“I thought so, but . . . I don’t know, maybe I didn’t want to believe it.” She blinked, not meeting my stare. “Not because I don’t think Annabelle is capable of something so nasty. She is, obviously – she looked me in the eye for weeks . . . hugged my daughter, all the while she was tearing our family apart.” Her voice thickened, and I dropped my hand, letting it fall uselessly at my side. “I think she’s delaying our Cairn & Crust application too, I – I just don’t get why.”
“She’s jealous of you.”
“Because that makes sense.” She huffed a little self-deprecating laugh that I already loathed. “What could she be jealous about? Cameron leftme, remember.For her. She won. She’s beautiful, smart, more successful than I’ll ever be, now on top of all that, she gets to revel in the fact that everyone in Kinleith is fully aware that Cameron was settling when it came to me—”
No.Hellno. I had no reason to involve myself. This wasn’t part of the deal. But I couldn’t take another second of this.
Grabbing her hips, I spun her so quickly, I surprised us both when her back hit the door. “Lang, shut the fuck up.”
She gasped, eyes widening. I didn’t feel guilty.
“You couldn’t be more wrong. Can I pull this up?” I asked a little absently, tugging on the end of the T-shirt.
She nodded, throat working.
“Thanks. Hold it for me.” I tucked the fabric into her fingers, getting the first look at the smooth skin of her stomach. It quivered beneath my stare. “Firstly –” my finger smoothed over the dip of her waist, shaking slightly; her skin was like silk – “you’re the mother of his child. It’s likely dawning on her that there’s no cutting you out; you’re always going to be a part of Cameron’s life.”
“Like a disease,” she said quietly.
My fingers slipped over her hip and squeezed, chiding. God, she really was insanely pretty. Dizzyingly feminine. Strong. Her words made me wonder if too many years with that prick meant she couldn’t see herself clearly.
I wanted to ask exactly what lies he’d been putting into her head.
I wanted to ask about the damn school trip he was apparently too selfish to pay for. The stack of unpaid bills on her table.
Not your damn business.“Is the skin tender?” I asked, because I could do this for her.
“No.” The catch of her breath when my fingers touched her skin said otherwise. But there was minimal redness.
“Secondly, you didn’t see Cameron’s face back there – he couldn’t take his eyes off you. And when he hasn’t been watchingyou, he’s been glaring at me like I’ve got something he wants.”Rat bastard. “So, tell me again, how has she won, exactly?”
Maybe I should reconsider my belief in fate, buy a lottery ticket or something, because the second the words left my mouth, a loud knock rattled the door. “Isla?”
Cameron.
Her eyes found mine just in time for me to mouth, “Right on time.” Like this was all part of my grand scheme and not a happy accident.
“Isla!” His fist beat the wood again. He even managed to knock arrogantly. “You in there?”
“You should answer him,” I said, tightening my grip on her hip.
“Y-yes,’ she called. Her eyes widened at me even as she did exactly as she was told. “What are you playing at?” she whispered.
No idea.
I dropped my mouth to her ear, allowing myself one long inhale that made my heart race. “I promised to make him jealous. Now you get to decide exactlyhowjealous.”
“I’m sorry about that back there,” Cameron continued, voice slightly muffled. “Annie can be really clumsy sometimes . . . she didn’t mean anything by it, I promise. I . . . uh, got you a clean T-shirt from one of the stalls.”
What a fucking hero.
“Tell him you’re being taken care of,” I said, nose half buried in her hair.
Her breath was coming in hot little pants against my collarbones. We were barely touching, the tips of her breasts no more than a threat against my chest. It was enough to make heat pool low in my stomach. Teasing did it for me, I guess. Because when Isla tipped her head back, pushing closer, my head felt clearer than it had in months. Nothing existed outside this room.
“Tell him,” I urged.
“I’m fine—”
