Page 7 of August Heat
Don’t bring her up.Yet did her aunt spare a moment to think about what she should or shouldn’t say in front of Siobhan? Some thoughts should be kept to one’s self. Like thoughts about a certain someone who moved here to Paradise Valley with Siobhan.
Emily. Go on. Say her name.Emily House. The love of Siobhan’s life.
The breaker of hearts, in the worst ways.
How long had it taken for Emily to cheat on her once they were in “paradise?” Four months? Six months?Only if I’m being generous.From the moment they strolled into town four years ago, Siobhan knew it had been a mistake. Apparently, the only thing keeping Emily from cheating on her for the three years they had been together was a lack of opportunity. When nobody else queer enough to sleep with was around, Emily was great! Romantic, attentive, and willing to plan a future with her doting partner.She got me through school. She got me through some of the worst parts of my life.Like her father dying, and her grandmother suffering that terrible stroke that left her living in a home.
Then they moved to Paradise Valley. It was supposed to be their forever home, the place that shaped their future marriage and the kids they were gonna have together.You know, as soon as we settled into our careers. Because that totally happens when you’re a vet.Emily had been quick to agree to buying this house and garage in the countryside for Siobhan to convert into her business. Only a few months later did Siobhan realize their isolation from civilization made for the perfect cover – one in which Emily ran off with half the women around town, sometimes simply drinking up a storm or gambling a little too much money at poker…
And, other times, sleeping with them.
With Siobhan voluntarily staying out of the town’s eyes, most of the women Emily fooled around with probably hadn’t known she was taken. That’s what cheaters did, after all. They lied about the missus at home. They came up with excuses.“Oh, well, we’re separated. We have an open relationship. She’s asexual and allows me to sleep around. Isn’t that nice of her?”None of those things were true. Not even thenicepart, because as soon as Siobhan found out about Emily’s cheating ways, someone’s bags were packed and tossed into the county road.
I had never been so humiliated in my life.Siobhan definitely didn’t show her face around town now. Why the hell would she, when she might bump into one of Emily’s conquests?
That’s why she didn’t want Krys hanging around any longer than she had to earlier. Not only did some of her mannerisms and personality remind Siobhan of Emily, but she was about 99% certain that Emily had cheated on Siobhan with Krys.
Why wouldn’t she? Everyone – and if Siobhan knew, that meant everyone knew – could attest that Krys was a big playgirl. Of the serially monogamous kind, but that was hardly better than someone who played the whole field. She was one of the first people Siobhan heard about when she moved to Paradise Valley and attended a new people meet and greet at city hall.“Ooh, watch out for Krys there. From the fire department, you know? Everything they say about them is absolutely true. Lots of muscles, lots of sass, and lots of fun in the sack!”
That warning was intended to keep Krys from flirting with them. Well, she apparently flirted with someone. It simply wasn’t Siobhan.
Did Krys know? Did she have any idea? Was that why she kept acting like an awkward turtle around Siobhan?She must have known who I am. Acting like she’s never seen me before. She had to know.
Yet what if she didn’t?
What if Siobhan had to admit she was into the woman who came rolling up to her door with a box full of kittens.
Freakin’ Gabriella was right when she said Krys was totally Siobhan’s type. She had the self-assuredness and candor that Emily used to have. Was waaaay more masculine-of-center than Emily, but the ex wasn’t exactly femme, either.I don’t know what she was. All I knew was that I loved her.Seeing Krys reminded Siobhan of something she hadn’t thought about in a long while.
How much I wish I had someone.
It was pointless, though. Siobhan was too busy and too isolated from town to have a proper dating life. She barely got cell phone reception out here, let alone decent internet that didn’t come from an expensive satellite. Online dating was out of the question. So was popping into the gay bar on weekends. That’s what Emily was apparently doing for half the time she and Siobhan were still together in Paradise Valley.That’s probably where she met Krys.Everyone (that same everyone from before) knew she hung out there with her best friends. Everyone also knew that she used to date one of those friends.
Player. That’s all Krys was. When a woman was a damned firefighter who also looked the part, it only served that she be a big ol’ player, too. She could get almost any woman she wanted. Didn’t matter if that woman was single or taken, apparently.
Of course she can. When you look like that…God, did anyone else in Paradise Valley have muscles like those? Krys wasn’tripped,but she worked out. A lot. She had abs to eat off and biceps to hang from. If she didn’t insist on wearing such tight T-shirts with a sturdy sports bra beneath – yes, Siobhan had noticed – then Krys may have gotten out of there unscathed. Instead, she was followed by lustful eyes. The only reason Siobhan didn’t completely turn into a puddle of mush was because she was damn good at turning on the stern doctor who treated abused pet animals without letting her feelings get in the way.
Otherwise, she might have giggled like a girl. A girl desperate enough to flirt with the town floozy.
Kittens. It had to be kittens.
“Chevy!” Gabriella stood above the couch, a TV dinner in hand. “Are we gonna eat dinner or not? I’ve got yours in the microwave right now. Go grab some baby carrots from the bag so we can eat. I wanna watch TV Land. YouknowI love TV Land.”
“Yeah.” Siobhan shoved herself up. The scent of instant lasagna almost made her gag. “I’ll go get something to eat.” Only then did she realize she was about to put her hand in Clawdette’s face. The big cat always knew how to be in the most inconvenient spot.
“You all right, Chev?”
“I’m fine.”
She wasn’t fine. When she wasn’t fighting images of Emily in the arms of someone like Krys Madison, she was imaging someone else in that same position.
Someone who looked an awful lot like her, red hair, freckles, and all.
Chapter 5
KRYS
The bar wasn’t the rowdiest place on Wednesday nights, but the owner of Paradise Lost always did her best to bring in the bodies. That night’s treat was a billiard’s tournament that had already begun by the time Krys and her friends showed up for their drinks.
