Page 16 of Tangled Passion

“No,” she said firmly. “I’ve been going on a lot of hikes.”

She knew he guessed she was lying. She’s always been horrible at it.

“If you’re not downstairs, Trey or I will be up to get you.”

She sighed, nodded, and looked away.

“I mean it, Baby.”

“I don’t know why it’s such a big deal.”

“I don’t want you sad…”

“I’m not,” she interrupted.

“Because of me,” he continued. “I know I’m being an ass, and I’m sorry. I’m trying to come to grips with an issue I have.”

“I don’t know why it has to affect me.”

“Because I didn’t have this issue until you got here,” he growled.

She inhaled abruptly in shock.

If he was trying to hurt her, he was succeeding. She turned and decided to walk off, but he stopped her again when he grabbed her arm.

“I think you took that the wrong way?” he guessed.

“It doesn’t matter. Let go of me. I want to go now.”

“I’ll see you at dinner.”

She nodded without saying anything and walked off.

Once she got to her room, she locked the door, put away her things, and lay down on the mattress. She knew she was a strong person, but the way Garrett was making her feel scared her. One, because she thought she’d finally be happy. Secondly, she had lost weight and hadn’t meant to, and she was afraid something other than stress was the cause.

Chapter Ten

“What are you looking at?” Trey said as he came to stand beside his brother.

“Madelyn.”

“What’s going on? You didn’t say anything stupid, did you?

Garrett grunted. “Probably. I’m pissed. She got some groceries to keep in her room.”

Trey frowned. “Doesn’t she know meals are included?”

“Yes, I reminded her of that, and she said it was hard for her to eat when she was stressed.”

“And we stress her out?” he guessed.

“I think it’s mostly me.”

“Man, we’ve got to get this fixed.”

Garrett nodded. “Yes. And the sooner, the better. I need my hands and mouth on her.”

Trey nodded. “I agree. I’ve been hard since I set eyes on her the first time. I will have to spend hours in her to appease myself enough to be able to work comfortably. It’s damn hard to ride a horse with a hard-on.”

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