Page 91 of Tempting Promises
“I’m insane, right?” I ask, needing her to tell me I am, because then, at least, I can get help for this affliction. It’s not just bad decision making, which is a me problem.
“Is he nice to you?” Faye asks, still not really blinking.
“In bed?”
“Yes.”
“Very nice,” I say, thinking about how very nice the orgasms are.
She smiles at that. “Not even a little surprised. God, your sister is going to freak the fuck out. Now that I’m over the initial shock, I’m not sure what to say. The girl code says you definitely don’t sleep with your sister’s ex who she claimed cheatedon her.”
And that feeling of relief is gone. “I know.”
“And that’s why, I’m assuming, it took you weeks to tell me?”
I nod. “That and other reasons.”
“Such as?”
“It’s never going anywhere but here. Rowan is my rival in every way. He bought the damn land I wanted, and the steer, and he makes me insane, and he fights with me about everything, and he is stupid.” I say that last part and feel stupid myself.
She laughs. “So you like him?”
“No!”
The word flies from me so fast that Faye laughs. “So then why did you sleep with him last night?”
“Because the sex is great.”
We both know that’s not the only reason. I’ve only ever been in one real relationship and it was in college. He was my first and my only, until Rowan. I wanted a love like my parents had. They met in college, fell madly in love, and had only been with each other. It was one of those love stories that was so perfect it was almost unbelievable.
That was what I wanted.
A love story for the ages.
My college boyfriend didn’t. He wanted to get laid consistently, and then when we were nearing the end of my junior year, he ended it. No reason. No big fight, just that he thought we were moving in different directions and his was to the west where a blonde with big boobs was.
“If you were anyone else, I’d believe that line, but you’re not that way and we both know it. You like him?”
“I don’t want to.”
I can see the sympathy in her eyes. “I’m going to give it to you straight, which is why I think you told me this. You have to stop if you don’t want to face Aurora. If you care about him, or think there’s something more than the fun you’ve been having, then you need to tell your sister and face that storm.”
She’s right. I know that’s exactly why I told her. I need someone to tell me to stop because clearly I’m not able to do it myself.
“There’s no future with Rowan Whitlock.”
And there can’t be.
In a few days or a week from now, we’re going to find out who got the contract and then what? How do we navigate that minefield? We both know we can’t, which is why neither of us have spoken about it.
“Then, this will be one of those things that you and I will laugh about when we’re living on our compound in our old age. I’ll be like, remember that time you were banging your sister’s ex? And you’ll be all, do I ever, the sex was so good, I still tingle when I think about it.”
I burst out laughing and sigh heavily. “I knew it was wrong.”
“Look, I’m the last person in the world who will ever tell you it’s wrong. I live on the wrong side of choices, but you’re not me. You’re loyal, amazing, smart, funny, and will cut someone if they hurt somebody you love. I get why it happened in the woods, but since you’re back home . . .” She lifts one shoulder and her lips are in a flat line.
“You’re right.”
