Chapter Eight
Braxten
T he lunch rush is in full swing when we enter the diner.
Chatter filters throughout, waitresses bustle around to get the waiting patrons their food while music plays from the juke box in the corner.
Regardless of the busy chaos, all eyes shift our way, checking to see who the newcomers are.
The noise subtly dissipates, falling to hushed tones as they all eye Alice with curiosity.
Ah, the joys of a small town.
The looks and whispers are something I’m used to since my brothers and I get them wherever we go, sometimes with displeasure and other times not, depending on the crowd. Alice, on the other hand, isn’t used to it, her body shifting nervously under the probing stares.
Taking her delicate hand in mine, I lead her toward an empty booth that’s tucked away in the back corner.
I’m not sure I’ve ever held a chick’s hand before today, but with Alice I can’t seem to help myself.
It displays a sense of possession, feeding the primal instinct that has called to me since the moment I found her in that field, battered and helpless.
I want everyone to know that the lost girl belongs to me.
A few people greet me with a nod as we weave through the diner, mainly fellow farmers who are acquaintances of my father.
Alice keeps her head low, allowing her hair to shield half her face as she hides herself from the prying eyes.
I don’t like it, but I meant what I said earlier; if she wants to hide from the world that’s just fine as long as she doesn’t hide from me.
She slides into the booth first, placing her back to everyone while I take the spot in front of her. After grabbing her menu, she flips it open and covers the lower half of her face before leaning across the table and pinning me with those crystal blue eyes of hers.
“Why is everyone staring at us?” Her voice is muffled behind the plastic booklet she hides behind.
“I’m irresistible, Wonderland. They can’t help themselves.”
She lowers the menu, revealing a smile. It’s exactly the reaction I was looking for. “Bossy and arrogant,” she muses. “How charming.”
I chuckle, loving the sass that she’s tossing out today, not something I expected from the shy, timid girl, but I love it. It makes my dick just as hard as when I spotted Joanna ringing through those lace panties…I shift in my seat, trying to alleviate the sudden pressure at the center of my jeans.
“You want the truth?” I ask, straying back to her original question.
Black lashes sweep up as she gazes at me over the top of her menu. “Always.”
“They’re probably wondering who the beautiful girl is and what the hell she’s doing here with me.”
She scoffs, as if the thought is ridiculous. I scowl at the response and am about to call her on it, but Shirley shows up to take our order.
“Well, if it isn’t trouble,” the older woman rasps, her voice as rough as sandpaper due to the amount of cigarettes she smokes in a day.
Shirley Clandestine is a long time resident of Winchester. She’s rough around the edges and moody as hell, but she’s also one of the few of her time that actually like the Creeds.
“How’s it going, Shirley?”
“I’m still breathing, ain’t I?”
Amusement washes over me at her usual dry response. “Well, good thing, otherwise you wouldn’t get to serve me today.”
“I’m truly blessed.” Her southern twang drips with sarcasm before she pulls out her notepad and pen. “What will it be, handsome?”
“The usual.”
“A coke and chicken pot pie.” She jots the order down before shifting her attention to Alice, her brows raising as if she’s just noticed the company I’m with. “Who the hell are you?”
Alice blinks up at her, caught off guard.
“Her name is Alice and she’s a friend of mine,” I tell her. “Be nice.”
She shoots a look my way. “I’m always nice.”
I grunt because we both know she’s full of shit.
She turns back to Alice. “Well, what do you want, sugar? I ain’t got all day.”
“Oh. Um, I’ll, um…” Alice stumbles over every word nervously. “I’ll just have whatever he’s having,” she rushes out, quickly closing her menu.
Shirley flashes her a knowing smile. “Honey, I don’t blame ya. I’d have whatever he’s having too.” After a wink in her direction, she gathers up the menus and walks away.
Alice lifts a slender brow. “A friend of yours?”
I chuckle. “She’s harmless. Forward, but harmless.”
“Well, she seems to think a lot of you, handsome ,” she adds playfully.
A smirk eases over my face as I rest back in my seat, crossing my arms over my chest. “Jealous?”
“Of course not,” she denies, but the color that stains her skin contradicts the denial. It’s something she can never hide. It’s hot as hell and has me dying to know how far that innocent color runs…
Shirley returns moments later with our drinks, placing each one in front of us. “Your food will be out shortly.”
“You’re the best, Shirley. Have I ever told you that?”
