Page 119 of Dove
Torrence had stopped beside Josh on the opposite side of the road, obscuring him from view behind the raised hood, but I could hear him just fine.
“Everything alright?” he asked tersely. The memory of Josh practically throwing him out of the barn flashed through my mind. Yeah...he was likely still pissed about that. “Need help?” But in true small-town fashion you just didn’t leave someone stranded on the side of the road.
“Nah,” Josh declined, letting the hood slam shut. I startled, jumping at the sudden bang, a surprise yelp escaping me at the loud noise.
Torrence’s eyes flew to mine through the windshield. Nothing in his gaze indicated he’d seen anything… risqué. True relief flooded me at the knowledge that maybe he hadn’t seen us after all. I held up my phone. “Just called Rev,” I informed him damn near jovially.Tone it down, Dove. “But thanks.”
His truck crept forward until he was looking at me through Josh’s rolled down window.
“Want a lift?”
My voice caught in my throat as his eyes roamed over me, the hint of heat glimmering in his gaze making me uneasy. His eyebrows creased, his focus not aimed on my face, but slightly lower. A little too late I remembered the state of my neck and hurriedly brushed my hair around my shoulders to hide it.
My pulse skittered nervously as he continued to stare, and I opened my mouth to decline his offer?—
“We’re fine.” Josh slid in between the vehicles, his body shielding me from view. I released a silent sigh of relief, theknot that had been forming in my stomach loosening now that Torrence’s lecherous eyes were off me. “But we appreciate the offer,” he added, his words a juxtaposition to his tone, which held absolutely no gratitude.
The muscles of Josh’s back grew rigid each second Torrence remained idled beside us. The hot summer air practically thickened with the intensity of their stare down. All I could do was watch, like a spectator at an unexpected shootout.
Or a pissing match.
Instead of accepting Josh’s answer and moving along, Torrence replied haughtily, “I was talking to Dove.”
Josh crossed his arms. “And now you’re talking to me.”
His steely reply left no room for argument, and a shiver ran down my spine at the tone of his voice. He sounded exactly like he had when he’d hauled Torrence off me.
“You okay with him talkin’ for you, Dove?” Torrence pitched his voice louder, as if I was farther away than just a few feet. He didn’t wait for my answer before he directed to Josh, low and taunting, “You just come waltzing back into Haven and think you can rule her life? Dictate who she can be with?”
Anger sparked hot and bright through my veins. Torrence had no right to talk to Josh like that. Especially aboutme. We’d been nothing more than a string of short-lived flings. We were never going to go anywhere farther than what we’d had. It’d been a mistake on my part to rekindle anything with him that night at the bar but hurt had shoved rational thought out the window. Now he likely believed more was on the table when he didn’t even have a seat there to begin with.
“You’re her brother, not her daddy,”Torrence sneered, his mocking words clearly aimed to provoke Josh. I tensed, ready to reach over and grab the back of Josh’s shirt before he pummeled Torrence’s face in.
“Get the fuck out of here.” Josh took a threatening half step towards Torrence’s vehicle, hands curling into fists at his sides.
“Or what?” Torrence goaded, putting on an air of toughness, but from my peek over Josh’s shoulder I could see the way he leaned away from the window, like he was afraid Josh would reach through and drag him out.
I wasn’t entirely sure he wouldn’t.
“Or the next time you attempt to shack up with someone in a barn, I’ll make sure it’sreal difficultfor you.”
Josh’s threat had my face flaming at the reminder of how he’d found us. Torrence’s face looked similar, but not from embarrassment. No, his was red with outrage.
Lip curled, he glared daggers at Josh. “You motherfuc?—”
A loud horn honked behind us, causing us all to turn, breaking the mounting tension. I released a sigh of relief as I spied Zeke’s lifted black truck through the rear window. Reverie waved excitedly from beside him when she spotted me, her blonde hair pulled up in a messy bun atop her head, bright smile fixed on her face, oblivious to the showdown they’d interrupted.
When Zeke stepped out, Torrence spat another curse Josh’s way before peeling off, tires squealing. Zeke was forced to move out of the way, slamming his door as Torrence gunned it down the road, engine revving unnecessarily.
He turned to Josh with raised eyebrows. “Did we interrupt something?” His deep voice rumbled with amusement.
“Nothing of importance.” Josh scowled, still holding a hint of cold fury, eyes locked on the back of Torrence’s truck as it sped away.
I opened my door and slipped out of the passenger’s seat, only to be bombarded by Reverie. Arms closed around me, and her voice was an excited whisper in my ear. Or at least what Reverie thought was a whisper.
“Please tell me that was a pissing contest between your new man and your old fuck buddy!”
“We never fucked,” I hissed at Rev, glancing over my shoulder to make sure Josh hadn’t overheard. Josh and Zeke were too busy catching up on the other side of the truck to pay any attention to us.
