Scowling at him, I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “I met her first.”

  Sax rolled his eyes at me. “So, tell me, what’s her favorite movie? Color? Dessert? Favorite time of day? When is her birthday? How long has she lived in Ocala? Where did she live before there?” He raised his eyebrows. “Don’t know? Well, I do. I talked to her. Got to know her. Garrett knows that.”

  How the fuck did he know all that? What did he do, grill her with questions all damn day? No wonder she ran her ass back to Ocala before the sun came up. She was worried he’d ask her twenty questions on the flight back.

  “Did you kiss her?” I asked through clenched teeth.

  He looked annoyed. “No, I didn’t. Like I said, we are friends. I can read women, and I’m not the one she’s attracted to.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean? Who the fuck is she attracted to?” My hands fisted as I glared at him. Who had he let her talk to?

  Sax laughed and shook his head. “Please tell me you’re not that blind.”

  “She’s got the hots for little Hughes?” Kye blurted out. “Now, that’s fucking hilarious.”

  I scowled at Kye until his words sank in, and then I snapped my gaze back to Sax. “Me?”

  Sax stood up. “Good Lord, I need more coffee for this shit.”

  “She said that?” I asked, unable to keep the smile off my face.

  “She didn’t have to say it. She struggled not to watch you all over Gretchen and her friend last night. Before that, she watched you with Eliza. I felt bad for her, but it was best she figured out you were a whore now.”

  I fell back in my chair. Fuck. She’d been watching me with them. I didn’t do it to get to her. I didn’t think she gave a shit. I had been doing it to keep me from touching her like a crazed man.

  “You keep that good guy friend shit up, and she’ll spread those pretty legs for you, Sax,” Levi said while grinning at me.

  “Keep it up, Levi, and I’m gonna get up from here. I’m not a fucking kid anymore. I can take your ass, old man,” I warned him. “And that stupid fucking beard.”

  “Warn me first. I want to get my popcorn ready,” Kye drawled.

  “Hey, don’t diss my beard. The bitches love the feel of this between their legs. Should have grown one years ago,” Levi replied, more amused than anything.

  “Whatever. You’re both assholes.” I scowled, then turned to Sax. “I’ll go to her work and stay with her today.”

  Sax shook his head. “No, you won’t. And if you do, I’m still going. Garrett gave me orders, and I’ll do what I was told.”

  “Fuck,” I growled. “I swear to God, you’d better not fuck her.” I closed my eyes again. My head was pounding.

  “What, today? If you think there is even a chance Gypsi would do that, then you really don’t know anything about her. She’s not a Gretchen or Eliza.”

  I didn’t open my eyes to look at Sax. I was too fucking pissed that he knew things I didn’t. That he could be her friend when I struggled with keeping her in a friend zone. But, fuck, she had obviously been struggling too. She wasn’t immune to me like she had led me to believe.

  What the fuck did I do with that though? Nothing had changed. Our parents were still dating. That made it complicated. And if she didn’t fuck for fun, then she required a relationship. I wasn’t in the market for that. Never would be. Goddammit, why did she have to make this hard?

  “You saying she’s a relationship kinda girl?” I asked sourly.

  “Yep. That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Sax replied.

  He sure knew how to throw ice water on my dirty daydreams. Fuck.

  “I want to know where she’s lived, how long she’s been in Ocala, her favorite movie, dessert, all that shit. Tell me.”

  “What are you gonna do with it? Even if your parents weren’t dating, you don’t want what she wants. You would only hurt her. Hell, I think you hurt her without meaning to last night.”

  I clenched my teeth and opened my eyes to glare at my best friend. Why the fuck would he tell me that? I hadn’t needed to know I’d hurt her. That fucking made me feel bad. It made my chest ache, and I didn’t like it.

  “Tell me about Gypsi,” I ordered angrily.

  Sax sighed. “Fine. They lived in Miami for a year and moved to Ocala three weeks ago. Ocala was a stopping point on their way north. She loves anything peanut butter and chocolate. She loves watching the sunset. Favorite movie is The Godfather—and, yes, I almost spit my damn whiskey all over her when she told me that one.”

