Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
Clutching my arms tightly across my bare chest, I glare at my former boss and the man that makes my skin crawl. “What are you doing here?”
His smirk is topped by two unwelcome eyes that are staring at my barely covered breasts.
“Turn around, Adam.”
Fear slices through me, gluing my feet to the ground and making my heart flutter like a startled bird’s wings.
“What’s wrong?!?” Scout storms into the tent with his dive knife clutched in his palm.
Adam chuffs aggressively and crosses his arms.
I used to think Adam was a big man, but he looks so small compared to Scout. And not just in size. Scout has big dick energy. Adam just has dickhead energy .
With contempt in his tone, Adam says, “Talk about overreacting.”
The blade glints brightly as Scout’s eyes glint like two diamond-tipped drills. “Am I? She asked you to turn around. I don’t see you moving.”
“I was just going to talk to Aria about her dive.”
Low, lethal, Scout commands, “Move out.”
Adam’s obnoxious chuckle is loud as a fake grin spreads over his face. “Who’s this guy, Aria?”
Seeing that horrible expression sends a chill racing over my damp, bare skin. Two damning words rush out of me.
“My boyfriend.”
Adam doesn't take his eyes off me, but the veins in his neck bulge. The tension in the tent skyrockets and cold fear makes my hands shake.
Finally, Adam takes a step back.
“I’ll be seeing you around, sugar.”
Suddenly my body is freezing, but boiling anger rockets through me and hits my face like I’ve been slapped. “Don’t hold your breath.”
But as big and bold as my words sound, I’m barely able to stay upright on the soles of my feet as Adam strides out of the back of the tent.
Oh god. Oh my god. Adam Hill. Christ, I never want to see that man again.
I realize I’m wheezing, clutching to my bare chest.
When I glance at Scout, my breath catches. Nostrils flared, mouth clamped, he looks like he’s about to snap, as if it’s taking every ounce of his control not to leap into action and rocket out of the tent and bury something sharp in Adam’s back.
“Down beast. I’m okay.”
Too bad my words don’t sound convincing .
I turn away, trying to keep my balance so I don’t fall on my face from emotional overload. With angry blood heating my cheeks, I shove my arm in my sports bra.
Scout doesn’t make a sound, but I swear I can hear him calculating murder. Maybe I’m on the hit list too after my stupid remark.
Boyfriend.
Now I’ve got to deal with that too.
Thank heavens, Scout showed up. Having Adam see a single inch of my bare skin makes my stomach clench.
Rushing to finish putting my clothing on, I make a mis-step in my haste.
As much as it pisses me off to have to ask, I know I’m not going to be able to get it unstuck myself without some kind of contortionist act.
“Scout, my sports bra is caught on my damp skin. Can you help me?”
I fumble behind my back one more time, but blow out a resigned breath.
A second later, I feel him, rather than see him. His warmth softens the air that he stirs around me as he steps close. Cool fingers brush against my back as he very efficiently grabs the fabric and drags it down until it’s seated in the right place.
Now I’m not only flushed because I’m mad—I’m embarrassed.
“Thanks. They get stuck like that sometimes.”
“You should go without.”
I turn around, expecting to find Scout’s expression one of humor, but it’s not. He’s locked on me like I’m some kind of enemy combatant.
After a weird awkward silence he glances down at my hands. “What are those scars on your wrists? ”
Uh…
Crap. I didn’t even think about that when I asked for his help.
A surge of cold adrenaline makes my veins pulse. My mouth goes dry, my stomach knots and my scars tingle like I’ve been pricked by icy needles. “Just some… scars.”
He tilts his head, studying every nuance of my expression. It feels like a silent interrogation.
Unable to take the intensity, I drop my gaze to his bare chest.
Yes, he’s half-dressed too. And the view is fine. If I wasn’t freaking out inside, I would definitely appreciate it. The man looks like he does those cross-fit competitions.
Voice low and tight, he presses me for answers. “What are they from?”
I step back, making the mistake of looking at his eyes. “I don’t want to talk about them.”
The clear blue color flickers hot. “Now that I’m your boyfriend, I think you should tell me.”
My eyes round as someone steps into the tent and a male voice booms through the air. “Boyfriend?”
My heart plummets to the pit of my stomach.
As if matters weren’t bad enough, Brundage is staring straight at Scout like he’s got a bead on him in a sniper rifle scope. “Didn’t take long for her to spread her legs for you did it?”
Blood drains from my head to my feet in a single whoosh.