Page 26 of The Tangle of Awful

“Go away!”

I’d knocked on Aubrey’s door after my run to see if she wanted to grab a bite to eat, but I am being met with animosity instead, which means only one thing.

Spencer.

He was gone when I got back, but obviously not before terrorizing Aubrey a bit. I swear to God, I’m going to kill him if he keeps that shit up. I put up with a lot from Spencer. A lot. Picking on Aubrey every chance he gets is tiring as hell and needs to stop.

Exhaling heavily, I say, “It’s me, Love.”

Seconds later, the door opens and her sweet scent envelops me. She hasn’t been crying, which is good. However, her eyes flicker with an unnamed emotion—shame perhaps?—and her eyebrows are furled together.

“Oh, hey. Sorry.”

I lean my shoulder against the doorjamb and study her for a beat. “Nothing to be sorry for. I know it’s Spencer.”

Panic contorts her features from frustrated to fearful. The pleading look in her eyes guts me. What the fuck did he do to her?

“What did he say?” she croaks out.

“Nothing,” I say slowly. “I haven’t seen him this morning. I just assumed. And, based on your reaction, I assumed correctly.”

She exhales and her shoulders slump. “It’s fine.”

“It’s not fine.” I step away from the doorframe, crowding closer to her, unable to stop myself. “Tell me what happened.”

She’s quiet for a moment and then nibbles on her bottom lip. The vulnerable expression on her face reminds me of when she was sixteen, not her now legal age of eighteen. Fixating on her pink lip, I try like hell to keep all the blood from rushing to my overactive cock.

“Tasha came by. She was freaking out about Mom being missing.” Her eyes water. “I lied to her.”

“Why did you lie?” My own voice is slightly hoarse, already knowing the answer. “To protect my campaign.”

She swallows and nods. “Well, to protect you. She didn’t believe Spencer, but she believed me.”

Unable to help myself, I cup her soft cheek, loving the warmth in the palm of my hand. Her eyes flutter closed and she leans into my touch. I marvel at her pretty face, intrigued by the nose ring she now wears and briefly wondering where else she’s pierced. The fact that she seems to desperately need my affection has the protective, nurturing side of me flaring to life. I want to pull her to me and never let go, promising her the entire world—even her damn mother’s appearance if I could.

“You don’t have to protect me,” I say gently. “You don’t have to lie for me.”

Her eyes pop open and she sears me with a heated gaze that burns straight to my cock. So much for trying to ward off an erection in her vicinity.

“You’re so good to me, Hugo. I would do anything for you.”

I’m not sure what I’ve done to receive such loyalty from her, but I greedily drink it up. I like that she’s so willing to give it to me. I want to reward her. A hot, deep kiss is forefront on my mind. Of course I could never…

Instead, I settle for pressing a kiss to her forehead, lingering a few seconds longer than necessary. Finally, I pull away but don’t step back. I’m still a hot-blooded male, for fuck’s sake, and she’s too much of a temptation to deny myself her nearness.

“Any news on Mom?” she asks, tilting her head to the side. “I feel like we should be doing something. Looking for her.”

“Jude texted me this morning. It’s nothing to get your hopes up about, but she used her card this morning at Sweet Holes & Coffee Co.”

“The place right near the lodge?”

When I nod, she moves into action, grabbing a hair tie off her end table and tugging her silky strands into a messy top knot.

“We have to go there.” She slides her feet into her sandals and grins at me. “This is a warm lead. If we talk to the donut shop workers, maybe one of them will remember something.”

“Neena isn’t exactly the type to discuss the specifics of her life as someone makes her a matcha green tea.” I shrug, stifling a sigh. Her face falls, which has me rushing out, “But we can try.”

Her smile is back as she snags her purse off the dresser. “Don’t worry, Hugo, we’re going to find her. I promise.”

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