Page 73 of Wilde's End
I turn and close the hood on our car. “You are so irritating.”
“I am. You remember that when I’m the only one who can find us an electrician since Kennedy is usually too busy to leave this place and you refuse to make friends.”
Refuse to make friends. Fucking hell. “First I was getting too friendly with him, now?—”
Hart’s snort takes over my words. “We both know you don’t have to be friendly with someone to fuck them.”
“I really love how you’re both suddenly coming for my private business.”
“Kenny says this is caring,” he answers, sounding like he doesn’t care at all.
“It’s not.”
He watches me, and I pointedly don’t watch him. “Anything you need to talk about?”
“Nope.”
“Thank fuck for that.” He heads in the same direction Kennedy went, really cementing that it’s them against me. Like it’s always been. I’m left to figure it all out for myself.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SIX
WILDE
When I get to the swimming hole, I don’t need the sight of the bike or the dirty old boots to tell me there’s already someone there. I can feel it in the ripples through the normally still air, in the way something inside me braces for a fight. I swear, even from here, I can make out the ever-present bubble gum scent.
“You kept me waiting,” he calls the second he sees me. I can’t help noticing the clothes lying innocently by his boots.
I’m not sure how to feel about him showing up here. I’ve calmed down after the other day, and as long as our conversation stays clear of that, I have no issues. None beyond the general fact that he’s in my town at all. Which is the real kicker. I’m not used to being out of control, and the way Hudson manages to stir me up so easily should have me turning and heading in the other direction.
I count to three in my head, giving myself a chance to walk away. When that doesn’t happen, I strip off my shirt instead.
Hudson watches every movement, and I hesitate for a second over taking off my briefs. It’s not something I’ve ever thought twice about, and I have to shake off that stupidity as I kick out of them in annoyance.
The water’s warm like I knew it would be, and I stride out into it, ignoring that Hudson is there at all. Except if there’s one thing Hudson can’t do, it’s be quiet, and as soon as I’m close enough, that mouth of his opens again.
“You have a lot of scars.”
It takes me a second to remember that the first time he saw me naked, he supposedly doesn’t remember, and the second time, I was half-submerged in the water. Instead of answering, I dive under the water, eyes screwed shut as I float there for a moment just to get away from him. When I come back up for air, he’s moved closer.
“I pissed you off the other day,” he says.
“Probably will piss me off again if you bring it up now.”
The water brings out the blue and gold tints in his green eyes. “I’m sorry. I mean, I’m clueless exactly what it is that I said, but … something got to you.”
“Nothing got to me.”
“Uh-huh. That’s why you chased me away. No reason.”
“I didn’t chase you.”
Those pretty lips of his almost reach a smile. “I like it here …”
“Enjoy it,” I can’t help but throw back. “It won’t be this way for long.” I don’t need to spell out my meaning for him to follow what I’m getting at.
“It might not be as bad as you think. Maybe whoever we sell to will barely be here at all.”
