Chapter 10 #2
“When it comes to givin’ me cash? Never. I’m not one of those women in rom-coms who won’t spend the billionaire’s money. You wanna add my name to your account?” I toss my thumb over my shoulder. “Let’s go to the bank right now.”
His chuckle sends shivers down my spine.
But then I swear he lowers his hand to adjust himself beneath his jeans.
When I hand him back his change, he immediately puts it into my tip jar. “Good. Don’t change, Sunny. I like how unapologetic you are and everything else that makes you, you.” Then his panty-drenching smile returns with another wink.
Goddamn him.
And goddamn the customer standing behind him for interrupting our moment.
“Landen Michael Hollis!” I pound my fist on his front door, knowing he’s inside because the asshole locked it and he never locks it. It’s like he knew I’d come for him. “I will kick this down if I haveta!”
Finally, I hear the deadbolt turn and the sound of the lock unclicking. Then he whips it open with an amused grin. “You’d break your foot tryin’.”
“Fine, then I’ll kick you instead.” I glare, then lower my gaze to his crotch.
He quickly cups himself as if that’d stop me. “What for? I thought everything went well. Tripp returned all smiley and said you two were going to the Halloween party on Friday.”
I shove my finger into his chest, stepping inside and forcing him back. “That doesn’t wipe out what you did. You broke the code!”
He holds up his hands in mock surrender. “It was either tellin’ him the truth or lettin’ him think you were interested in someone else. Then he woulda never confessed his feelings. So actually…you owe me. You’re welcome. Do I get free coffee for life now?” He waggles his brows.
I roll my eyes because he’s right, but that still doesn’t take away his betrayal.
“Well, let’s hope you feel the same way when I see Ellie this afternoon.”
“Joke’s on you. She just left for a competition.”
“You little stalker. I’ll have to look up her social media to see if she’s with that really cute barrel racer…what’s his name?” I snap my fingers. “Elliott? Evan? Either way, I bet they’re gonna be spendin’ lots of time together. Especially in those really small campers…probably only one bed, too.”
He puffs out his chest and crosses his arms. “Easton is too scrawny for her anyway, so who cares?”
“Oh, so you’ve looked at her pages already.” Chuckling, I pat his chest before turning toward the door. “Who says that’s not her type? A lanky Southern gentleman who wouldn’t think twice about lettin’ her cross the finish line first…”
He leans against the doorframe. “Just shush that big ol’ mouth of yours, Magnolia,” he warns, but a hint of panic tinges his voice.
“But why? Wouldn’t you rather tell her the truth…” I mimic his words back to him.
His gaze narrows in on me. “Might wanna wipe that smug little smirk off your face or I just might let it slip that I saw you cozyin’ up with Travis last weekend…”
My stomach bottoms out as I stare at him, wondering if he’s bluffing or if he really did see us. After my scuffle with Lydia, he occupied himself with another chick to even notice what I was doing, so there was no way.
“Nice try. Your tongue was down Stacie’s throat after the Marrow twins left. The only thing you saw were her eyelids.”
He snorts. “A little birdie might’ve seen something. Is it true?”
“Who I did or didn’t cozy up with is none of your business. Neither is my sex life.” I make my way down the stairs toward my SUV before my face gives me away. The coffee trailer’s already connected since I’ll be parked downtown for the next couple of days.
“You’re the one tryna ruin mine!” he calls over the balcony.
“I’d hardly call it that when Ellie can’t even stand you!” I laugh at his pitiful expression.
A part of me wants to tell Noah about his little crush because I know she’d get a kick out of one of her brothers liking her client, but then she’d tell him she’s off-limits and that’d only make him pursue her more.
I can’t even blame him, though. Ellie’s a knockout with long, thick, blond hair. She’s so tiny, and I always wondered how she doesn’t get yeeted off her horse when he’s rounding barrels at high speeds.
But what’s really amusing is how Ellie’s six years younger than him and Landen would still be too immature for her.
“That’s what they all say until they get up close and personal with—”
“Do not finish that!” I hold up one hand while I open my car door with the other.
Thank God Tripp isn’t home to hear us shouting at each other. Though it’d probably be nothing new since we’re always giving each other shit.
“A secret for a secret, Magpie!”
“Too bad I don’t have one!” I taunt, then get in the driver’s seat and shut the door.
I wait until I’m halfway home before I allow the panic to settle in.
If someone saw me leave with Travis, that means it could only be a matter of time before it gets back to Tripp.
If what Landen said is true and Tripp worried he’d never have a chance with me because I always went back to my ex, him finding out we slept together last weekend could ruin everything before it even begins.
Though I don’t want to lie to Tripp, the truth would only hurt him and add to his anxiety.
It could make him look at me differently or he could change his mind about me.
And after years of waiting to hear he likes me too, I’d be devastated if he walked away now.