I can do this. I can tolerate an hour or two in Jordan’s presence.
When did I turn into such a liar?
Chapter 3
An image of long auburn hair and the sensation of soft, plush lips brushing against my chest have me staring at Douglass. An invasive, bristly sensation tickles up my spine and niggles at my brain, telling me that I’m missing something. Something important. But that takes a back seat to the sudden appearance of the gorgeous woman standing in front of me.
Douglass Donnelly has definitely changed since the last time I saw her. She had always been quiet. Unobtrusive. Often overlooked and ignored by Amelia. But not by me. I noticed Douglass. Maybe more than I should have, considering I was in a relationship with her sister.
Before I can stop my thoughts from verbally tumbling out of my mouth, I blurt, “You look different.”
Douglass’s hazel eyes flash with what looks like hellfire. The absolute animosity rolling off her and aimed in my direction has me at a complete loss. Does she blame me for what happened with her sister? No, that can’t be right.
I’d overheard her and Amelia arguing through an open window one evening many years ago. From the snippet I’d eavesdropped, Douglass was clearly on my side. I’d gone over to their aunt Natalie’s house to drop off a box of Amelia’s stuff when I heard the raised, angry voices coming from inside. I’d wanted no trace of my cheating ex-fiancée left in my house. I should have burned the lot of it or tossed it out into the road for Amelia to come collect, but I’m not vengeful like my older half brother, Fallon. He would have definitely done something like that. Don’t get me wrong, I love my brother. All of my brothers. But Fallon, Trevor, and Sebastian have a very different way of dealing with problems, especially those that concern family. Those types of problems tend to disappear, permanently, if you get my meaning. Fallon has a policy of “don’t ask questions.” It’s a policy we follow to the letter.
Just as Harper pulls Douglass aside for a whispered, private conversation that I’m apparently not privy to, Mike places the food we ordered on our table and sidles up next to me.
Giving a low whistle of appreciation, he says, “I may have to change my plans for tonight and drop Miss Brunette at the bar. Who’s that talking to Harper?”
A surge of jealousy barrels over me out of nowhere when I realize he’s referring to Douglass.
“Amelia’s sister.”
Mike goes stock-still. His face leaches of all color, turning a ghastly gray-white.
Silence. Nothing but stunned silence.
“That’sDouglass?”
“Yeah,” I answer slowly when he continues to stare at her. That uneasy, prickly feeling comes back with a vengeance.
“Well, fuck me. She came back,” he murmurs under his breath.
Just then, Harper and Douglass return to the table. If I hadn’t been completely hyper-focused on her, I’d have missed Douglass’s panicked expression when she sees Mike standing next to me.
“Oh, hey, Mike!” Harper exclaims, the happiness she’d been wearing while waiting for Douglass to arrive, a little dimmer now. “This is my friend, Douglass—you two already know each other, don’t you?” she asks when Mike and Douglass look like they’re having a tense conversation through telepathy. What the hell is going on? Did he sleep with her at some point that I don’t know about?
“Hi, Mike,” Douglass says first and takes a tentative step toward him, hand outstretched in greeting.
“Fuck that. Come here,” he replies, pushing her hand away and closing the distance between them to hug her. She stiffens in his arms. “How the hell have you been?”
“Good.”
“Just passing through or staying?”
Douglass’s posture stiffens even more, if that’s possible. She pushes out of his arms and moves a good foot away, closer to Harper.
“Haven’t decided yet.”
He sends me an indiscernible look. I’m dying to ask himwhat the fuck, but more patrons come in and head to the bar.
“I’ve got to get back to work. Find me before you leave,” he tells her, all serious. “Order whatever you want. It’s on the house.”
Harper points at him. “I’m taking that to mean the entire table.”
“Of course you would.”
“I’m not hungry, but thank you,” Douglass politely declines. It lands on deaf ears because he’s already walked off.
