Page 48 of Property of Prowler
Taylor suppressed a laugh. The kid was probably right on that one.
“When you open the pouch, it kinda peels off, exposing a sticky strip. Stick that to your underwear and just pull them up. While you’re doing that, I’m going to let your dad know where you are.”
“Please don’t wake him. I’ll be mortified, and he’ll go into that weird dad mode. Just leave him a note.”
“Okay, kiddo.”
Tiptoeing back into the living room, she grabbed a pen and paper and jotted a quick note. She was going to leave it on the counter but didn’t want to worry him if he realized Cass was gone before getting to the kitchen. Deciding his pillow or nightstand was best, she crept down the hall.
Moans started to fill her ears, and her blood chilled.
Trust those you love.
She tried like hell to swallow the lump in her throat, but it wouldn’t budge.
With a trembling hand, she opened his door ever so slowly, and the moans got louder. Feminine moans of pleasure, to be exact.
The only light came from the plug-in air freshener plugged into the far wall, casting the couple on the bed in silhouette. The note fluttered to the floor as she watched Allie undulating atop the man she loved.
Her back was to the door, with one leg thrown over a prone figure on the bed.
Allie breathlessly whispered into the dark. “Oh, Riley. You feel so good.”
A masculine half-groan, half-sound of agreement followed. Taylor closed the door and retrieved the note from the floor.
She loved.
She trusted.
She broke.
Dashing away tears that escaped even though she fucking ordered them to stay put, she almost ran Cass over.
“Ready?” she asked a little too clipped as she slapped the note on the counter.
“Yeah. Taylor? What’s wrong?”
She got herself together before turning. Hell, she’d lived in a perpetual state of suck it up and don’t let them see you cry sinceshe was Cass’s age. What was one more night? She could push her heartbreak aside for Cass. Tonight was all about her, not Taylor. Tomorrow she would break down and make some life changes.
She couldn’t live there, not after that. Not after the worst betrayal of her life. Not after he said he loved her mere hours before. If that was his love, she didn’t want it. Billy’s fists hurt way less.
“Nothing for you to worry about. Let’s get to my place before the delivery. I got the heating pad all ready for you.”
She put her arm around Cass’s shoulder and led her outside. Fuck Prowler and his growly, high-handed, alpha male bullshit. The thing she’d miss the most was right beside her. She’d grown to love Cass long before Prowler, and she’d love her long after he was just a bad memory.
Taylor sneered at Allie’s car when they passed it. She’d thought it was more metaphorical than audible, but Cass proved that wrong.
“They’re not together. Mom just tricked him into letting her stay in the guest room. She’s never given up the idea of them getting back together, but he’s not the least bit interested in getting back with her.”
She wanted to say bullshit, but instead, she made a non-committal sound that was neither belief nor disbelief. It was the best she could do.
“Really, Tay. We … talked, me and Dad. He told me a lot of things, and one of them was that you’re his. So, see. Mom’s tricks won’t work. He loves you. I know he does.”
Everything Cass just said ripped her heart to shreds. Even she’d believed his bullshit. Taylor took a fortifying breath. She’d never badmouth Allie to Cass, and she wouldn’t do that with Prowler either.
Shoving all her pain and anger into a box labeled LATER, she mentally taped it closed and placed it in a closet in her mind.
“Okay, Sassy. No arguments here. However, tonight isn’t about your dad or me.” Then she shifted to a teasing tone and embraced Cass as they walked. “It’s about you becoming a woman.”