“You’re a damn liar,” she barrels out, “but sweet.” She leaves me with a tap to the cheek before walking away again.
Alice shakes her head, but there’s a smile on her face.
“What?” I ask with mock innocence.
“Are all you Creed boys this charming or just you?”
“Just me. The other two are assholes.”
Laughter tumbles past her lips, but it fades quickly, her expression sobering with what she says next. “I noticed Knox hasn’t slept in his room since I came to stay.”
After the way our conversation ended the other night, I’m not surprised and I know he probably won’t. It makes me feel like shit, but until I can get him to see that the beauty before me is not the enemy, it’s for the best.
“He has decided to stay at the main house with my father for awhile.”
“Because of me.” She voices it as a statement not a question, hurt edging her tone.
“No. Not just because of you.”
It’s obvious she doesn’t believe me.
“Don’t take it personally, Alice. There’s a reason my brother doesn’t trust easily, but he’ll come around eventually and see what I do.”
“And what is it you see, Braxten?” The question hangs in the air as she peers back at me.
“A girl who is not so different than the rest of us,” I tell her, watching hope fill her soft expression. “A girl who needs us as much as we need her.”
Every word is the truth. I have no idea what the future holds, but I do know that she will be a part of it.
“You really mean that, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I do.”
A soft smile steals her lips that has me wanting to kiss it right off her pretty face.
Just as the thought emerges, the door to the diner opens and in walks one of my biggest regrets.
Courtney Fabre searches the diner for someone and I have a feeling I know exactly who that someone is. My suspicion is confirmed when her gaze lands on me, a suggestive smile taking over her face.
Shit!
Every muscle in my body tightens as she makes her way over to our table. With overly done makeup, long, brunette hair, and fake tits plunging from the neckline of her tank top, she used to be a walking wet dream until she became a nightmare.
“Brax,” she greets me in that sultry tone. “It’s been a while.”
“Courtney,” I return, not bothering to hide my irritation.
“I’ve left you several messages the past few weeks and haven’t heard from you.”
“Been busy.”
She flicks an annoyed glance at Alice, looking her over with distaste. “With her?” The question sneers past her lips, ramping up my temper.
“That’s none of your business.” The warning in my voice is unmistakable.
Alice clears her throat, breaking the tension. “I think I’ll use the restroom. Excuse me.”
She makes an effort to stand, but I grab her wrist, forcing her to remain seated. “No. You stay. Courtney is leaving.”
Angry brown eyes cut back to me as Courtney refuses to take the escape I graciously give her. She crosses her arms over her chest, cocking a hip. “She seems a little innocent for you and Knox, are all you Creed boys going soft on me now?”
Alice stiffens beneath my touch and it sends me to my feet, forcing Courtney back a step.
“You don’t want to do this. Not now or ever. You knew the rules. Get over it and move on or you’re not going to like the consequences.”
No attachments, no promises. The rules are very clear, they always have been and unless agreed upon nothing takes place.
She agreed, but since then she has gone back on it.
I was nice at first, then stern, until I tried ignoring her all together.
Obviously that didn’t work and what she’s trying to pull now won’t either.
“Whatever, call me when you get bored with her.” Spinning on her heel, she finally makes the smart move to walk away.
Anger simmers beneath my skin as I watch her leave the diner. Taking my seat again, I look over at Alice to find her staring out the window, embarrassment splashed across her face.
“I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s fine,” she responds flippantly, but the ache in her voice is evident. “I should have asked if you had a girlfriend before coming to stay with you.”
“She’s not my girlfriend,” I tell her firmly. “She’s not even a friend.”
“I don’t think she knows that,” she whispers.
“She does. She just doesn’t want to accept it.”
She says nothing else, her gaze remaining trained out the window.
“Look at me, Alice.” The command is harsher than intended.
She turns her head and the hurt embedded in her eyes hits me like a punch in the gut.
“She means nothing to me. Got it?”
She nods, but it’s more than obvious she doesn’t believe me.
Shirley eventually brings us our food, and the tension only continues to hang over us like a dark cloud. All the earlier easiness we had this morning is completely gone.
It follows us on the ride home, the silence in my truck deafening and it pisses me off.
If I’m honest, I’m more mad at myself than her. Mad that I spent the night with that bitch in the first place. Mad that even if I wanted to explain the entire situation to her, I can’t. Some secrets I promised to take to the grave, secrets I will never reveal to anyone, including her.