Page 50 of Synced to Us

And so, I use the word I hate most in the world. “Please.”

A switch seems to go off in Wyn’s head, his menacing face crumbling at my plea. He releases his brother and stands, a cry ripping from his throat.

Brad’s face appears out of the water. He rolls to his side, wiping droplets from his eyes with one hand and coughing uncontrollably.

Neither of us help him.

I clasp Wyn’s forearm, my fingers digging into his skin so much so that my nails will probably leave crescent indents.

“Let’s go,” Wyn grits out. He’s hoarse. Spent. Done.

I turn with him at the same time the Dockside’s backdoor opens again and Lucy runs out. It takes a second for her to take stock of the scene.

“What happened?”

“Your husband needs some assistance,” Wyn growls, not bothering to slow his stride as he passes her.

“Oh, God.” Lucy spots Brad in the river and jogs toward him. “Brad? Are you all right?”

“Does it look like I’m all right?”

Brad’s indignant splashes and Lucy’s comforting words fade into the night as Wyn hauls me against his soaking wet side and we cut around the bar.

“We’re going home,” he says.

18

Wyn

As we approach Dockside’s parking lot, I press the button on the key fob, unlock Brad’s truck. It was easy to fish the keys out of his pocket, and will be even better when I think back on this night and picture how apoplectic he’ll be when he realizes his precious truck is gone.

Dee lifts herself into the passenger side, buckling her seatbelt silently as I start the engine and back out of the gravel lot. My damp ass squeaks against the seat and my shirt sticks to my skin. I hope I’m ruining his leather.

Rocks crunching under the truck’s wheels are the only sound between us until we reach the smooth paved road. Internally, I’m falling apart. If it weren’t for Dee back there, I might’ve…I would’ve. . .

“You okay?” I ask in the darkness of the truck’s cabin, if only to hear someone else’s voice. Headlights flash forward on the road before us, but in this Podunk town, it’s about all the light we’ll get on the way home.

At first, Dee doesn’t respond. My quick glances her way showcase her wet shirt clinging to her curves with the lines of her sexy bra showing through. Her dark hair is damp against her temples and curls against the sides of her breasts with such tempting accuracy. Can anyone be jealous of hair?

My knuckles turn white against the wheel. Brad tried to hurt her. He wanted to hit her.

“Brad knows.” Dee’s delayed response comes out deathly quiet.

Due to the direction of my thoughts, my question comes out sharper than intended. “Knows what?”

“About me. What I did.”

My grip on the steering wheel tightens further. I ask with as much cluelessness as I can get away with, “What’d you do?”

Dee turns to me, the faint halo of headlights outside painting one side of her exquisite face. “You asked that I not say anything about my previous job. The escorting. And I didn’t. Dennis somehow got Brad’s number, called him, and told him. That’s why Brad confronted me—because he found out I was a prostitute.” Dee leans back against the headrest and sighs. “Our ruse is ruined. I’m sorry. He thinks you paid me to be here.” She picks at something on the door’s armrest. “For the record, I’m not mad you wanted to keep it under wraps. I understand why you didn’t want me to mention it—not that it’s something I tend to bring up in social situations.”

My vision goes spotty with rage while still looking ahead. “That fucking Dennis, blowing up your spot like that.”

“He’s not the first to be an ass about it, and I can deal with him. His little sabotage attempt is meant to make you angry, not me. He doesn’t care what goes on in Thicketville. All he cares about is proving our ruse to Whitecrest, and what’s Brad gonna do? Come to the banquet and accuse us? No, this is Dennis trying to flex his muscle. I can fix most of this, but when it comes to your side of our bargain, your family…I’m sorry. This ruins your half of our deal.”

“Huh? No it doesn’t.”

“But you specifically asked me to keep quiet about my past because it would truly upset your mother.”

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