Page 23 of Out of Bounds
“Selling.”
“You’re moving?” I blink a few times at the prospect.
“No such luck. I’m selling one of my houses.”
Houses?I don’t know anyone with more than one home. I knew his family had some wealth but honestly, I didn’t really probe that deep to get the full details.
“How many houses do you have?”
“A lot. My old man left me some property.”
“That’s cool.” We stare at each other and of course that awkward silence fills the space between us because the universe doesn’t recognize the civilized people we’re attempting to be.
What throws me even more is the way his eyes drop to my lips and linger there. Usually when he finds something on my face to stare at I ask him what his problem is. I hold back, grateful I did when his gaze flicks back up to my eyes.
“You know, if you were interested in that pen, I would say get it. It has a fine point so it would improve your writing.”
I’m slow to catch on what he’s saying because I’m trying to be on my best behavior. When I catch his meaning though my brows snap together.
“What’s wrong with my writing? There’s nothing wrong with it.”
“Darlin’ if you’re happy with it then far be it from me to criticize.”
“You are such an arrogant—”
“There you are, Bree.” Shelby’s voice cuts me off.
Perfectly timed she waltzes over to us, and Ethan smiles brightly at her.
“Detective Carson, I do hope you aren’t bothering my niece,” she drawls flicking her hair over her shoulders.
She’s well aware of the history I have with Ethan, and I can see she’s gearing up to give him a dose of butter in true Shelby style.
“No ma’am I was not.”
“Oh good. In that case you should stop by the salon for some cake and tea when you’re next passing by.”
Cake and tea?
Is she serious?
Okay maybe the tea part I get, but Shelby must know from the look of Ethan that the man has probably never had cake in his life. That body in all its athletic glory has most likely never seen sugar. In high school he played football and now he probably eats weights for breakfast.
“Thank you that would be nice. I’ll let you two enjoy the rest of your day.” He dips his head, and I don’t miss the lingering gaze he gives me before he walks away.
When I look at Shelby, I find her staring at me with intuitive eyes and one hand set on her hip.
“Is that fine specimen of a man why you broke up with Liev? Because if it is, I’d completely understand, and I think all would be forgive when it comes to your mother.”
I roll my eyes at her. “No, why would you think that. That’s Ethan Carson remember?”
“Yes, I do, and I still maintain that boy treated you like hell because he liked you and it looks like he still does.”
She’s wrong on all levels. I thought she could have been right at one point, but that analysis went right out the window as soon as Ethan met Amelia Montrose and fell head over heels in love with her.
I never knew much about her, only that she wasn’t like the skanks I was used to seeing him with. Because she came on the scene when he was at the end of his stay at Wilmington High, I just thanked God there was someone else to turn his attention away from me. I heard she died years later, and they were still dating while he was at college. I knew that must have been hard for him.
“Guys always tease girls they really want,” Shelby says with a chuckle.
