Page 15 of Sugar
“As long as he believes the lie.” I shrug. “Then I don’t care. Let him have at me.”
Just like that, Rhett’s gaze hardens.
Wells leans forward. “I’ll talk to Layla.” He stands to walk out of the office, probably heading to get ready for a shift at the bar.
“Thanks. I’ll see you in a few hours.” I look at Rhett again. “I know it’s not ideal . . .”
Rhett shakes his head. “I owe you a lot, Kasey. I’ll do whatever I can to help. Just be careful, okay? I remember how hard this was on you last time.”
I feign confusion. “What do you mean?”
His mouth presses into a thin line. “She ripped your fucking heart to shreds. It took you a long time to put it back together.”
“I’m not sure I ever did,” I admit, letting the facade crumble. “Haven’t been in love since. But that’s what’ll make it easier this time, I think.”
He frowns.
I force a smile. “I’ll be careful. Promise.”
His pale eyes watch me for a long moment, like he’s sifting through the words to find the trace of bullshit we both know’s there. It makes me feel exposed in a way I don’t like—especially not with my brothers. I need to keep a clear mind. Lead us all through. “Let me know if her daddy gets too rough,” he finally says. “I’ve been itching for a little chaos.”
“Jesus, Rhett,” I grind out. “You’ve had enough trouble to last a lifetime. Be good, for fuck’s sake.”
His returning smile is dark and wicked.
CHAPTER FIVE
AVA
After spending all of yesterday holed up in my room with my laptop trying to tie up some loose ends in Miami, I’m relieved when Kasey texts me about meeting up.
Ava?the message came through from an unsaved number—but I’d know that number anywhere, even after thinking if I deleted it I’d eventually forget it.
I’ve been wondering if I’d hear from you, I write back.Thought you were going to make me chase you down again.
We need to talk, he says, ignoring my quip.You free this afternoon?
When and where?
Ranch. Can you be here in an hour?
I sent him the saluting emoji and leaped out of my bed to take a shower. My hair’s still damp when I pull my SUV up the long drive to the main house. I pass by it and head straight for his cabin, wondering briefly who might be watching through the windows, vaguely aware of the fact that I probably look like a lost yuppie from the city. And then I fight a laugh because that’s exactly what I am.
Kasey answers the door on the second knock, shirtless with worn jeans slung low on his hips. He fists a shirt and his cowboyhat in one hand, pulling the front door shut behind him with the other as he steps out onto the porch.
“Let’s take a walk,” he says as he steps past where I stand, not even deigning to look at me as he pulls the shirt over his head. I watch muscles along his back work with the movement before it all disappears behind white cotton.
I realize my mouth is hanging open and swiftly clamp it shut. “Oh,” I say, hiking my purse higher on my shoulder. “Okay, sure.” I follow him down the front steps and out onto the worn dirt path that leads either back to the main house or out to the other cabins. The sun is ripe today, and sweat pools along my spine beneath my satin blouse. “Gorgeous day,” I say, carefully stepping around a cluster of rocks that he stepped right over.
“Mhm,” Kasey hums back, pushing his hat down over his head, casting a shadow around his shoulders. My eyes follow a path down his body until I catch myself staring at his ass and have to look away.
When he veers right toward the big barn, my heart leaps as the possibility of getting to see the horses I know they keep in there up close; I haven’t been around a horse in so long. But then a sinking feeling comes over me. “Wait, we’re not riding today, are we?”
“No,” he says. I swear I hear the hint of a sarcastic laugh in the way he says it, like putting me on a horse would be simultaneously hilarious and terrible.
I glare at the back of his head as I stumble forward, trying to keep up with his long strides. “You don’t have to say it like that.” I have my own reasons for not wanting to get on a horse right now, but he doesn’t know those. As far as he should be concerned, I still know my way around a saddle.
He turns to look back at me. “You’re wearing those things again,” he grumbles, ignoring what I said, eyes flickering down to my feet.
