Page 40 of Axe Backwards
Vic cracked a teary smile. “Yes. You performed perfectly. Polite, smart, and sexy as hell in a tux.”
My heart stumbled. Oh shit.
That was new information.
In my periphery, she turned to look out the windshield, her cheeks flushing.
She thought I was sexy?Interesting.Irrelevant, but interesting, nonetheless.
My knee-jerk reaction was to say yes. To sayI’ll pretend to be your fake boyfriend forever. Please keep smiling and never cry again.
But I hated lying. And I’d come back to Lovewell to rebuild trust with my family.
It was a miracle they hadn’t disowned me when I showed up with a secret baby last month.
I’d fled as soon as I could, and I didn’t keep in touch. I’d been too busy living a life of adventure. All the while, they’d worried about me.
The last thing I wanted was to hurt them again. Especially Jude. We were two halves of a whole. I’d already lost Jack. I couldn’t lose my twin too.
Behind me, Lou cleared her throat. “Here’s a wild idea. What if the two of you actually dated? You’d fall in love and live happily ever after. That would be a real fuck-you to your mother.”
I didn’t dare look at Vic. My heart raced and my sweaty palms stuck to the steering wheel. That would be ridiculous. Impossible. We were both busy. And I had a lot to accomplish before I could even consider being in a committed relationship.
I clung to those logical, reasonable thoughts. Or I tried. My brain, the traitor, circled round and round, back to the sensation of her lips on mine, the way she gasped slightly when we’d broken apart, the warmth of her beneath my palm when I gripped her hips and pulled her body flush against mine.
I could live a thousand years and not forget a single detail of the kiss I shared with Victoria Randolph. It was unlike anything I’d ever experienced before.
“You’re both grown, but if you want to act like children and pretend, that’s your choice.”
“We’re just friends, Aunt Lou.” Vic’s tone was defiant, her posture rigid.
Okay, then. My heart sank a little, but I pushed away the niggle of disappointment.
“You keep saying that—”
“Because it’s true.”
I kept my attention fixed firmly on the road rather than on the beautiful, sad woman in my passenger seat. If I looked at her, I was worried I’d give in to the urge to pull over, drop to one knee, and propose just for the prospect of another kiss and to make her forget about Graham. What kind of name was that anyway? He was a pair of pleated khakis in human form.
“My sweet Vic, listen to me,” Lou said. “That shithead treated you terribly. I’d love nothing more than to shove a nine iron up his ass. And your parents? The idiots have their priorities all screwed up. I hate how much they’ve hurt you.”
I knew what was at stake. I’d seen her face as Alexandra smugly rubbed her belly. The way Graham had looked her up and down like she wasn’t good enough.
The way they treated her, dismissed her, made me stupid. Stupid with loyalty for my friend, and maybe the tiniest bit stupid with lust.
“Maybe,” Aunt Lou started, squeezing Vic’s shoulder, “the best way to heal is to date a wonderful man who makes you happy. Not Noah, of course. Since you two aren’t interested in one another.” She eyed me in the rearview mirror and gave me a wink. “But we can find someone else. You’re wonderful. Once the town knows you’re on the market, there will be hotties lining up for a chance with you.”
I gripped the steering wheel, making the leather creak beneath my hands. I didn’t want Vic to date anyone else. Lou wasn’t wrong about how incredible she was. Smart, beautiful, and funny. Plus, she cared deeply and worked hard for the people and things she loved.
The thought of losing her created a pit in my gut. And the idea of some other bozo getting a chance with her sent anger coursing through my veins.
“I can’t date for real,” Vic said. “I don’t feel attraction anymore. I’m not interested in anyone.”
My stomach clenched. She couldn’t feel attraction? I guess I was the only one who’d gotten my ass kicked by that kiss, then.
Lou threw up her hands. “Jesus H. Christ. Shit-For-Brains really did a number on you.”
Turning in her seat, Vic glared at her aunt. “Stop talking like I’m a helpless victim. I don’t have the capacity for romantic relationships anymore. That’s it. It’s not the end of the world. And the last thing I want to do is explain such a personal, delicate issue to my mother and sisters. Especially the one carrying my ex-husband’s baby.”
