“Yeah. I grew up with him,” he says with a tinge of annoyance in his voice now. “I don’t know where you’re from, but Cedar Brook Falls is the lamest town in America. I couldn’t wait to get the hell out of there and haven’t been back since.”
My mouth hangs open again, but this time, it has nothing to do with his chest. “That’s not true,” I say, defending the town. But he misunderstands my words.
“It sure is. I’ve avoided the town like the plague since I left.” His frown slowly disappears as he looks at me from head to toe.“I’ve never seen you at any of Caleb’s parties before. What’s your name, sweetheart?”
I curl my fists at my sides.
He notices and sighs. “You’re not upset about Billy are you? If you two are an item, then I did you a favor. Get out while you can. Especially if he suggests visiting his hometown. Avoid that place at all costs unless you want to die of boredom.”
He laughs at his pathetic joke and then turns toward the vanity. “Can you pass me that shirt?”
I don’t turn to look at it, although I assume it’s the new one Charlotte gave him. All I can think about is how he not only disrespected my friend, but the town that took me in when I was all alone. The town that accepted me as one of their own.
“No,” I say, and there’s a growl to it. “Get it yourself, asshole.”
2
Casey
Asshole?!What the hell just happened?
The fiery blonde storms across the bathroom and slams the door behind her.
Well, damn.
I asked for my shirt nicely, didn’t I? Shaking my head, I rub my glute as I shuffle to the vanity and pick up the clean T-shirt.
While I pull my arms through the short sleeves, regret replaces confusion. That woman was the hottest girl I’ve seen in forever. Her eyes were the most incredible shade of steel blue, and her body with those toned arms and tight bottom… I rub my hand over my mouth just thinking about it. I obviously said something to upset her. I wish I knew what it was.
Grabbing my wine-stained shirt, I head back to the party. Charlotte spots me as soon as I reach the living room and rushes toward me. “Here, let me take that.”
“Thanks, Charlotte. But I’ll just bring it to the cleaners in the morning. It’s no big deal. Thanks for the clean one, though.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, of course.” My gaze finds the hot-tempered temptress across the room. She is talking to Billy, so she does know him, maybe she’s even dating him. Charlotte turns to follow my gaze.
“That’s Sage. She’s one of your biggest fans. She is excited to meet you.”
I smirk. “I doubt it very much, Char.”
“What do you mean?”
“We met in your bathroom, and she wasn’t too happy to see me. Is she with Billy or something? I might have said something to offend her.”
“Billy? No, no. They’re just friends. Wait. What happened in my bathroom?”
“Well, she called me an asshole, then left.”
“She did? That doesn’t sound like Sage. Well, maybe a little, but she wouldn’t do it for no reason.”
I shrug my shoulders. “I’m not sure what I said that would have upset her personally.”
“Okay, let me find out.”
I pull her back. “Don’t bother. But I was hoping to speak to you for a minute.”
I pull out an envelope from my back pocket. “Can you give this to Anthony for me? I won’t make it to his birthday party next week.” My nephew turns eleven in a few days, and while I won’t make the party, I’ll call him.
