“The outfit is hot,” he told me.

  “Thank you,” I replied.

  He always seemed to know when I needed reassurance. Not that I wanted Kye to think I was hot, but I hadn’t seen Levi in three days. I wanted to look nice for him. Which was probably a bad thing to want, but I couldn’t help it. I did.

  Kye turned on the country music station, and thankfully, there wasn’t much talk, so I could mentally prepare for how to handle seeing Levi. I wasn’t going to run into his arms, clearly. He’d not seemed that anxious to see me. Our relationship hadn’t changed just because I’d gotten naked for him, and I wanted to groan from embarrassment, thinking about it.

  What if, after he thought about it for a while, he was bothered by what we had done? Maybe he didn’t like that I would do that. I wished I hadn’t now. It would have made this less stressful.

  When the SUV pulled up in the parking lot, my anxiety shot up tenfold. We were here. Crap. The others opened their doors, and I winced as I reached for mine. I wished I had stayed at the house.

  Getting out of the SUV, I glanced at my white sundress that Levi had bought for me. I wanted him to see me in it. He would like that. I should feel confident. This was going to be fine. I made my way to the back of the SUV and took out the three items I’d carried out to it earlier, then followed Trinity and Kye to the entrance. Kye held the door open as we walked inside.

  There was a front desk with a counter, and Gage looked up from it when the door opened.

  “Food. Hell yes,” he said.

  “There is more in the trunk,” Kye told him.

  Gage nodded and headed that way. When he saw me, a small frown touched his face, and that sick knot was back in my stomach. None of them thought I should be here. I just wanted to leave.

  “Uh, hey, Aspen,” he said loudly, which was odd.

  “Hey,” I replied, confused.

  “Maybe you should, uh …” He rubbed his forehead. “Fuck it. He deserves it,” he muttered, then walked past me to the door.

  Trinity was up ahead, and I hurried to catch up with her. I followed her into a room with a long conference table. She placed the food in the middle. I did the same.

  She turned to me. “I’m going to get Huck out of his office upstairs. The kitchen is right around the corner if you want to get plates and flatware.”

  “Okay,” I replied, happy to have something to do.

  Kye put the things he had down. “I’m going to make sure Gage got the rest.”

  “Where’s the restroom?” I asked him. I needed to pee and wash my hands before I got the plates and flatware.

  “Go straight, take a right, then go through the main area. The door on the left will lead you to the private employees-only restroom.”

  “Thanks,” I replied and followed him out, then turned and headed in the direction he’d told me.

  When I got there, I frowned. There were two doors on the left. I went to the farthest one, thinking I would start there. I opened it slowly in case I was wrong. It smelled like rubber, oil, and grease. “You Shook Me all Night Long” by AC/DC played over the speaker. I was pretty sure this wasn’t the restroom.

  I started to close the door when I heard a loud, “FUCK! YES, TAKE THAT DICK!”

  Recognizing the voice, I froze.

  “You’re gonna swallow my load like a good girl.”

  I couldn’t move. I wanted to run. Not hear any more. But it was as if my feet had stopped communicating with my brain.

  “Fucking take it! I’M COMING!” Levi shouted, and I felt bile in my throat.

  “Wrong door, sugar,” Kye said softly behind me and reached for the knob and pulled it closed.

  I blinked and stared up at him.

  He nodded his head to the other door. “That’s the restroom.” His voice was gentle.

  I turned and walked numbly over to the other door and stepped inside. Standing there, I stared at the mirror. Did I have a right to be upset? No. He’d done nothing wrong. It was just that … it felt really bad. My throat was so tight that it hurt. Unshed tears burned my eyes, and I knew I had to get a grip. Stop this. Now.

  Levi wasn’t mine. We weren’t in a relationship. I didn’t get to feel like this. I couldn’t be mad at him. He’d done a lot for me. He had been everything to me, and he hadn’t had to do anything. Yet he had. I owed him more than I could ever repay him.

  But I needed a bit of space. I had to do that for me. That started right now. No more needing him and being clingy. I had to learn to be strong on my own.

