Page 69 of When You Are Mine

“So here’s where the guest of honor disappeared to.” Jo strolled through the door, a margarita in her hand, a smile on her face. She took in the tense triangle of Kerris, Cam, and Walsh. The smile froze on her face and then melted. “What’s going on?”

“What’s going on is that your cousin can’t keep his hands to himself.” Cam pressed against Kerris’s hand, still on his chest, straining toward Walsh again.

“What have you done?” Jo spat at Kerris, her eyes snapping her fury.

“I’m…I’m sorry.” Kerris ran the one hand she had free through her hair. “We didn’t mean—”

“You didn’t mean what, Ker?” Cam looked at her like algae growing on the river. “You slipped and fell into Walsh’s arms?”

“No. Cam, just listen to me.”

“I’m done listening. I’ll deal with you later.”

“Don’t you hurt her.” Walsh’s jaw tightened until it ached.

“She’smywife, Walsh.” Cam pulled Kerris from between them, moving her back behind him. “You don’t seem to get that. You’re one arrogant, entitled bastard, aren’t you?”

“Maybe I am.” Walsh stared at Kerris’s distraught face over Cam’s shoulder.

“You should go, Walsh.” Her eyes begged him not to make this any worse.

“I know.” But Walsh couldn’t look away even now, clearly seeing the pain and the regret in her eyes. Feeling all of those things, too. “I’m sorry, Kerris. This was my fault.”

“Yeah, it was.” Anger distorted Cam’s handsome face. Disappointment dulled his eyes.

“Let’s go.” Jo tugged on Walsh’s wrist.

“You heard her,” Cam said. “Go. And don’t come back. We’re done, Bennett. Don’t come sniffing around my wife. I don’t ever wanna see you again.”

The pain of a lost brother, of the enmity that tangled like barbed wire between him and the best friend he’d ever had, sliced over the still-throbbing wound of his futile, thwarted love for Kerris. His heart was being ripped from his chest. He rushed over to the door, now desperate to get away.

“I’m going.” He wouldn’t allow himself even one more glance at Kerris. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…If you ever need anything—”

“We won’t.” Cam’s eyes were like diamond chips against his tanned skin. “Clear the hell outta here, Bennett.”

Walsh and Jo walked through the door leading outside to the backyard instead of back into the party. Walsh refused to respond to Jo’s questions and accusations on the way home. He withdrew, holding the taste of Kerris on his lips as long as he could, certain he’d never be that close again.

Chapter Twenty-Five

You fucking whore,” Cam snarled, standing over Kerris, who sat completely still on the edge of their bed.

Kerris winced, biting her lip to keep from crying. She knew Cam could be vicious when angered, but she also knew he would not physically harm her. He leaned in, bringing them practically nose to nose. She braced herself.

“Is this how you show me you’re my only, Ker?” Cam’s blue-gray eyes sparked with rage.

“Cam, if you’d just listen—”

“You bitch! My best friend. Have you fucked him?”

“Cam, no.” Shame weighed heavily, drooping her head until her chin rested on her chest. “It was just a kiss. It shouldn’t have happened.”

“No, it shouldn’t have.” Cam tossed the words back at her head like boulders. He paced back and forth.

“It won’t happen again,” she rushed to say. “We were both emotional talking about Haiti—”

“And why would he talk to you when he’s refused to talk to anybody else, even his own mother?” Cam came to a halt to stand in front of her, a tightly held column of wrath.

For the same reason she had talked to him about TJ after years of painful silence. For whatever reason, Walsh had held the key to unlock those painful memories, to heal her wounded soul. And she knew she’d held the key to his. Walsh had been a salve to her hurt, and she had been a salve to his. She couldn’t say that to her husband.

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