“Clearly this was a bad idea,” she said, looking from one to the other.
“You’re damn right it was,” Keegan snapped. “Always playin’ games, this one.” He shoved to his feet, beer bottle in hand.
Kaden sighed when Keegan stormed out of the room. Bristol hadn’t gotten to her feet, but he could tell she wanted to. The only thing stopping her seemed to be her surprised reaction to Keegan’s outburst.
“What is he talkin’ about?” she asked. “Who’s been playin’ games?”
When she met his gaze, Kaden held it and opted for the truth “You have, darlin’.”
Her eyebrows lowered into that V that relayed her confusion. “What are you talkin’ about?”
Kaden canted his head to the side. “That, Bristol.” He jerked his chin in her direction. “That right there’s the game I’m talkin’ about. You pretend nothin’ happened between us.”
“I’m not pretending. I’m not the one who hightailed it when things got too hot. If I recall correctly, you and your brother walked out onme. Not the other way around.” She shot to her feet. “I think I should go.”
Holy hell. Shehadtaken their gentlemanly gesture as a rejection.
Explained a lot.
Just not all the refuted attempts they’d made for the past ten months.
“Runnin’ like usual,” he said softly as she passed by his chair.
Her footsteps stopped. “Is that what you think?”
Setting his beer down, Kaden stood, slowly pivoting to face her.
She was standing just a few feet away, so he eliminated some of the distance, holding her stare as he peered down at her.
“How would you explain it?”
“I’m not runnin’.” Her teeth were clenched.
“Sure looks like it to me.”
“Why? Because I haven’t followed the two of you around like a little puppy?” Bristol’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not one of your toys, Kaden. I refuse to be.”
He laughed, stepped forward until he was practically on top of her. “Toys? Name the last time you saw us with a woman, Bristol.”
It was obvious she was attempting to think back on that.
“Months,” he said, his voice lower as he pursued her when she took a step back. “That’s how long it’s been since we’ve entertained a woman. And that was because you decided to flaunt Barry in our faces.”
“Bradley,” she corrected.
Yeah, he knew the guy’s name. He knew all their names. Hell, he even knew how long they’d stuck around.
And that was the problem.
Bristol took another step back, him a step forward until she was up against the wall. He had to give her props, she didn’t attempt to slip away. Bristol held her ground, tilting her head back to stare up at him.
“You remember that night,” he said, cupping her face and brushing his thumb over the slight dent in her chin. “You remember the same way we do.”
She didn’t respond with words, but her increased breaths told him all he needed to know. She did remember.
“And you’ve been runnin’,” he accused.
Bristol shook her head. “No.”
