Page 20 of Always

“It looks like you’re spying on me,” Skye finally says.

“Why would your boyfriend spy on you?” her mom asks.

“He’s not my boyfriend,” Skye says adamantly. “He’s a thirty-five-year-old man, and I don’t have a clue what he’s doing here.”

“He came to meet us,” Dad says.

“Without bothering to tell me,” she says.

“I was in the area,” I say, “so naturally, I thought I’d stop by to say hello to your parents.”

“Braden, what the—”

“Come with me.” I usher her back out the front door. Then, “What are you doing here?”

“Uh…I think I already made that clear. I live here.”

“You don’t. Your home is in Boston.”

“My parents’ home is my home. That’s what they’ve always told me. I sure as hell have a lot more right to be here than you do. What the fuck, Braden?”

“I didn’t mean for you to find out.” I don’t even believe myself. Of course her parents would have called her as soon as I left. “Why are you here?” I continue.

She whips her hands to her hips. “I don’t have to explain that to you, but you sure have to explain it to me. What are you doing in my parents’ house?”

I sear her with my gaze. I can’t help myself. She calls to me even now, right outside her parents’ home. I could grab her and fuck her right here and not feel one bit of guilt or shame. She taps her foot. “I’m waiting…”

“I was in the area,” I say again.

Maybe if I repeat it enough, I’ll begin to believe it.

“Bullshit. What the hell kind of business do you have in Liberty, Kansas?”

“All kinds. My company manufactures products used in construction, or have you forgotten?”

“Yeah, and I’m sure you have a lot to do in such a thriving metropolis. We don’t exactly have skyscrapers here. Besides, Ben said you were in New York.”

When the hell did she talk to Ben? He must have called her. But why? I could press her on it, but it’s probably best that I don’t. Ben and I will have words, though. A lot of words. “I havea meeting in Kansas City tomorrow, so I flew in early, called your parents, and they invited me over.”

“Of course they did. My parents are very hospitable people. But why? We’re not together.”

“Because I wanted…” I rake my fingers through my hair. “I wanted to meet them. I guess I…”

“What, Braden? For the love of God, what?”

What indeed? I could rack my brain for something that might make sense to her. It might even make sense to myself. But damn. The truth is on the tip of my tongue, so I let it out. “I wanted to meet them because they’re part of you.”

“Why?”

“Because… For fuck’s sake, Skye, you know why.”

“I’m afraid I don’t.”

“Because I love you, all right? I fucking love you, and I want to figure out what’s going on with you. That’s why. Satisfied?”

She raises her eyebrows. “I call bullshit.”

“Call it whatever you like,” I say. “I don’t have to explain myself to you.”

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