Page 25 of Wild Tides
“Wait. You actually talked to them about this? Before talking tome?”
I didn’t know whether to be impressed or annoyed. We didn’t live in the Dark Ages. Had he really asked my brothers if he could date me?
He scratched his head, avoiding my eyes. “It’s a loyalty thing. I may or may not have helped with the occasional protection caper in my youth.”
My eyes narrowed. “Lee. Really?”
He shrugged, grinning sheepishly. “I knew from the beginning you were special. Worth protecting.”
“Worth cockblocking, you mean?”
His grin turned guilty. “That too. But none of those guys were worthy of you.”
“Exactly how involved were you with my brothers’ protection racket?”
Lee coughed into his fist, his mumble lost in the rough sound.
“How involved, Lee?”
Chapter 13 – Lee
Well, shit. That was what I got for opening my big mouth. I should have asked her out again over dinner. Forged ahead under the romantic lights at Goose Hollow. But she smelled so good and looked so soft, I hadn’t been able to resist pulling her close.
Mistake.
Her touch had short-circuited what remained of my good intentions. Suddenly, cuddling didn’t cross the invisible line I’d drawn for myself. Then she called me on it, and my big mouth just wouldn’t shut up. I’d admitted everything, melting like butter under her dark gaze.
It had never been my plan to reveal that I’d spoken to her brothers. Or exactly how much I’d participated in their teenage pranks, though I imagined Violet suspected my involvement. Where did she think the evil I brought to my books came from? I spent all my free time with her brothers back in the day.
Violet’s glare held me pinned to the couch. Demanding answers.
“Did I mention I always knew you were special?” Judging from her expression, the admission didn’t get me off the hook.
Violet poked a finger into my chest. “Spill, Murphy.”
I captured her hand, smoothing it over my heart. Maybe if she could feel my heart thumping beneath her palm, she’d cut me some slack. Remember I was only human.
“Clark bragged to me about getting in your pants, and I reported it to your brothers. He was way too old for you and not a good guy.” I held her gaze. “I helped your brothers shovel manure into his truck cab.”
“Lee! That was my one and only high school dance invitation, and you ruined it for me. You know what stung most?” she asked, quieter now. “It wasn’t just the dance. It was… no one ever really tried after that. I mean, not seriously. No one brought me flowers or asked me out. Not in high school. Not after. It’s like your little manure stunt labeled me off-limits for good.”
Good. But that primal whisper wasn’t the evolved response. I should feel shame that she missed out on those little courtship rituals.
“I know. But it was your brothers’ duty to protect you.”
Her eyes narrowed. “But not yours.” She frowned. “I always suspected there was more.” She arched an eyebrow. “Care to come clean?”
I evaded her gaze, trying to decide how much to admit. Walking a fine line between honoring my life-long friendship with her brothers and my need to clear my conscience.
“Lee,” she prompted when the silence threatened to linger, “you’re not getting out of this by staring broodingly into the distance.”
“I may have duct-taped Dustin Levy to the boys’ locker room bench on the day he told me he was asking you to Homecoming.”
She gasped. “That isawful.”
The flash of betrayal that crossed her features made my stomach drop.
“He knew it wasn’t personal. And it sent a message.”
