Page 66 of Rival
Turning to Jennice, he smiles. “Already done. I’ll be there for a short while, but I’ve got plans, so I’m cutting out early. Havea good night.” He includes me in his dismissal and not having anything else to say, I head out and wait for my niece to hop in.
Once we’re on the road, I let her ramble for the bulk of the drive about nonsense and shit her friends are getting up to, along with rumor after rumor. I don’t even know who half these people are, but I recognize a few of the last names.
I make all the appropriate gasps and “no ways” that keep her happy until she says something which catches my attention.
“...and I don’t know, but I’d bet anything my boss has got a girlfriend. He’s had “plans” like once a week lately. Never did before, but I haven’t seen him with anyone.Oh!Maybe it’s that girl he brought by a couple weeks ago, but she seemed awfully young, so probably not.”
Keeping my question as if I’m not terribly interested, I ask, “Yeah? Who’d he bring by?”
Jennice shrugs and stares out the window. “Don’t remember her name. She was real pretty though. Hasn’t been by since, so it’s probably not her.”
I remind myself there’s no way Edith is seeing Jaxon on the side. Not while she and I were together, and definitely not with how much Clayborn hates the guy. Corbin did tell him about seeing them together, but that was at the job site. Blowing out a breath in relief, I ignore the sting of jealousy and push it away as I realize that if Jenniceistalking about Edith, she most likely was there because of the barn build.
After dropping her off at home, I get back to my place shortly after where I now find myself pacing. I’m tempted to call Clayborn and see if he’s up for a visit because I really need to check in on her. Even after talking with Corbin, I still don’t like this feeling, and my gut is telling me I’ve fucked up somehow.
Finally giving in, I call him, but it goes to voicemail. Scowling, I hang up without leaving a message, then grab my keys and head out to the only bar we have in town.
Finding a seat toward the end, I order a beer, then look around the room to see if I know anyone in tonight. They aren’t busy, but there is one patron facing me from the other end of the counter.
Mason Cooper.
He seems as if he’s already a couple of beers in. Neither of us have really been around each other, but I justknowhe’s trying to fuck with Clayborn through Edith and that doesn’t sit right with me.
Narrowing my eyes at him, he mimics me, then downs the rest of his beer, only to hold it up for another.
And that’s how I spend the rest of my evening. Matching Mason drink for drink and glare for glare across a bar.
Both of us apparently doing our best to drink away a problem.
Chapter Thirty
Mason
They’re fuckin’ at it again. What the hell is he doin’, the bastard?
After trying to drink away my guilt I’m harboring for how my talk with Edith went yesterday, I ended up playing a silent game of “Who’s going to look away first?” with Griffin Graham. I haven’t forgotten the way he showed up at my place, all hulked out and ready to fight.
So now I’m here, again in the fucking shadows, watching Edith play with my fucking horse.
And he’slovingit.
I put him out in the ring earlier this morning since the weather is supposed to be shit over the weekend and now I’ve got to deal with her playing fetch with him.Fetch. Movement along the ground draws my attention and all three of those kittens are playing in the grass, climbing up the posts as they whack at each other. They don’t leave, though. They never stray far from their adopted mother.
Edith is glancing at them constantly while also trying to keep her head out of range as Austin swings that damn toy around.He’s practically hopping with pleasure, and I jerk when she bursts out laughing as he flops over on his side, nuzzling his toy.
My stomach flips when she sighs and lies on her back near him, staring up at the sky. All the kittens trip and fall as they run over to her, and I watch as they climb over her legs while I absently rub at the ache in my stomach.
I can’t hear what she’s saying, but Austin shifts his body over and lays his head closer, then nips at her shoulder.
She really does have a big heart for animals and it’s the last piece of doubt I was holding on to that she’s maybe like her daddy. Edith Hughes is so, so different.
Quietly, I make my way over with no intentions of ending this little impromptu play session. The first one to see me is Billy.Of courseit’s him.
He hauls ass off her body, jumping from her feet as if it was some great cliff, then sprints and stumbles his way toward me. Just as I squat down to greet him, he comes up short and turns his body sideways with an arched back and puffed up tail.
“Are you kiddin’ me, cat?” I grumble at him, and his loud half meow, half groan, draws the attention of both Edith and Austin. Simultaneously, they lift their heads from their laid out positions to witness my emasculation delivered by a ten-week-old nightmare.
Billy whacks at my boots as I step over him and continues to follow me after I slip through the fence to join them. Austin has dropped his head back down, only now he’s fully snuggled across Edith’s chest, and she’s pinned.