  Twenty-Four

  Levi

  I could smell dinner the moment I stepped back into the building from the garage. I was starving.

  Ramona had been the release I needed. I spanked her ass until she was screaming through her orgasm. Then, I bent her over and fucked the hell out of her. She was then determined to get me hard again by rubbing her blistered ass on my dick, then dropping to her knees, begging me to give her my load. She wanted to eat it. Yep, that had worked real damn well.

  Now, I needed some food. When we turned the corner, my eyes locked on Aspen walking out of the kitchen, carrying plates. Her gaze flickered from me to Ramona, and then she gave us a smile that was fucking forced.

  “Hello. Food’s here if y’all are hungry.” Her voice was off.

  Shit. My eyes followed her as she walked past us and toward the conference room. The little white sundress she had on was feminine, flowy, and too short. All that smooth, flawless skin on display.

  “That smells wonderful,” Ramona said, reminding me she was here.

  She pulled on my arm, and I looked down, realizing she had been holding on to me when Aspen walked out of the kitchen.

  Motherfucking hell. Had no one thought to warn me?

  “Come on,” Ramona urged.

  I followed her as my internal battle was waging war in my head. What did I do with this? Should I be worried? I wasn’t doing anything wrong. Aspen knew that, right? We weren’t a couple. We were friends.

  “Yum!” Ramona said, letting go of me and walking over to where Aspen was putting plates and flatware on the table.

  She glanced up at Ramona, and again, there was that damn fake smile. “Trinity is a great cook,” she told her.

  I needed to say something. I just didn’t know what the fuck I was supposed to say. We hadn’t seen each other in three days. Dammit. This was not supposed to happen.

  A hard slap on my back was followed by, “Hey, brother.” Kye’s tone made it clear he was pissed. Possibly angry.

  What the hell did he have to be angry about? Nothing I had done was wrong.

  I watched him walk over to Aspen and lean down to whisper in her ear. His hand touched her hip, and my legs started working again. I was going to rip his hand off his fucking body. Ramona’s arms wrapped around me then, and she pressed up against me, stopping me.

  “I want another beer.” The pleading sound was meant to be sexy, but right now, it annoyed the fuck out of me.

  “Oh,” Trinity said. “We are all here. Uh, okay, great.”

  I shifted my gaze to the door she’d just walked through, followed by Huck. If looks could kill, I’d be dead. Trinity was livid. Huck raised his eyebrows at me as he walked by.

  Yeah, what the hell was I supposed to do? Send Ramona packing? She’d just swallowed my damn cum. I couldn’t kick her out. Someone could have warned me Aspen was coming.

  “Beer, please,” Ramona said again, still holding on to me.

  Fuck, fine. If she’d stop touching me.

  “Yeah, I’ll be right back,” I muttered, then turned to get the hell out of that room.

  When I walked out, Gage was heading this way with his arm thrown over Shiloh’s shoulders. He glanced over my shoulder and winced. “Damn. You brought her to eat? I always knew you were a cold son of a bitch, but I didn’t know how deep that shit went.”

  “What?” Shiloh asked.

  Gage pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “You’ll see,” he told her.

  I stalked to the bar and grabbed two beers. I wanted to throw them both against a wall. Why were they acting like I’d fucked up? Aspen and I were not a couple. Aspen knew that. Even thought she was acting all strange and shit. Slamming the cooler closed, I headed back to the conference room to get this over with.

  Ramona was on me the second I walked inside. “Thank you!” she said, taking it, then spinning around to face the table.

  My eyes found Aspen. She was sitting between Trinity and Kye. He was saying something to her, and a small smile touched her face. It wasn’t fake, but it didn’t meet her eyes. He bumped her shoulder with his arm, and I wanted to hurt him.

  Ramona went and sat her ass directly across from Aspen. Motherfucking hell. Could this get any worse? Like I was going to be able to eat anything with Aspen sitting there beside Kye, who kept touching her. I was stuck over here because I’d decided I needed to blow off steam.

