Serenity was right,dang it.
Toying with Wendy this way was so much more satisfying.
Tripp could actually see the cogs in her mind working overdrive just to try to figure out what he was up to. All it had taken was for him to offer her a treat. Such a simple gesture and yet her entire world had started to crumble.
He moved away from her and toward the table where they had other food for grilling. Yes, they’d already eaten dinner, but those who wanted a late-night snack could grill up some hotdogs along with the s’mores.
Against his will, his eyes drifted toward Wendy. She was staring into the fire and if he wasn’t mistaken, he could see her lips moving. Was she talking to herself? Arguing with herself?
He laughed under his breath.
“I knew it.”
Tripp stiffened at Reese’s voice, but he didn’t look him in the eye. He’d been somewhat quiet during his last conversation withSerenity. It was hard to say how he felt about Tripp’s behavior with Wendy. Apparently if Serenity wasn’t bothered then Reese was willing to let things slide.
When Tripp didn’t respond to Reese, his cousin clarified. “You don’t hate her, do you?”
This time Tripp rolled his eyes. “Oh, come on. Just because I gave her a s’more? You heard your fiancée. It’s better to kill her with kindness. And she was right.” Tripp gestured toward Wendy with a jerk of his chin. “See that? She’s on edge. She’stalkingto herself.” He grinned wickedly. “That women can’t figure out what my game is anymore. And the stress of trying to do that when I’m not playing predictably is eating at her.”
Reese considered him for a moment then he shook his head. “Nope. I don’t buy it.” He pointed a fork at Tripp. “I saw the way you were looking at her. You’re staring just a little too hard. I think you’re into her.”
“What?” Tripp guffawed. “As if. That woman is the most infuriating person on the entire planet. She’s single minded and closed off. She’s all cactus spines and goat heads.”
“And yet you’re looking at her like?—”
“Like a wild horse that needs breaking,” Tripp finished for Reese. “One of us is bound to break and it isn’t going to be me. I assure you.”
Reese arched a brow. “Yeah, good luck with that.”
Tripp waved a dismissive hand and returned to the log where Wendy was seated. He settled beside her, bracing his forearms on his knees as he stared into the fire.
Wendy stiffened visibly at his side. And when he didn’t say anything, she murmured, “What? No more peace offerings?”
He grinned, but didn’t tear his eyes from the flames. “Why would I want peace when it’s so much more fun to rile you up?”
“So, you do admit that this is a game?”
“I never said it wasn’t.”
She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Tripp chuckled then blew out a breath. “I will say that it’s been a long day and I’m tired. These people are my family and they already have their opinions set. After that stunt you pulled at that barbeque, their opinions can’t get much worse.
Maybe it was his imagination, but it really looked as though Wendy grimaced. Did she feel guilty for the way she’d behaved? Not likely. Then again, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t reconcile the woman seated beside him with the woman who wanted nothing more than to put him in his place.
Wendy’s shoulders relaxed somewhat. “Yeah, I’m tired too,” she admitted.
He eyed her curiously. Today? Or in general. It was a lot of work to be on one’s guard all the time. Maybe she’d finally reached the point where she didn’t want to put up a fight anymore. Why did that thought fill him with unexpected joy? Certainly not because he was interested in getting to know her a little better, right? What was the real Wendy like? The girl behind the scowls and biting comments? The enigma who could appreciate the beauty of the old in the world but could also rough it and find nature just as enticing?
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Tripp startled. Wendy’s suspicious gaze came into focus and he shrugged. “I’m curious, is all.”
“Curious about what?” she asked.
“You, mostly.”
Wendy seemed taken aback by his straightforward response, so much so that her lips parted but nothing came out. One slow blink later, Tripp chuckled.
