Page 30 of Lush

I was raised to be perfect. But loving him was the first thing I ever did for myself.

“I’m supposed to believe this? After what you pulled in the garden? Your big plan? This is too damn convenient, don’t you think?”

“Does it look like I’m joking? Someone’s blackmailing us, Reese.”

If he thought it was me, why couldn’t it be him? An old part of me didn’t want to believe it. But with Reese, I couldn’t be sure. He was unpredictable, volatile.

“Is it you?”

Reese squinted at me. “What the hell are you talking about?”

I crossed my arms, ignoring the heat creeping up my neck. “Cryptic threats. Anonymous photos. Your threats of revenge. Did you send me that note? You have motive. How do I know this isn’t part of your revenge plot?”

A laugh burst out of him, sharp and bitter, slicing through the room like a knife. “Cute. But that’syourfamily’s MO, not mine. After what you did, I would want you to know if I’m the one hurting you.”

I sighed. “You were hell-bent on getting me out of that marriage. We had a plan, Reese. You and Conrad?—”

“You sat there and told them I wasjealous. That I caused the fight. Did you tell them what you did? No. Princess had to stay protected. I was just the bastard younger brother, hm? For months people were petitioning the sheriff to throw me in jail, even though Conrad’s death was ruled an accident. No onewould come near me. I still can’t fucking wrap my head around the concept that you left me to rot, Laurene. You didn’t even have the fucking gall to look me in my eye after what you did.”

Guilt hit me, forcing me to stare at the ground.

“Conrad died because?—”

“Because he was an asshole, just like my father and your parents!” Reese’s voice thundered, silencing me. “You encouraged the fight. Youlikedit, didn’t you? You didn’t tell anybody how you?—”

“What are you talking about?” I whispered, not wanting to hear it, not wanting to admit it.

Reese’s eyes were wild, burning with the betrayal.

“You were playing both sides. Smiling in Conrad’s face, and then kissing me? Did you tell him I couldn’t handle the pressure? You fed his damn ego.”

“I pulled Conrad away from you! He was my fiancé. What would I have looked like not intervening? We didn’t even get to talk to him until you both snapped.Be cool.That’s what I told you. But nooo,you flew off the handle like you always do, and Conrad took that as an opening.”

Reese let out a breath. “You think I’d fucking stoop this low to blackmail, when I would be just as affected?”

“Then who?” I demanded.

Too many enemies over time, too many secrets and things done for me to remember.

“I don’t know.” He crossed his arms. “But don’t you fucking forget who saved you when we crashed, who was willing to risk everything for you. I lost more than you ever have.”

“Someone’s out there, Reese. Watching us. Waiting. They saw us back then, so that means our relationship wasn’t a secret. And that is a problem.”

His jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the photo. “If this is real?—”

“It’sreal.We need to come up with a plan to deal with this.” I stepped forward until we were nearly chest to chest, and I triedto keep my eyes on his face and not his abs. “Let’s start planning damage control. We cover this up. Push it aside till we find the truth.”

His lips parted, a sharp retort hovering, but he stayed silent, his gaze drifting back to the photo.

“Let me guess,” Reese finally said, his voice cold and laced with mockery. “You’ve already got the narrative lined up for when this shit hits the fan? This time will you tell me before you fuck me over?”

I bristled, refusing to take the bait. “Save the drama, and let’s focus on what the fuck’s at stake. Either way, we both won’t come out of this spotless. It’s about sticking with the fact that Conrad’s death was an accident. Which itwas.We need to work together. I need you in this.”

“We fucked in the bathroom, Laurene.” Reese scratched his five-o’clock shadow, and I hated how my eyes trailed down his chest to the happy trail that disappeared into his jeans. “Can’t change the optics on that.”

“We kissed,” I shot back, my voice rising in defense. “It was a moment of weakness. That’s all. That’s all the photo shows.”

Reese only glared at me.

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