  I heard the talking going on around me. I just couldn’t focus on it. My head was pounding. Aspen lifted her eyes and met mine. The hurt look in them was worse than a damn knife being shoved in my chest. I wanted to reach across the table and grab her. Hold her and tell her … fuck, I didn’t know. What would I tell her? I’m sorry I needed to fuck. She means nothing to me.

  The tight smile she gave me was it, and then she looked away.

  “You made everyone’s favorites,” Shiloh said.

  “Aspen made the brownies. I can’t take credit for that. They’ve got homemade fudge icing in them, and I won’t lie—I licked the bowl when she was done.” Trinity was talking to everyone, but I felt like she was glaring at me as she spoke. I didn’t look at her.

  “I’m gonna eat two,” Kye said, winking at Aspen.

  She blushed, and I had to grip the chair to keep from flying over the table and tackling him.

  “It was my gran’s recipe. She always made them for special occasions.”

  “So, you can cook too?” Shiloh asked.

  Aspen nodded, tucking some hair behind her ear. She looked so damn shy and unsure. This was my job. To sit beside her and reassure her. Hold her hand. Whatever she needed.

  “Okay, you two are teaching me how to cook. I am feeling left out.”

  Gage chuckled. “You don’t have to cook, baby. You’ve already got my favorite thing to eat between your legs.”

  “Jesus, Gage,” Huck growled.

  Gage laughed, and Shiloh slapped at his chest.

  Ramona was rubbing on me again, and I wanted to shove her away. Far away. I shifted to try and gently remove her without being cruel.

  “I’m hungry,” I said.

  Everyone was fixing their plates, and my gaze kept going to Aspen’s plate. It was empty, and she wasn’t moving to get anything. Once I sat back down, I saw Kye trying to put creamed potatoes on her plate, and she shook her head. He grabbed for the mac and cheese, and she refused it.

  Dammit! She couldn’t sit here and not eat. I got it—she was upset about Ramona. I’d fucked up. I hadn’t known she would be here. This shit was getting sticky, and I didn’t know what to do about it. Frustrated, I leaned over and grabbed her plate. Her eyes shot up to meet mine.

  “You have to eat, Aspen.”

  She was so damn tense, and I hated it.

  “Okay,” she finally replied softly and reached for her plate.

  I shook my head. “I’ll fix it. Just sit.”

  I knew every fucker at this table was watching me. They were all thinking I was an asshole. Well, except Ramona, who had no clue what was going on. I made sure Aspen had some of everything, then put it back in front of her.

  She didn’t say anything or look at me. I saw Kye’s arm move, as if he was patting her leg.

  My eyes swung to his. “Don’t.”

  His jaw clenched. “Fuck off.”

  I pointed to the door. “NOW!” I growled, shoving my chair back and stalking out without making sure he was following me.

  He would. I knew him too well.

  I kept going until I was far enough away from the conference room. My fists were ready to break his fucking nose. Turning, I glared at him as he made his way toward me.

  He held up his hands. “What? You gonna hit me? Well, go for it. But understand this: I’m going to hit you back. Because you fucking deserve it. I’ve not done shit!”

  “What? I didn’t know she was going to be here. It’s not like I fucked in front of her. Jesus! Everyone is overreacting.”

  Kye pointed at the door leading to the garage. “She saw you, and I was the one who found her. I want to bash your face into a brick wall so damn bad right now. You didn’t see the look on her face while you were shouting about coming down the bitch’s throat. I. DID.”

  It felt like he’d taken his shot and knocked the air out of me. “Fuck,” I muttered, walking over to sit down on the nearest chair. I dropped my head into my hands.

  “Yeah, fuck,” he snarled. “She was devastated. It broke my heart. I swear to God, in that moment, I don’t think I’ve ever hated anyone more than I did you.”

  Join the club.

  “Figure this shit out, man. Stop yanking her around. She’s too damn sweet for your bullshit. She’s safe. We’ve all agreed she is under no threat. They apparently got what they were looking for at Kitty’s. No one has seen them in Ocala in weeks.”

