growls.
The sound shoots shivers down my spine. I shouldn’t like how growly his voice gets when he’s angry. Thoughts of hot, dirty, angry sex flood my mind, and I have to squeeze my thighs together.
Branson sits back in his chair as if defeated. At this point, I’m really fucking confused.
Ariana gives him a soft smile. “Sorry, babe. I should’ve told Lyssa to keep her big mouth shut.”
I protest immediately. “Hey! I didn’t know it was some big secret!”
It’s true. I mean, sure, I knew I wasn’t supposed to tell my parents or Benjamin that it was all a ruse, but this is Branson’s cousin. I just kinda figured he knew. Whoops.
“Seriously? Someone enlighten me already,” Shane insists.
“Fine. I’ll tell you, but you have to promise to keep your mouth shut until I’m finished, and you can’t tell anyone about this.”
Shane nods in agreement and Branson begins. I’m enthralled as he details the night of the accident to just the other day when he apparently made things officially not fake with my sister. I’m guessing he’s leaving out quite a bit of detail—I’ll ask Ari later. She speaks every so often, telling Shane about what happened when Branson was still knocked out at the hospital. Every time Branson says something sweet and pauses to look adoringly at my sister, I sigh. Which just causes Shane to roll his eyes. I don’t even care. Branson’s turning out to be everything my sister deserves, and I couldn’t be happier for them both.
When he’s finished, Branson signals for another drink. Then he then sits back and eyes both Shane and me. “That’s it. The whole story. It may have started out as fake, but it quickly turned into something real. I love her, and that ring on her finger will never come off.”
Shane scoffs, and I want to punch his shoulder. Seriously, he’s killing my love buzz. “You’re telling me no one knows this? Everyone just accepted that you had some hidden-away fiancée?”
“You did, didn’t you?” Branson retorts without a beat.
Shane raises his glass in a silent touché. “True. Still… Don’t you think this is a little sudden? You’ve barely had time to get to know each other. She’s coming off an engagement and you haven’t even been divorced for a year. What the hell’s the rush?”
Ugh, he’sseriouslykilling the vibe, and I’ve had just enough wine not to let him.
“Don’t mind Shane. He doesn’t believe in love or monogamy.” I have no idea why I said that. For all I know, he’s looking for just that. But he sounds like a cynic and it’s pissing me off. “I think it’s romantic, and I’m happy for you both.”
“Thank you, Alyssa,” Branson says, ignoring his cousin.
