“I’m not sorry you came.”
Edgard’s gentle grip increased. “Are you messing with my head to get back at me because of my past with Trevor?”
“No.”
“I’m supposed to believe that all of a sudden you just accept…” His eyes burned with suspicion. “I see the lie in your eyes.”
“Not a lie.”
“Bullshit.”
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“What you see is insecurity and determination to see this conversation through, but not a goddamn lie because I’m bein’ completely honest with you. And myself.”
“And with Trevor? Does he know you intended to start this conversation?”
“No.”
“Why not? Didn’t it come up during pillow talk after you spent all afternoon fucking?”
“Jealous?” she taunted softly.
“Like you wouldn’t fucking believe.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “Stop. You’re hurting me,” she whispered.
Edgard’s hand dropped like it’d become dead weight.
Chassie wilted against the counter. Blood pulsing. Vision blurring. Confusion screaming in her head.
Several brutal seconds passed.
His eyes focused on where her fingers rubbed on her jawline. “Let me see.”
“It’s fine.”
“Then let me see it.”
She lowered her hand.
He winced. “Shit. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“I do. Jesus. Looks like Trevor ain’t the only one with a mean streak. You’ve been nothin’ but sweet and thoughtful to me since the minute I arrived. And how do I repay you when you have the cajones to confront me about all this confusing shit?” His rough finger traced the hot, sore spot. “By manhandling you.”
Her stomach flipped at his gentle touch.
Edgard murmured, “I’m sorry, querida, so very, very sorry. Sometimes I can be a total ass. I’d say I learned it from Trevor, but I think he learned it from me.” His warm lips skated over her jawbone in a teasing, soft kiss meant to soothe, meant as a sweet apology.
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If it was just an apologetic kiss, why did her skin tingle? Why did her pulse beat like a trapped bird’s? Why did she consider angling her throat, urging him to explore every ridge and hollow with those beautifully full lips?
Why in the hell didn’t he stop?
And then he did. Edgard practically jumped backward.
They stared at each other in absolute uncertainty without speaking.
That’s when Trevor walked in.
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Chapter Fourteen
“What the hell is goin’ on?”
Chassie snatched the empty beer bottle from the table and took it to the garbage can.
“Nothin’s goin’ on.”
Trevor turned to Edgard…who blinked at him innocently.
It’d looked like the two of them had been about to come to blows. Over what? Him?
Maybe you’re imagining it.
No. There was tension crackling between Chassie and Edgard. But if neither one would come clean, then he wasn’t about to push the issue. Enough issues lingered between them.
“What’s for supper?”
“Edgard cooked.” She paused. “Chili, I think.”
Chassie and Edgard exchanged a look, then burst out laughing.
Weird.
Edgard said, “It’s Brazilian stew.”
Trevor frowned at Ed. “What the hell is in that?”
“Whatever is leftover in the fridge and a can of stewed tomatoes.”
“Sounds good. You guys ready to eat?”
Chassie pointed at the sink. “Soon as you wash up. You want a beer?”
“No. Water’s fine.”
“Ed?”
“Water is fine for me too.”
Once the food had been dished up, they gathered around the table and ate in silence.
Trevor peeked at Chassie out of the corner of his eye. She was on her third beer, which was damn strange since she rarely drank more than one.
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Edgard shoved his empty bowl to the middle of the table. “I talked to the mechanic this afternoon.”
Trevor paused mid-bite. “And?”
“And I’ll be good to go day after tomorrow,” Edgard said, fiddling with his napkin.
Trevor almost demanded, “Already?” but he cautioned himself to stay cool. “They say how much the repairs’ll run ya?”
“Five hundred.”
“That ain’t bad.”
They talked specifics on the repairs, delving into the minute details neither of them gave a shit about, just to keep the conversation going. Just to avoid discussing what Edgard’s leaving really meant.
After five or so minutes of senseless car chatter, Chassie slapped her hands on the table, startling both men. “Enough. There’s been enough goddamn secrets, lies, and skirting the goddamn truth. No more. We’re gonna talk this through, startin’ right now.”