  My head shot up. “No. She needs me. I can’t just let her go.”

  Kye narrowed his gaze. “Does she need you, or do you need her?”

  “Listen, I think I’m going to go,” Ramona said, stepping around Kye.

  “Probably a good idea,” Kye replied.

  I looked at her, not sure what to say. It was a hookup. We’d done them before. “Uh, yeah, okay.”

  She nodded, watching me for a minute. “I didn’t come here for anything more than what I got. You’re hot, and you’ve got a big dick. But I don’t want to get in the middle of all this shit … whatever it is. So, unless you’re unattached, don’t call me up again.”

  I was unattached, but I didn’t say anything. I just nodded.

  She lifted her hand and waved, then headed for the door.

  “I’m going back in there unless you want to take a swing at me,” Kye said.

  “Don’t touch her,” I warned him.

  “She needs comfort. That’s all I’m doing.”

  I stood and pointed at my chest. “That’s my job.”

  He shook his head. “Not tonight. You’re the last person she wants it from.”

  I watched him walk back to the conference room. If I went back in there, could I keep from beating his ass? But if I didn’t, she’d think I’d left with Ramona. I had no choice. I made my way back to the damn table.

  Twenty-Five

  Aspen

  Everyone was treating me like I was about to shatter. I wished I could reassure them that I was fine. It was just hard to do that when you weren’t anywhere close to being fine. Needing a moment in the restroom to gather myself after that meal, I took several breaths. It was over. I’d survived. The girl leaving had helped. Slightly.

  I wasn’t sure who was riding home with who. If Huck had a vehicle here, I figured Trinity would ride with him.

  I stepped out of the restroom, and Levi was standing there, waiting on me. Not who I wanted to see.

  “You ready?” he asked me.

  I glanced around. “Where’s Kye?”

  “Waiting on us in the vehicle.”

  Us? No, no, no. He could ride with someone else.

  “Come on, sweetheart,” he said gently, holding out his hand for me.

  I stared down at it, and I couldn’t do it. Touching him would be too difficult. I walked past him, heading for the SUV, but his hands grabbed my waist and held me. It felt good. I hated myself at that moment. I didn’t want to feel anything. Not anymore.

  “Talk to me, baby,” he whispered. “Please.”

  Talk to him? Baby? About how I had gotten to listen to him get a blow job? Then, he had rubbed it in my face by bringing her to the meal? About how I wasn’t supposed to care and did?

  “There’s nothing to talk about. I’m just ready to leave.”

  Levi pulled me against his chest. “Bullshit. You’re upset. Talk to me.”

  I sighed. His scent, hard body, all those things I loved taunted me. I forced myself to remember why he hadn’t come to see me today, that he hadn’t missed me, that he had stayed here because he had some girl to mess around with.

  I stiffened. “You smell like her. Please let me go.”

  When I pulled free, he released me. Before I could do anything stupid, like apologize and throw myself in his arms, I headed for the door.

  I didn’t know if he would follow me. I just needed to leave this place. I was sure I never wanted to come back. The headlights of the SUV came on as I stepped outside. I made my way to get in. I opened the door to the backseat. Levi could sit up front with Kye. It was clear Levi hadn’t liked Kye sitting by me.

  My emotions were too strung out to deal with any more of that drama.

  “You okay?” Kye asked me.

  I nodded. “Yeah.”

  The door beside me opened, and Levi climbed in, causing me to slide over.

  “I thought you’d sit up front,” I said tightly.

  He slammed the door. “Not when you’re back here,” was all he said. He didn’t try and touch me again.

  No one spoke on the drive. Kye turned the radio up, and I laid my head back on the seat and stared out the window. I should have expected this. When he hadn’t come home, like Huck had, I should have known this was why. Getting hurt was ridiculous. I’d let myself care about him in a way that was dangerous.

  His hand touched my thigh, and I jerked. I turned my head to look at him. His hazel eyes were studying me.