  I sat up, grinning. “She seriously said that?”

  He nodded. “Hard to keep from laughing, too, but I managed to keep a straight face. She loves pink. Her birthday is August 31.”

  Sax had taken the time to get to know those things and remembered them. He’d paid attention to her. He hadn’t mingled and found a hookup. Things he normally did at events like that. He was a fucking good guy. He was a relationship guy. There was no danger of his dad dating her mom. He was fucking perfect for her. The kind of guy she deserved.

  I ran a hand over my face in frustration. That was why he was the hero and I was the villain. Because I wasn’t going to let him fucking have her.

  Nine

  Gypsi

  It had cost me fourteen dollars for an Uber to the airport, eighty-three dollars for the flight, and sixty-two dollars for the Uber ride from the airport in Gainesville to the coffee shop. One hundred fifty-nine dollars I shouldn’t have spent. But I’d had to get out of that suite. That hotel. And out of Kentucky. I’d stayed awake all night, staring at the door. Trying to figure out how Tyde had gotten in there. If he had. Wanting another explanation, but unable to come up with one.

  I finished the cappuccino my current customer wanted and took her ham and cheese melt from the microwave, then handed them to her. It had been busy since I’d arrived. Leaving Kentucky early put me here for the last half of the morning shift, and since they were so busy, my boss had told me to clock in. I figured the money would help with what I’d spent to get back here.

  The bell on the door rang, and I lifted my eyes to see Saxon walk in. The smile that curled my lips wasn’t forced. Seeing him was nice. Deep down, I normally tensed up every time someone new walked in. Terrified it would be Tyde. Even if Saxon was just here to get a coffee and go, it made me feel less alone for the moment.

  “Hello,” I greeted him. “I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”

  He shrugged. “You left me no choice, running off before the rest of the world woke up.”

  “Did we talk about where I worked?” I asked him, realizing this wasn’t a coincidence. He wasn’t here for coffee.

  A guilty grin made his dimples pop. “I might have asked your mom.”

  That was so sweet. He’d asked about me. Asked my mom. And he was here. Why did this not give me flutters? What was wrong with me? I should get that giddy, excited feeling. Right?

  “Well then, choose your poison. It’s on me,” I told him.

  The bell chimed again. I looked over his shoulder, and my eyes collided with gray ones. The butterflies erupted in my stomach. A smile spread across my face before I could stop it. Why? Because I was stupid. A very stupid girl. But Trev Hughes’s sexy smirk, formfitting T-shirt, and khaki shorts, which showed off his muscular, tanned lower legs—it was lethal.

  “Hey, Lollipop,” he drawled, and my heart did a weird tightening thing.

  “Trev.” I said his name, unable to keep the pleased sound from my voice.

  He noticed. I could see it in the way he was looking at me. He knew he was sex on a stick, and he enjoyed the effect it had on females.

  “You ran off on me. Not even a goodbye.” The teasing twinkle in his eyes made my nipples pebble because I was a glutton for punishment.

  “Work,” I stated the obvious.

  “If I’d known you needed to get back earlier, Lollipop, I’d have made that happen. You should have told me.”

  “During or after your orgy on the dance floor last night?” Saxon asked.

  Trev ignored him, keeping his eyes fixed on me. “You left last night without a goodnight too. My feelings are hurt.”

  I rolled my eyes. We both knew his feelings were not hurt. “I am sure you survived just fine last night.”

  He placed a hand over his heart. “You wound me. I looked for you, and Sax had taken you away.”

  “You had your hands full. Literally,” I shot back at him, then worried that I’d sounded bitter about that.

  “Lollipop, there were only two. My hands were definitely not full.”

  “Ooookay, rein that shit in,” Saxon said, glaring at his friend, then turned back to me. “I’ll have two espresso shots and a slice of the carrot cake. For here.” He paused, then slapped Trev’s stomach with the back of his hand. “Order some food and let her work.”

