“Do you think I’m a charity?”
“No, but—”
“I can’t pay the bills indefinitely!”
“No, I know, but…”
“What?”
“I thought you’d be coming back at some point.”
Well, obviously. But I’m not supposed to tell him.
“I’m married, Tod. You remember how that happened, right?”
“Of course, I remember,” he snaps. “How could I forget? Like, ever.”
“When you’re talking about me moving back, it seems like you have.”
“It’s not like it’s gonna last forever, though, is it?”
“What do you mean?” I demand.
“It’s not like a proper marriage. You haven’t fallen in love with him or anything.”
“What?”
“You can’t have—not that quickly. I know it isn’t real!”
“The fucking audacity, Tod!”
“Lavender, I think you only did it for me.”
“What?” I lift my hands, though the sound of the door opening stops me in my tracks. Attempting murder on the premises is not good for business.
My head cranks left, but my body pitches forward as I fall straight into the arms of Tod.
No, not fall.Hauled,as his arms come around me. Well, bloody hell!
“Talk about bad timing,” I mutter. And bad luck as the door swings wide, almost crashing from its hinges as Raif storms inside.
25
RAIF
Bad timing?
“What the actual fuck?”I cross the space in what seems like two gigantic steps, my fingers fastening around the shithead’s collar as I yank him bodily away. “Do you have a fucking death wish?” I demand, shaking him by the cheap linen. Hearing it rend at the seams.
“I’m sorry!” The skinny runt’s protest explodes in a high-pitched squeak.
Rage pulses at my temples as my brain shunts blood toward my muscles, my body preparing to rain down hell on this asshole. He had his hands on her—his hands on a woman who doesn’t belong to him.
She doesn’t belong to you either.My gut twists.
“I didn’t mean to—I thought she was coming onto me.”
Lavender throws up her arms. “That is such bullfuckery, Tod!”
