Page 4 of Break (Bend & Break Duet 2)

He draped his arms over the steering wheel, but didn’t crank the truck. “I don’t have another shirt.” He glanced down, his tone almost apologetic.

I had on jeans and a sweater. It wasn’t exactly wedding attire. Except Pepper wanted to get married just like this. But she was with my brother for love. Clothes didn’t matter.

When we weren’t getting married for love, they didn’t matter either.

“It’s fine.”

“Those shops probably don’t open for a while,” he said as if he hadn’t heard me.

“This is just a formality. We don’t have to be dressed to the nines.” I sunk down in the seat. Had it even been two minutes since we’d gotten back in the car? How was I going to make it an hour?

“Seems disrespectful,” he continued.

“Should I call my father and have him deliver the dress he picked out for me to wear for Alex?” I snapped.Just an hour, Beau. You can make it an hour.

He balled his fingers. “No.”

I cocked my head. “Isn’t itdisrespectfulto use someone for her virginity?”Shut up, Beau. He is your only ticket out. And you’re showing just how hurt you still are that he dumped you. Get a backbone.

I used to have one. Then I’d been summoned back to New York, thought I could dance with the devil, and all the old feelings I thought I’d dealt with came crashing back with a vengeance.

He didn’t have the decency to look at me. Those dark eyes stared straight out the windshield, and I had no idea what was going on in that thick skull of his.

“You sure I’m your guy for this?” he finally asked.

“I’m not exactly swimming in options.” I folded my arms.

“Still a last resort for you,” he muttered.

“What does that mean?” I asked, sniffling bitterly.

“Nothing.”

I twisted in my seat. “It sounds like something.”

An argument could make the time go faster andthatwas something we excelled at.

“Back then . . .” He couldn’t say when we were together, and that just irritated me even more. “You wouldn’t have chosen me if there were other options.”

I gaped at him. What?

“I did choose you,” I cried.

Cal had always been the most confident man I knew. To hear his insecurities . . . threw me further off balance.

“You wanted the forbidden,” he said evenly. “You liked seeing how far you could take it without getting caught.” His gaze was cold when he turned it on me. “This is still a game to you. Daddy’s gonna be real pissed you married me, isn’t he?”

I opened my mouth and closed it, stunned into silence. Yes, my father was going to be furious, but that didn’t have a damn thing to do with why I was marrying Cal.

And was that really how he saw me? That I’d used him as some sort of forbidden fruit to get my kicks?

I wouldn’t dignify him with an answer.

“This was a terrible idea,” I muttered. “Just go back to New York. I’ll figure something out.”

He waved the marriage certificate in front of my face. “Oh no, baby sister. This says we’re partners for life. And I didn’t just drive all the way to Connecticut for nothing. We’re getting married.”

“Don’t act like Connecticut is across the country.” I glared.

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