Page 59 of Perfect Scandal
“Someone who might appreciate your purchases?” she asks with a knowing lilt in her voice.
“Possibly.”
“All the better.” She hands my card back and then tucks the receipt into the bag. “I hope he enjoys these as much as you do.”
I laugh. “Thank you, Liv. And expect to see me again next time I’m in town.”
“I look forward to it.” She waves as I head for the door and straight for Dean’s truck. He’s parked down the block and behind all the ladies’ vehicles.
But halfway there, a dark figure steps out from the shadows.
I shriek. “Jesus, Kaden! Hasn’t anyone ever told you not to jump out at a woman like that?”
He glowers at me, nostrils flaring and his fists balled at his sides. “Who you buying lingerie for, Tess?”
Freaking Levi. “Uh, myself?”
His steely gaze flicks momentarily to Dean’s truck as he steps out. “You sure about that?”
I glance between the two of them. I’d prefer doing this someplace more private, but this is as good a place as any, I guess. “Actually, no.” I shake my head. “And you’re not going to go all caveman about this, okay? I’m an adult, and if I want to see Dean, that’s my right.”
“See him? I think you meanfuck him.”
My cheeks flame at the insult. “Again, no. But I don’t need to explain myself to you.”
“Did you just say what I think you said, McMurray?” Dean demands as he approaches, his purposeful steps sounding as ominous against the concrete as the venom in his voice.
“You’d do well to stand back, Langston. Right now, this matter is between me and my sister.”
Dean snorts and chucks his nose, and it’s as if the next few seconds creep by in slow motion.
“Your sister?” he seethes. “I think you meanmy wife.”
chapter 22
DEAN
“Your wife?” Kaden growls, his eyes blazing with fire.
“That’s what I said.” And I’ll be damned if I’m going to stand back and let him disrespect her.
“You better be fucking with me.” He turns his scowl to Tessa. “Because I know you’d never do something so stupid.”
Tessa wets her lips and pulls back her shoulders. “He’s not kidding, Kaden. We’ve been married for more than a month.”
“A month?” He throws his hands in the air and then fists his hair. “Are you out of your goddamn mind?”
“You’re the one causing a scene in the middle of town,” she says with an impressive amount of control. “Let’s go back to the ranch and talk about this.”
“Fuck that. If this is true, he’s not setting another foot on that property. And Holden will back me on that.” He digs his phone from his pocket, but Tessa steps forward before he can dial.
“Put the phone away, and let’s take this someplace private. I don’t appreciate everyone in town hearing my business before I’ve had a chance to tell our family.”
“Your chance.” He gives a bitter laugh. “You’ve had a friggin’ month to say something.”
“You’re right. But Dean and I had our reasons for keeping it to ourselves. Now, I’m going to ask you one more time… can we please take this back to the ranch?”
Nostrils flaring, he swings his focus back to me. “You’re a dead man, Langston.”
