Page 4 of Forever in the Country

“It’s cute you think that,” I tease but he doesn’t say anything. “I just need to change and then we can get started.” His eyes roam over my body, and I cross my arms over my chest.

Sorren’s gaze snaps to meet mine, and I let him see the fury for only a second before I lock it away. He drags his hand over the stubble on his chin and I want to scream. He’s drawn the line in the sand but has no problem toeing that fucker on a daily basis.

Growling, I spin away and grab Hannah’s hand before dragging her down the hall to my room.

“Oh boy,” she says as soon as I close my door behind us. Hannah is the most recent transplant in Clementine Creek and my soon-to-be sister-in-law. She is beautiful with dark hair and dark-blue eyes and the only person I’ve ever seen make Case all out of sorts.

“He doesn’t get to check me out,” I snarl as I whip my tank over my head and grab a clean T-shirt from my drawer. I have no issues changing in front of Hannah because she saw me in a lot less than this when she volunteered to do boudoir shoots for all the girls.

Unlike the rest of them, I don’t have anyone to show my photos to.

And that, unfortunately, includes the brooding man in my kitchen.

“But you’re hot.” I stare at her and she shrugs. “What? You are and he knows it.”

“That doesn’t help if no one is getting laid,” I hiss and she snickers. Hannah and Case shamelessly hold the record for the most sex in public places. No one would have guessed it would behimtamingher,but it worked and I loved getting another sister out of the deal.

“Well, you could do something about that,” she hedges, and I open my mouth to speak but snap it closed.

I tried.

I don’t dare speak the words aloud. Only Sorren and I know what happened that night, and while I’ve tried my best to act normal, it doesn’t always work. No one has missed the tension between us for the better part of a year, and it’s getting exhausting.

So damn exhausting.

Instead of answering her, I fix my hair and turn to her with a bright smile that I can tell she knows is fake.

“I’m ready. Let’s go.”

“We’ll be talking about this later,” she replies in a singsong as she follows me out of my room.

Not if I can help it.

“Hey y’all!” I yell over the guys when we walk into the kitchen. “Who’s ready for nephew night?”

Hoots and hollers go around the room, and I feel a smile stretch across my face. With snacks, games, and movies on the agenda tonight, I push thoughts of Sorren into the background.

He’s my friend.

He’s family.

And for as long as his walls are up, he’ll never be mine.

SORREN

1 YEAR AGO

“You know,” Tanner Holiday says as we park in front of the abandoned warehouse, “if you were looking to get rid of me there’s probably a much easier way.”

“Shut up and get out of the car,” I say on a grunt, and he laughs as we both ease out of my Charger. I really should get over myself and get a truck, but the car was the first thing I ever truly bought formeand I can’t give it up quite yet.

Also, it drives like a dream over the country roads, and my body is constantly thankful for that.

Sucking in a lungful of air, I take a minute to appreciate being home. Despite the discontent running through my veins, Clementine Creek has always been that place for me. Taking in the sight before me, I hope that this one piece will be what I need to settle down and, God help me, relax.

Right on the outskirts of town, the building is a white painted brick, the paint chipped from exposure and lack of maintenance but overall not terrible. I found it not long after returning to Clementine Creek.

It called to me. The building and the open expanse of land. I’d been restless.

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