  Trev shot Saxon a very brief, annoyed look before turning his megawatt smile on me again. “Just a black coffee, whatever sandwich you suggest, a brownie, and that chocolate peanut butter cake.”

  “A slice?” I asked, wanting to laugh that he’d started this order with “just,” then ordered way more than Saxon.

  He smirked. “The whole cake.”

  “You want that entire cake?” I asked, looking at the cake that Geoff, the baker, had just brought up here thirty minutes ago.

  He nodded.

  “Um, I have to go ask how much the whole cake is,” I told him.

  “Will this cover it?” he asked, holding out two one-hundred-dollar bills.

  I frowned at the cash, then lifted my eyes back to meet his. “That’s way too much. It might be a hundred for all of Saxon’s food, yours, and the cake.”

  “Excellent,” he said, dropping the two bills on the counter. “The cake is to go.”

  I picked up the money and handed him back a bill. He shook his head and winked before walking over to the table closest to me and sitting down.

  “Trev, this is too much,” I tried again.

  “He’s not going to take it back. Might as well give up,” Saxon said.

  “This is crazy,” I muttered, then took the other bill and placed it in the tip jar.

  I split the tips with the morning shift. Donja and Jerry would be thrilled.

  I took the cake and put it in a box, then bagged it before someone came in and asked for a slice. Then, I went about making two sandwiches instead of one since he’d given me too much money and filling the rest of their order. Saxon had gone to sit across from Trev, and I tried not to look at them until I had their orders ready. I placed everything on a tray and turned to take it to them but Trev was standing at the counter.

  “I’ll take it,” he told me.

  I handed it to him, and he nodded at the cake. “That’s yours.”

  “Mine?” I asked.

  “You like anything peanut butter and chocolate. Right?”

  I nodded.

  “The cake is for you.”

  A shocked laugh bubbled out of me. “I can’t eat that whole cake.” But it was sweet.

  Trev Hughes was trying to be sweet. He was also more than likely trying to get in my pants. Not that I was against that idea. I just knew better. We didn’t need to go down that road.

  “Then, come to the house tonight. We can share it.”

  “Your house?” I asked, my heart rate speeding up. This was a terrible suggestion.

  “Certainly not Sax’s. I have the better pool,” he replied. “Sax can come too. We will make it a small party. But the cake is yours regardless.”

  I looked past him to Saxon, who was watching us from the table. Why did it feel like if I agreed, he would be disappointed in me? He was Trev’s best friend. Besides, he would be there. It wouldn’t be just me and Trev. There would be other people. Girls. There would be other girls. Trev would have one or more hanging on him.

  My stomach knotted up. “Uh, um … I don’t think I can tonight. I need to do laundry this evening, and I have work tomorrow morning.” It was lame, but I couldn’t go to his house and watch him with some bikini-wearing girls rubbing all over him.

  “You turning me down for laundry, Lollipop?”

  “No. I’m explaining why I can’t tonight.”

  He wasn’t accustomed to being told no. It was obvious. He finally turned around with the tray and walked over to the table. The doorbell chimed, and I had never been more relieved to have a customer.

  Over the next hour, I barely got a break. Trev had left after finishing his sandwich. I’d been busy, but he saluted me as he backed out of the door. Seeing him leave had made me sad. Which was another reason I had done the right thing by telling him no. The cake had been left with Saxon, and every time I glanced over at it, my chest squeezed.

  Trev had come here to make amends in his own way. It wasn’t his fault he was so dang gorgeous. The one-hundred-dollar bill in the tip jar only made me feel worse. He was trying to be friends, and I hadn’t been very accommodating. I had let my fear of seeing him with other girls again stand in the way.

  When three o’clock came around, I went to lock the door, then turned to Saxon. “It’s closing time. As much as I like seeing you, you can’t sleep here,” I teased.

  He chuckled. “Damn. That was my plan.”

  When he didn’t stand up to go, I walked back over to the register to begin balancing the drawer before cleaning up.

  “He was being nice, and I was a jerk,” I said, frustrated.

