“Gabe. Leave us. Go check on Mrs. Daniels.” Adam’s voice holds no room for argument.
Gabe hesitates to go, but he does.
The moment he’s out the door, Adam corners me, trapping me against the back of his desk, cupping my face, and examining me more fully than I expected. “You let her get to you.”
His thumb brushes along my cheek, and I feel myself soften, the anger turning into despair. Sadness. The default of my entire life. “She was out of line.”
“She was, but so were you.”
I know that, but it doesn’t change the emotions still rampaging inside of me.
I grab his arms and try to push past him, to get out from under his scrutiny. I’m just so damn tired of this.
Heat spikes through his gaze as he keeps me in place.
One hand finds my waist, squeezing with a veiled threat to spank me again if I keep this up.
Which has me vibrating in place with the duality of incredulity and desire.
I’m about to take charge, to grab him and kiss him and drown in those warm, gooey feelings instead of the sharp, invasive ones.
Greyson appears in the doorway, watching me over Adam’s shoulder. “Gabe is offering Mrs. Daniels a discount package for the next time she wants a vacation close to home. It seems to be mollifying her.”
“Good. Fine.” Adam’s voice is low, borderline dangerous.
Greyson doesn’t run off at the obvious dismissal. “Best if we all get back out there to keep gossip to a minimum. Best to get cleaned up and refocus on post-game activities.”
“I should just go home. It’s obvious the town doesn’t want me here. And if they do, they don’t want me to have fun.” All that heat—the anger and attraction—dissipates, and I deflate. Thank god Adam is holding me up.
“Hey. Is that how you talk to yourself? About yourself? Not the Drew I know.” Greyson steps closer, that determination in his dark eyes I’m far too familiar with. “What did we do when we lost a game? When someone was unsportsmanlike?”
I suck in a breath and stand better on my own, Adam’s grip convulsing before loosening to let me lean on a strength that is all me. “We kill them with kindness.”
“That’s right, so come on. Both of you. Let’s get back out there.”
Fine. I can do this. Adam nods, brushing his hand down my arm before he backs off.
We all step out into the party, and it’s awkward.
But I paste a smile on my face as I make my rounds.
It’s hard at first, but I slowly grow more comfortable.
I ensure that everyone has what they need and end up back at the front desk with Gabe.
He’s moody, brooding.
He’s been tracking my movements through the entire room, watching my interactions with the townsfolk and the visitors alike.
His arms are crossed, golden-brown eyes swirling with anger, sadness, and something else…
I cross my arms and lean against the desk, mimicking him like I did as a child.
“Don’t let him fool you, Drew. Adam doesn’t know you the way I do.”
No. He knows a completely different version of me. And I want to be the kind of Drew I am with all three of them.
This is going to get messy. Messier than it already is.
