Every instinct screamed at me to say no, to close the door. Instead, I stepped aside and waved her in.
She walked past me into the kitchen, her expensive perfume trailing behind her. Her gaze swept the room—taking in the wine bottle I’d left on the counter before looking me up and down.
“What did you want to talk to me about?” I asked, not bothering to hide the edge in my voice.
“I wanted to warn you. About Snapper.”
My stomach twisted. “Warn me about what?”
“You’ve always been a bit naive, Saffron. I’d hate to see you get hurt.” She tilted her head, contemplating me like I was something under a microscope. “You bid seventy-five thousand dollars on him last night. That’s just sad, sweetheart. And desperate.”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Maybe not. But I’ve known Snapper a long time. Maybe not longer than you but more intimately, if you know what I mean. So, unlike you, I know what kind of man he really is.”
“Is that so? What kind of man is he?”
She moved closer. “The kind who’ll fuck you and leave you. In fact, I heard him say, ‘Fuck ’em and leave ’em.’ to his brothers.”
I hugged my arms around myself tighter. “I don’t believe you.”
“That’s your choice.” She shrugged. “But ask yourself—why is he suddenly so interested in you now? After all these years of keeping you in the friend zone?”
Because I asked for help. Because I need him. The thoughts whispered through my mind, poisonous and insidious.
“You’re convenient,” Isabel continued. “His shoulder’s injured, so he’s not on the rodeo circuit this year. No buckle bunnies throwing themselves at him. You’re here. You’re available. And you’re clearly willing.”
“Get out.” I shook with anger I was trying hard to control.
“I’m just trying to help you, Saffron. Save you from making a fool of yourself.” She paused, examining her manicured nails. “Though I suppose you wouldn’t be the first woman in your family to fall for his charms.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Oh, you didn’t know?” Her smile sharpened. “About Felicity and Snapper? I always thought you and your sister were close.”
The room tilted. “You’re lying.”
“Am I? Ask her yourself.” Isabel moved toward the door, then paused. “It was years ago, of course. Before Wagner. But once was enough for your sister to know what kind of man he really is. She could warn you, if you were brave enough to ask. You know—woman to woman.”
Then she was gone, her taillights disappearing down the driveway.
I stood frozen in my kitchen as Isabel’s accusations echoed in my head.
Fuck ’em and leave ’em.
Felicity and Snapper.
No, that couldn’t be right. Felicity would have told me. We told each other everything. And Snapper wasn’t—he wouldn’t?—
Except what did I really know about his romantic life? He was gone ten months a year. Who knew what he did on the rodeo circuit? And when had he ever looked at me as anything more than a friend?
Until today.
Until that moment in the caves when he’d reached for me and I’d seen something in his eyes that made my heart race and my stomach flip and every nerve ending in my body come alive.
You’re convenient.
God, what if she was right?