  “You were not even close to being a jerk,” Saxon replied. “You were being smart.”

  I pulled out the money from the tip jar and sighed. “But why? He wants to be friends. Our parents are dating. I should stop pushing him away.”

  Saxon stood up. “Do you really think he just wants to be friends?”

  I held Saxon’s gaze a moment, then sighed. “No. Yes. I don’t know. Trev is a player. I don’t think he can do anything but flirt.” I pointed to the cake. “He bought me a cake. A peanut butter and chocolate cake. I’ve always wanted to try it, but every time we have it, the thing sells out before my shift is over. And he bought me the entire cake. I shouldn’t have turned down his invitation.”

  My cell phone dinged, and I pulled it out of my back pocket. It was from my mom.

  I’m going to dinner with Garrett tonight, and he’s asked me to stay over at his house. Are you okay? How do you feel about that? I’m not sure I should leave you at the trailer alone until we know … it’s safe. What if you stay over at Garrett’s too? Would you do that?

  I read over the text three times. It was as if fate was trying to right my wrong.

  Lifting my gaze, I looked at Saxon. “My mom wants to stay at Garrett’s tonight but wants me to stay too. So she won’t worry about me being alone.”

  Saxon chuckled. “You want to go, Gypsi? Then, go. I’ll take you home. Get your things. Then, we will head over to Trev’s.”

  I would be going to his house after all. The buzz of excitement over seeing him again today was not a good sign.

  Ten

  Gypsi

  Standing in the living area of the camper—also known as my bedroom—I clutched my bikini while staring in horror at the small plastic ring on my pillow. Gold and blue. Another replica. I backed away until my back hit the kitchen sink, gulping for air.

  He’d been in my home. He’d been around my things. My mom’s things.

  This was happening. I hadn’t imagined it. I’d thought leaving would fix it. He’d let me go. How wrong I had been. And now … now, my mom was happy. I couldn’t ask her to leave it all. Not because I’d trusted the wrong guy. This was my problem. Not hers. I needed to figure out how to protect her.

  Forcing my legs to move, I walked back to the ring, picked it up, and shoved it into my bag. It wasn’t safe for Saxon here, and he was sitting out there in the car, waiting on me. I had to get him away from this place. Grabbing the last few things I needed, I hurried out of the trailer, locking it behind me. Although I wasn’t sure what good that did. Nothing seemed to be able to stop Tyde.

  Hide. I had to find a place to hide. Get a new job somewhere safe. Maybe Mom would start staying at Garrett’s more. I could move the camper. Find a more hidden place to park it. Explaining that to my mom though would be difficult. I couldn’t let her suspect anything. If she did, we’d be gone within hours.

  Saxon was out of the car and holding open my door when I reached the vehicle. I gave him a smile that hid the terror currently gripping me.

  “Sorry it took so long,” I apologized.

  He frowned. “You were barely in there.”

  It had felt like I’d been in there for years.

  I climbed into the car and buckled up, then studied the trailer for signs of Tyde being there. I heard Saxon get in and close the door. He didn’t need to come back here. I was putting so many people in danger. I would leave tonight if it wasn’t for my mom. She’d panic. Freak out and find me. I had to do this so that she stayed calm.

  “You good?” he asked me.

  No. I was so far from good. “Yeah, just tired.”

  “That’s understandable. You’ve had a long day.”

  I simply nodded. Thankfully, he didn’t ask more questions on the drive to Trev’s house. Other than asking me about my music preference, we sat in silence. It gave me time to think, although I didn’t have an answer to my problem by the time we drove under the big arch leading into Hughes Farm.

  “Wow,” I whispered when we pulled up to the mansion that the Hughes called home.

  “It’s impressive,” Saxon agreed.

  “They live here?” I asked, already knowing the answer but still amazed.

  He chuckled. “Yep.”

  I wished I could have seen my mom’s reaction the first time she saw this place. She would have been thrilled. This was a new, exciting experience. Her favorite things in the world. There was no way I could take this from her.