Page 158 of Beyond the Blue Horizon
She crossed her arms over her chest, and her head barely shook, silken locks whipping around her gorgeous face.
“I don’t know if I can handle what’s happening between us, Theo.”
Yeah.
She wasn’t alone.
“What do you think is happening?” I grunted.
Her arms tightened like they were shields. “I think I’m setting myself up to get my heart broken.”
“One-star, remember?” I attempted to joke. “Hardly think I’m worthy of a broken heart.”
I didn’t deserve it.
Any piece of her.
I wanted to consume it all, anyway.
Her mouth tipped down at the side. Half in amusement and half in distress. “The problem is, you’re starting to feel like you’re worthy of a whole lot of things. And then…”
She inhaled an unsettled breath and tipped her head in the direction of the cabin sitting at a diagonal across the lot. “Then I saw you go over there…and…I don’t like the way it made me feel.”
My chest tightened, and the words were gritting out, “Are you jealous, Little Liar?”
Did it make me a prick that I liked it?
A twisted satisfaction twining through my insides, all while a punch of lust kicked me in the gut.
She lifted her chin and eyed me down. “Yes.”
I couldn’t do anything but reach out and set my palm against her jaw, cupping it soft, my thumb tracing over her plump bottom lip.
Wanted to do something stupid like tell her it was because she was mine.
Because she was.
At least for a little while.
“Nothing is going on like that with me and Alicia, Piper. Never has been. I was just checking on her and Lucy. They’ve…”
I paused, wondering if it was a betrayal to give her anything at all, but instinct told me I could trust Piper with it. “They’ve had a rough life, and while they’ve been staying here, I’ve been sure to keep an extra eye on them.”
That fierce chin trembled. I felt it glide through my hand on a wave of affection mixed with a bout of anxiety. “You seemed upset.”
Disquiet gusted through. “Just wanted to make sure the area was clear of anyone who shouldn’t be lurking around.”
The anger in my voice was probably revealing too much. The fact that I was far more invested than I should let on. But I found I couldn’t lie to this girl.
“You’re protective of them,” Piper whispered, gaze flitting over my face like she was searching for the truth written in the lines.
“Yeah,” I admitted, wavering, stomach a toil before I offered her a little more of myself. “Take it upon myself to protect those who sometimes can’t protect themselves.”
Something passed through her expression. Something that told me she was contemplating. Maybe adding up everything she’d learned about me and trying to bring herself to a conclusion.
Got the sense that she knew I was dangerous.
But she didn’t know every vile, horrible sin I’d committed.
