“Dammit, Bethany! How the hell are you just walking into my place without knocking?” Tristan ground out, looking like he wanted to strangle her. “What the hell are you doing here, and how’d you even get in?”
“Hello to you too, Big Brother.”
Big brother?
Cree forgot he had a younger sister. She had never met her, but she’d heard about her. When she and Tristan were dating, Cree had insisted on keeping their relationship private. Meaning, most of their family didn’t know about them. Which Tristan hated, but she’d been determined to build her sports agency without anyone questioning her integrity. She hadn’t been willing to risk anyone finding out she’d been dating her client. And after they got married… Well, their marriage didn’t last long enough for them to tell anyone what they’d done.
“I asked you a question,” Tristan growled, and Cree couldn’t ever remember seeing him this angry before. “How the hell did you get into my apartment?”
Bethany didn’t seem phased by his anger. Instead, her focus was on Cree, and the woman narrowed her eyes. “Who are you?” she asked.
“None of your damn business!” Tristan barked.
Making sure her dress was closed, Cree moved away from the wall. “I’m going to run to the bathroom and give you two a minute.”
She wasn’t sure where the bathroom was, but she headed down a hallway until she came to one. She stepped into it and closed the door before leaning against it.
Her heart was still beating a little fast, but her body temperature was slowly going back to normal after that intense make-out session.
She breathed in deeply and released the breath slowly. Had she and Tristan not been interrupted, there was no doubt they would’ve done much more than just kiss. Maybe she should be thanking Bethany for interrupting. Then again, part of her wanted to go back out there and kick the twerp’s ass for stopping what would’ve led to an epic time between the sheets.
“It was probably for the best,” she mumbled and pushed away from the door.
When Cree reached the vanity, she glanced in the mirror at herself. Her hair was disheveled, her face was flushed, her dress was twisted, and most of her lipstick was gone. She looked like a woman who had been thoroughly kissed.
What the hell was she thinking kissing Tristan? Actually, she hadn’t been thinking. She’d only been feeling. He was not the type of man you could just kiss once and walk away from. He was an addiction, one that stood the chance of being impossible to break.
Cree shook her head. “I gotta get out of here.”
She wetted one of the paper hand towels and dabbed at her face and neck. Once she finished cooling down and righting her clothes, Cree left the bathroom.
“I gave you the key temporarily so you could let the cable person in. Not for you to walk into my place whenever the hell you want. Give me the key. Now!” he growled.
“Tristan, why are you tripping? It’s not like I haven’t seen you with one of your little groupies before.”
“Give me the damn key, and call her a groupie again, and I’ll disown your bratty ass.”
As Cree moved closer, Bethany’s gaze landed on her, and she didn’t look too happy. It took a lot to piss Tristan off. Cree figured there must be more at play here, but she had no intention of sticking around to find out.
“Sorry to interrupt,” she said, “but I’m gonna just grab my bag and head out.”
She eased around Tristan and went into the kitchen for her handbag that she had set on one of the barstools. When she strolled back to where they were standing, Tristan stopped her with a touch on her hip. Facing her, he blocked her view of his sister.
“Cree, you don’t have to leave. My sister—”
“Cree?” Bethany said, moving so Cree could see her. “So, you’re the one.”
Cree frowned. “The one what?”
“Bethany,” Tristan said in a warning tone.
Now Cree really wanted to know what she was about to say.
“Cree…” Bethany said, nodding to herself, and Cree could tell she was working something out in her mind. “You’re the mystery woman. The one who broke my brother’s heart, aren’t you? Years ago, he came home totally wasted one night and was mumbling something about not being able to live without Cree. It was you. You’re the one who had him talking about giving up football.”
Cree’s heart sank. Shocked by Bethany’s words, she looked at Tristan, and he was glaring at his sister.
“That’s enough, Bethany,” he said through gritted teeth.
