Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
I lean across the table toward my sister. “What are you doing here, Brynn?”
She is all smiles, looking at me. “Tara, you’re being rude. We had to eat, and I didn’t feel like cooking. Plus, I thought this would be a good way for Grant and Cruz to meet.”
“Sure, you did,” I mumble.
Kathy comes over. “What can I get you?”
She’s staring at Cruz the whole time, ignoring the rest of us. If this was real, I’d be pissed right now, but I don’t have that right. However, that doesn’t stop me from leaning against Cruz. “I’ll take the cheeseburger, fries, and a strawberry shake.”
“Tsk, tsk. You barely fit into your bridesmaid dress, sis. Are you sure you should be eating that?” my sister admonishes.
I gasp, and before I say something I shouldn’t, I slam my mouth shut.
Cruz looks at her. “Your sister is stunning just the way she is.”
He’s glaring, and to most people it would probably intimidate them but not Brynn. Nope, she just giggles and then puts her order in with Kathy. “I’ll take the grilled steak salad with no croutons and the fat free Italian dressing on the side. Also, please make sure the steak is not cooked with any butter. And can I please get a bottle of sparkling water?”
I swear Kathy rolls her eyes and then looks at Grant. He looks at me and then orders. “I’ll take the same as Tara.”
He folds up his menu and hands it to Kathy as she goes back to staring at Cruz. “What about you, Mr. Payne?”
Cruz isn’t paying attention, though, because he’s too busy glaring at Grant. I nudge him in the ribs. “Cruz… do you know what you want?”
He turns to me, searches my eyes, and nods before handing Kathy the menu. “I’d like a bacon cheeseburger and fries with a chocolate milkshake.”
Just as Kathy is about to walk away, I remember to tell her, “Oh Kathy, I’m allergic to pickles, so no pickles for me.”
Cruz follows up with “No pickles for me either.”
I blush at what that insinuates. Is he planning to kiss me again?
I don’t voice the question, but when Cruz looks at me with heat in his eyes, it’s obvious that is exactly what he’s planning to do. As we stare into each other’s eyes, Grant clears his throat. “So…. exactly how did you two meet?”
I roll my eyes because Grant knows that Cruz is Lexi’s older brother. “Lexi,” I answer him.
He leans across the table. “Were you seeing him while you were seeing me?”
I grit my teeth. “I don’t cheat,” I answer, even though I don’t owe him anything.
The conversation is stilted the rest of the meal. Cruz is friendly enough to my sister, but he barely acknowledges Grant, which secretly thrills me. By the time our food is served and we’re halfway through the meal, I’m completely on edge and dreading this wedding even more. Instead of Cruz and me coming up with our back story, Brynn talks about the wedding the whole time.
In the hour we’ve been here, it feels like the whole town has been in and out of the place, staring and wondering what’s happening between the four of us. I hate to be the center of attention, and right now all eyes are on us.
“So, Cruz, tell me about you. I want to know everything.” Brynn leans across the table and puts her hand on Cruz’s.
He tenses next to me and then pulls his hand away. Gruffly, he answers, “What do you want to know?”
By the tone of his voice, he is not enjoying this any more than I am, and that has me leaning into him and his arm going around me again.
8
CRUZ
The only good thing about Brynn and Grant joining us is that I’ve been able to touch Tara anytime I want to. And not only that, she’s leaned into me most of the meal. She smells of vanilla and cherries, and each time her breast hits my arm, I hold perfectly still, not wanting her to move away.
“Can you let me out to go to the ladies’ room?” Brynn asks Grant.
He gets out of the booth as his phone rings and he holds it up. “I have to take this.”
As they both walk away, I turn to Tara. “You okay?”
She shakes her head tightly. “No. I want to go.”
I pull cash out of my wallet and lay it on the table, and Tara gasps. “You are not paying for their meal.”
I cup her chin. “I am, honey. Don’t think anything of it.”
She doesn’t like it, but she doesn’t argue. I hate seeing the pain in her eyes, and in this moment, I make a promise to myself that I will make her life better. Even if I’m only a part of it this next week, I’m going to help her through this.