Page 61 of Hot Commodity (Banks/Kincaid Family 1)

He cocked an amused brow. "You're surprised?"

"But…" Frowning, she set her hands on her hips. "You just watched your mother cry because of this," she spat out, pointing at the liquor he held. "So you decided to run off and drink? How much more do you want to break her heart?"

He flinched but it was quickly covered by a glower. "Maybe you shouldn't get involved in something that's none of your business, Blondie."

Resting his back against the doorframe, he boldly—almost challengingly—lifted the bottle to his lips. Olivia watched him guzzle, her gaze caught by the way the amber liquid glinted against the light as it swished inside its glass container.

"I like your parents," she said quietly.

He swallowed and let out a refreshed sigh. Closing his eyes, he answered, "What's not to like?"

"They're incredibly nice."

"The best," he agreed.

She frowned. "So, why are you so intent on hurting them?"

Face darkening, Cameron sent her a dirty look. "I don't want to hurt them," he snapped. Then on a tired sigh, he whispered, "I just do. I hurt everything that gets too close."

Her anger dissolved. "Cameron," she croaked and took a step toward him. "You did not hurt Sienna. She—"

He lifted one finger of the hand that clutched his liquor. "Don't say her name to me."

Olivia froze mid-step, too hurt to move, to even breathe. That his wife still had such a grip on him told her exactly where she ranked. As the pretty little mistake he planned to rid himself of as soon as possible.

Gritting her teeth when he cursed under his breath and started to take another drink, she decided to get mad instead of sad. Marching forward, she ripped the bottle from his hand, spilling a couple of drops on him in the process.

"Hey," he said.

"That's it," she growled. "No more."

Bottle in hand, she strode from the room and went straight to the kitchen. As she proceeded to pour the contents down the drain, she heard him enter the room behind her.

"You take away my liquor, you better have something else in mind to occupy my time," he commented in a lazy drawl, not sounding upset at all by what she was doing.

He no doubt had more stashed somewhere in the house.

"I'm not sleeping with you to take your mind off drinking," she said stiffly. She needed to stop sleeping with him period. They were trying to get an annulment here. An active sexual relationship wasn't usually part of the annulment process.

But the hand that cupped her butt and squeezed gently as he came up behind her seemed to disagree.

"You sure about that?" he murmured in her ear. Then he licked the side of her neck.

Olivia willed herself not to react. "Has your lawyer cousin gotten started on those papers yet?"

Cameron stilled. "I told you, he's swamped with work right now. But he'll get to it."

He wrapped his hand around her waist and pulled her snug against his erection. "Now come, my pretty little mistake. Let me appreciate you while I still can."

She turned in his arm

s. He looked so handsome and sad, her heart broke. Suddenly, she wanted to save this man. She wanted to mend the rift forming between him and his family and she wanted him to love her.

But there was only pain in getting involved with a guy loaded down by this much baggage.

"Not tonight," she said softly and brushed past him, hurrying to escape before he did something sweet to coax her back in.

He grasped her elbow. "Livy."

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