“I can’t pick just one.Saylor and I always share,” Gathe grumbled.“Kash?You want to share?”
“I hate mushrooms,” I told him.“And I don’t like the sound of the Sicilian sausage spaghetti.”
Gathe sighed heavily.“Fine.I’ll just take home the leftovers.”
“I’d have thought by now that you’d be used to ordering meals without Saylor,” Forge said as he put the menu down on the table and looked at Gathe.
Saylor had always been Crosby’s girl, growing up, but everyone knew Gathe was her best friend.When Crosby had been killed and his secret came out—in the form of a baby momma who was not Saylor—I kind of thought she might end up with Gathe.I thought we all did.But instead, she had caused the local Catholic priest to sin, and Father Jude was no longer ordained.He was in the family business and engaged to Saylor.
Gathe shrugged.“I normally get someone to share with me if Saylor and Jude aren’t here.”
I glanced out the window across the street toward the church that sat up on the hill.I wondered if it felt odd for Jude to eat here with that view.Did he ever feel guilty?
My eyes scanned the rest of Main Street.It had been a while since I’d been in town.I’d already been home a little over a week.Time was moving too fast.I wanted it to slow the fuck down.When Christmas was over, I would have to leave, and I didn’t want to.I wanted this life back.My depressing thoughts ceased as my gaze locked on the redhead.Long copper locks hung in a thick, wavy mass with lighter streaks running through it.I’d fucking know that hair anywhere..My eyes dropped to her waist and ass.The sway of it, the shape, it was burned into my memory.
Cressida.She was in Madison.Why?How long?Did the family know?Why did I fucking care?!She was the reason I’d been sent away.She was the cause of all my problems.But then she always had been.From the moment I’d laid eyes on her, she had caused me nothing but turmoil.No, that wasn’t true.I wanted it to be but it was a lie I told myself in order to keep sane.
Tearing my eyes off her before Gathe or my brother noticed who I was looking at, I set down the menu and tried to breathe normally, although my lungs were burning.Had I been holding my breath?Fuck, my hands were trembling.Jesus!It had been four years.What the hell was my problem?
The waitress appeared at the table, and I knew I needed to be alone and get myself together before my brother or Gathe realized something was wrong with me.
“I’ll have the lasagna,” I blurted out, then moved to get up.“I’ll be back,” I told both of them, then headed toward the back hall that led to the restrooms.
My heart was racing in my chest, like I’d been running a goddamn marathon.Dammit, why did I let her do this to me still?From the first time I had seen her standing in the hallway at school, lost and looking for her locker, I’d reacted like this.
I passed the restrooms, knowing where I was going and all the fucking reasons I should turn the hell around.But like so many times before, I had no control over my actions when it came to her.Cressida Beck triggered my crazy.
Seven Years Ago
“You coming or not?”Gathe called out to me from his truck.
We were supposed to meet the others at Proof Pony—a local bar—after football practice.My Hummer was in the shop, getting new rims, so I’d had to catch a ride to school with Gathe.He was the only one who passed my house every morning.Well, Crosby was close by, and it wouldn’t be out of his way, but he’d have Saylor in the car with him, and I couldn’t listen to her whine and bitch that early in the morning.
My eyes were locked on the black Mustang that had just pulled up near the entrance of the school.The owner of the car, Pirate Beck, wasn’t of any interest to me, but his sister was a different story.Was he here to get her, and if so, why was she still at school?
One of the wide double doors swung open, and Cressida came out with her book bag tossed over her shoulder.The wind caught her hair, and it floated around her shoulders like fucking flames.
Damn, she was gorgeous.
It was becoming harder to stay away from her.She was too damn sweet, and she’d already dealt with shit in her life.I might keep my distance, but it didn’t mean I hadn’t run a background check on her.My obsession with the girl was just getting worse.She had only been here for a couple of months, but it was getting to the point that my day revolved around searching her out.I was close to putting a tracker on her, and I knew that was fucked up, but the need to know where she was might be stronger than my sanity.
She paused in her step when her gaze locked on mine.I liked how I made her nervous.She always licked her lips before her perfect white teeth bit down on her bottom lip.The hope in her eyes that I’d speak to her was so damn vivid that it was difficult to ignore.
One delicate, manicured hand lifted and waved at me.My mouth quirked as I fought back a smile.She was getting brave.That was new.The wave was bold.I liked it.Too much.
“Dude!”Gathe called out impatiently.
I held out a hand.“In a minute,” I replied, not taking my eyes off her.
Fuck it.I was going to talk to her.She’d waved.I couldn’t get in the damn truck and drive off.
The moment I headed in her direction, her eyes widened and brightened instantly.That wasn’t going to help my good intentions.I was already picturing her face every time I fucked or got sucked off.That had pretty much started the moment I saw her.
She took a step toward me, then paused, as if she wasn’t sure I was headed to her or not.Her eyes did a quick scan of the area around her to see she was alone, except for her brother—well, technically, he was her adopted brother, although her family said he was her stepbrother.I knew the truth.I’d read it in her file.
“Now, what kept you at school so late?Don’t tell me you were in detention.I didn’t peg you for a troublemaker,” I said as I reached her.
Her eyes were back on me now, and she could not look more fucking adorable.All flustered and excited.
