Page 22 of Sweet Southern Heat

“It’s not like that between us,” I proclaimed, but I was less than convincing.

“Right,” she drew out with a skeptical chuckle as she plopped onto my vanity chair and opened her makeup bag. “The tension between you two is so thick, you could cut it with a knife.”

“You’re imagining things,” I said, waving her off. It was a lie, of course. I felt it too. Every time he was near, there was anelectric charge between us, an attraction that crackled in the air. One tiny spark and we would go up in flames. It wasn’t easy, but I did my best to ignore it. I didn’t want to think about him that way. “Besides,” I continued, pushing those thoughts from my mind, “I’m not sure he even believes me. My version of the story is much different from what he’s always been told. He was so hell bent on thinking I was driving drunk that night, and Lyle was the one trying to keepmesafe.” I released a sardonic laugh. It was hard to say what lies Lyle had told him. And he’d believed every one of them.

“Surely he recognizes the truth now after his brother threw a brick through your window.”

“We don’t know that it was him.” Honey gave me a flat look like she couldn’t believe I could be so blind. I wasn’t sure why I was defending him. Maybe I didn’t want it to be true. Maybe I didn’t want to believe that the person I once loved, whom I’d planned to spend the rest of my life with, could do something like that.

“Either way, he would have to be an idiot to believe Lyle over you. From what I hear, Lyle isn’t exactly an upstanding citizen. He has a bad reputation and doesn’t exactly make an honest living, if you know what I mean.”

Unfortunately, I knew exactly what she meant. Lyle was known to steal and deal to support his habit. He once stole his father’s disability check and cashed it. Landon had to pay for all their father’s medications and cover his bills that month.

That was something I wished I didn’t know. But when you lived in a small town, people liked to gossip. They loved to tell you what your ex was up to, especially when said ex was involved in illegal activities. I sighed and pressed my fingertips to my temples, gently massaging to ward off the headache I felt building behind my eyes.

“Maybe you’re right. But I don’t want to think about Lyle or Landon any more tonight.”

I should’ve known I wouldn’t get my wish.

The party was in full swing, guests mingling with plates overflowing with ribs, crab cakes, and mac and cheese and bowls full of gumbo. Some folks gathered outside on the deck, and a few were already in the pool. Everyone greeted Honey with excitement, folding her into a warm and welcoming hug. Many of them expressed their pleasure at having both of us return to Magnolia Grove. I didn’t have the heart to tell them I might not be staying.

The sun was beginning to sink lower in the sky, casting the horizon in a wash of purple and orange when there was a commotion at the front of the house. Cheers rose up as the door swung open, and a tall figure filled the space. Honey and I moved through the foyer where a small crowd had gathered. JD, the young pastor who'd just taken over for his father and long-standing leader of our small local church, smiled broadly at the greeting. Everyone was thrilled to have him back since he, too, had recently returned to town.

Honey went rigid next to me, and I turned to see her watching JD with wide eyes. Before I could question her reaction, she gasped and grabbed my arm as her shocked gaze snapped to mine. She nodded suddenly, and I turned in time to see JD step to the side as Landon appeared from behind him.

What the hell was he doing here? This was the last place I expected to see him. From the uneasy look on his face, he hadn’t expected to find himself here either. JD must’ve somehow talked him into this.

My upbringing kicked in, and I straightened my shoulders. My grandmother always taught me to be hospitable to guests, even if I didn’t like them. I wouldn’t necessarily say I dislikedLandon. No, my feelings toward him were much more complex than that. Nonetheless, I would remain a gracious host.

Landon stiffened as I approached, his gaze tracking my every movement. His Adam’s apple bobbed with a heavy swallow as I drew up just a few feet from him and his companion.

“JD,” I began, offering the pastor a wide smile, “I’m so glad you could make it.”

“Me too. Thanks for inviting me. I hope you don’t mind; I brought a friend.” I forced the smile to remain on my face even though it took more effort than I could spare.

“Of course. The more the merrier,” I proclaimed, lifting my arms in a welcoming gesture. Landon’s look was guarded, but there was a skeptical tilt to his eyes. JD turned to him and waited for his reply. Noticing his friend’s expectant gaze, Landon nodded.

“Thanks,” he said simply, but his tone was anything but thankful.

Chapter 22

Landon

The more,the merrier, my ass.

The worry welling in Olivia’s eyes and the crease between her brows contradicted her welcoming greeting. She didn’t want me here anymore than I wanted to be here, but it was too late to turn back now.

When JD had asked me to join him tonight, he didn’t share any of the details. I just wanted to forget all my troubles for one night and hang out with an old friend. So when he told me to grab my swimming trunks and bring my appetite, I didn’t ask questions. I just hopped in his truck and let him lead the way. I didn’t suspect anything was amiss until we turned onto Olivia’s street. As we neared her house, I silently prayed that he wouldn’t stop there, but when I saw all the cars parked in her driveway and along the street, my fears were confirmed. I wasn’t ready to face Olivia—or my conflicting emotions regarding her—yet, and it showed.

JD’s gaze bounced between Olivia and me as though he could feel the tension. There was no denying it. It was heavy in the air. I shifted uncomfortably on my feet, wishing I could find somewhere to hide.

Olivia knocked me off balance. I’d spent the past several years hating her for what she’d done to my brother, and in one conversation, she made me question everything I’d believed about that night. The question was who was telling the truth. I had no reason to believe Olivia over my brother. He was my flesh and blood.

But he’d told so many other lies over the past six years, it called into question everything he claimed about the accident. In my gut, I knew Olivia’s account was accurate. And she’d kept the secret to protect my brother from scrutiny even though he’d hurt her.

I wanted to talk to him, to confront him about the lies, but he wouldn’t answer my calls or texts. We hadn’t spoken since I’d refused to give him money, but I needed to hear the truth from his lips. I wanted to be able to feel this magnetic pull toward Olivia without the guilt consuming me. Being attracted to your little brother’s ex-girlfriend was bad enough, but to crave the touch of the woman you believed destroyed his future was the worst kind of betrayal. If he’d been lying all these years, I could stop feeling like the world’s biggest asshole for wanting to kiss that fake smile right off her face.

Olivia and Honey melted into the crowd, and JD turned to me, one brow ticced up in question.

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