Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
“Sorry we’re late.” Rachel leaned over to kiss his cheek as they took a seat at the table.
“That’s okay. I saw you talking to Sutton. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. It won’t be the first or last time I run into one of Cash’s old girlfriends.”
“She wasn’t my girlfriend. We went out a couple of times, and that was the extent of my relationship with her.” Cash stared at his wife unapologetically.
Rachel took a sip of her water, avoiding her husband’s gaze.
Tate wanted to ram his fist in Cash’s face.
“No, she was my girlfriend. She was just a one-night stand to you.”
Cash stiffened. “You don’t know what the crap you’re talking about, Tate.” Cash’s eyes went to Logan. Tate knew, if his nephew wasn’t sitting at the table, Cash wouldn’t have been so polite.
Holly threw her napkin down on the table. “Finished, Logan?” At the little boy’s nod, she grabbed his hand and pulled him up from his chair before turning back to the group. “I’m going to take Logan to the library for an hour. I’ll meet you back at the truck.”
Holly took off with his nephew in tow, the set of her shoulders a clear reprimand. Tate stared after them, beginning to believe Greer was right. If they weren’t careful, Holly would make Logan a pussy. It was time they came home. He would talk to Dustin tonight. Since they were almost finished processing the plants, there was no reason they should remain away.
“You didn’t have to embarrass her, Tate,” Rachel scolded.
He shrugged. “Someone has to look out for you.”
Cash stiffened again. “You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. I don’t have to protect Rachel from Sutton. I don’t have a fucking thing to hide from her, either. There may be a lot of women I have to apologize to Rachel about, but Sutton isn’t one of those women.”
“Let’s change the subject.” Rachel placed her hand on her brother’s arm. “I’m not upset, Tate.”
He stared at her disbelievingly.
“It’s true. I have to admit I was at first, but I’m not now. I’m not even angry at her anymore.”
“Well, I am,” he stated without apology.
“Tate …”
“Let’s change the subject. Sutton isn’t worth talking about.” Tate waved his hand to catch the waitress’s attention so she could take Rachel’s order. He didn’t give a fuck if Cash ate or not.
The waitress left after taking their order, looking relieved to get away from the tension at the table.
“She’s not had an easy time since she’s been gone.” Rachel’s soft voice didn’t rouse his sympathy.
The soothing warmth he was receiving from his sister’s hand on his arm didn’t dispel the churning anger in his stomach, and Tate refused to talk about Sutton any longer.
Rachel sighed. “Your temper is going to be your downfall, Tate. Greer may be a hothead, but he gets over it fast. You hold a grudge forever.”
“Yes, I do.” He and Cash had a contentious past with fights about women, but he only remained angry about Sutton.
“You’re an asshole. I never touched Sutton, but you’re not going to change your mind despite me telling you the truth. Ask me about any woman in town, and I’ll tell you the truth; why would I lie about her?”
“Maybe because your wife is sitting right here,” Tate replied sarcastically.
“I’ve never denied my past to Rachel,” Cash snapped back.
“Then it’s because you knew I cared about her.”
Cash snorted. “You didn’t care about Sutton. You let her go easily enough. If you were as into her as you claim, you would have whipped my ass over her. Greer tried to give me a beating over that slut Diane. You replaced Sutton with Lisa within a day. You were just tired of having blue balls, and it gave you the excuse to do what you wanted to do all along.”
“Which was what?” Tate snarled.
“Break up with Sutton and fuck Lisa. I saw her flirting with you when you would pick Greer up from football practice. Was that short little cheerleader skirt getting to you?
Tate stood, his chair scraping the linoleum. “I’ve gotta go before I knock the shit out of you. I can’t afford to do any jail time right now. Bye, Rach.”
“Tate!”
He ignored his sister trying to call him back. He didn’t bother paying his bill either, knowing Cash would take care of it. The son of a bitch deserved to pay his tab.
He strode to his truck and climbed inside to wait for Holly and Logan. He slammed his hand down on the steering wheel, wanting to vent the anger he couldn’t take out on Cash.
He was angry at himself and Cash. He should have beaten the ever-loving shit out of Cash all those years ago.
Tate ran his hand through his hair. He had never been with a girl as long as Sutton, certainly not one he hadn’t fucked on a regular basis and remained faithful. She had made plans for their future together, despite him constantly evading the issue. He had no intention of leaving Treepoint, and he had selfishy hoped deep down that she would change her mind about leaving. Moreover, she had stood beside him when his parents died, and Rachel had grown attached to her. She’d had dreams of being a lawyer, while his dreams had been simplier—a woman who would fuck his brains out and help him raise his brothers and sister. If she could do that, he would be content never to leave his mountain.