I swallowed hard, trying to force moisture back into my mouth. I never wanted to bolt so fast in my life.
“Well, this makes things easier,” Donovan said, sounding pleased as if he hadn’t noticed the sudden tension humming in the air between his son and me. “Maddox, this is Mara, the woman I’ve been seeing.”
Maddox’s brows furrowed. “I didn’t realize you were dating.”
“You would if you were ever home.” Donovan stepped aside, gesturing for us to come in. His gaze landed on me. “You must know Mason as well, then.”
I bit back my tart response, which would have been something like un-fucking-fortunately. “I do.”
Donovan and Mom chatted as they moved farther down the hall, Maddox glowering at me as I went to follow, but his hand wrapped around my arm. Not gently either, and I was certain I didn’t want to be alone with him, but he wasn’t giving me a choice.
He yanked me around the corner, out of sight, and slammed me back against the wall. The breath rushed out of me as his body boxed me in, one arm braced on either side of my head. Hewas way too close. I saw the flecks of darker green in his eyes. Could count his eyelashes if I wanted to.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded, barely controlled fury simmering beneath the surface.
My pulse kicked hard in my veins. “What do you think?” I snapped. “I’m here for dinner. Your dad invited us.”
“Did you know?” His eyes searched my face for lies, deception, and evidence of more manipulation.
“That our parents are dating? No.” I shook my head. “I’m just as blindsided as you are.”
“I find that hard to believe,” he sneered, the expression transforming his features into something cruel. “Given your track record with the truth.”
My chin lifted instinctively, defiance sparking. “I don’t give a shit if you believe me or not.”
“Why not?” His mouth curved. “You’re obsessed with me. Isn’t that what all this has been about? Getting my attention? Making me notice you?”
I barked out a dry, bitter, and humorless laugh. “Get over yourself. I’m over you.” A lie, but I needed to say it because maybe voicing it would make it true…eventually.
“Sure you are, Hales.” His gaze dragged over my face slowly, tracking from my eyes to my mouth to my throat and back up. It was like he was stripping me down layer by layer, seeing through every defense I tried to construct. “You want me to make a liar out of you, too? Wait…” His smile sharpened, and for a moment, I thought he might kiss me. “I already did that.”
My body reacted to his nearness, betraying me. Heat pooled low in my stomach, and I became hyperaware of every point where we almost touched. That same magnetic pull I hated myself for feeling, that attraction that made no sense given everything that had happened.
Even now, even after everything, I still wanted him.
His gaze caught on my mouth as I took my bottom lip between my teeth.
“Look,” I said quickly, forcing my voice to steady despite my traitorous body. “I don’t want to be here any more than you want me here. Let’s just get through dinner, and we never have to talk again. Now that I know who my mom is dating, I’ll make any excuse I can to never come here again.”
“I’m not sure I can trust you to keep your word,” he said. The implication was clear: You’re a liar. Why would this be different?
Before I fired back with something equally cutting, Mason appeared, spotting us in what probably looked like an intimate position. It was anything but. “Find a fucking room if you’re going to devour her with your mouth.”
Maddox jerked back slightly, his head turning toward his brother. Mason leaned against the opposite wall, his trademark grin already forming on his face until his gaze landed on me. “Freckles?” His brows shot up, genuine surprise replacing the amusement. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“She’s Dad’s new side piece’s daughter,” Maddox said flatly, deliberately hurtful. “Imagine that.”
That was it. I was done playing nice. All the restraint I’d been maintaining, poof, it disappeared. I shoved at his chest with both hands, but Maddox barely moved. He did shift back slightly. Enough for me to breathe without inhaling him.
“Don’t fucking talk about my mom like that,” I snarled, fury making my voice shake. “Whatever your problem is with me—and yeah, I know I earned it—don’t you dare disrespect her.”
Mason let out a low whistle. “Hmm. This got interesting fast.” His eyes flicked between us, reading the strain pulsing in the air between Maddox and me. “I’m sensing some serious tension here and not the usual I want to tear each other’s clothes off. Though”—his grin widened—“maybe also that.”
I opened my mouth to tell him to fuck off, but someone else spoke.
“Don’t let them bully you.” The voice was female and completely unexpected in this testosterone-filled standoff.
I turned, following the sound, and sawher.
