Why wasn’t he off comforting his little miss innocent instead of coming after me?
“There’s no need,” Carter said. “And you and Landon are together now? I’m telling you, he’s not someone you
get to set your sights on.”
I let out a cold laugh. “So in your eyes, I’m never as good as Lexi, is that it, or do you think I’m all in on you
for life?”
“I’ve never thought that,” he said.
Maybe he told himself he hadn’t, but his actions screamed it to everyone else–Lexi deserved the best because she was sweet and reasonable, and I was nothing but something you scraped off the bottom of
your shoe.
Still on the phone with me, Carter tore through room after room. Ever since Landon had carried me out earlier, Carter had been wound tight and restless, like he couldn’t settle.
“Open the door,” he snapped.
He tried the handle a few more times and realized it was locked. I knew if I didn’t open the door, he’d keep
making a scene.
“This is Landon’s private lounge,” he said the second I cracked it. “Come with me.”
In his head, I still belonged to him, and nobody else was allowed to touch what was his–not even his bro.
“What does it have to do with you?” I shot back. “He’s my husband. If I’m in his lounge, what’s the problem? If
you’re that bored, go find your Lexi.”
“You’re shameless, Renee.”
“Lexi?” a voice cut in. “What are you talking about?”
She’d come upstairs looking for Carter and walked in right on that line.
“You heard what she said,” Lexi hissed, her face twisting. “And you’re giving her way too much grace. Does she even know who she is, thinking she can set her sights on the Hales? She’d never even make it through
the Quinns‘ front door.”
Carter frowned at her, the look on her face sharp and ugly in a way he clearly hadn’t seen before. The words
she’d thrown out also rubbed him wrong.
“Lexi, watch your mouth,” he said. “She’s my fiancée.”
Chapter 6
4.80%
Only then did Lexi realize she’d overstepped. “Sorry, Carter. I didn’t mean it like that. I just… I panicked.”
“That’s the Hales‘ business,” he said, voice tightening. “Why are you panicking?”
I leaned against the doorframe. “Because the one she actually wants is Landon. She can’t clear the Hales‘ front door, so she settled for you instead, and you still treat her like she’s priceless.”
“What are you talking about?” Carter snapped. “I only see her as a bro. I don’t feel anything romantic.”
Even so, my words hooked under his ribs, because that pathetic male pride of his couldn’t stand the idea that the woman he’d been protecting might be eyeing his bro instead.
“No, Carter,” Lexi said fast. “She’s making things up. She’s the one with designs on Landon, and now she
wants to throw me under the bus.”
Carter didn’t argue. He grabbed my wrist and started dragging me toward the hall.
“Come home,” he said. “This is the Hales‘ place. Staying here will only cause Landon trouble.”
“Let go of me,” I snapped, yanking back. “This is my home. If you two want to lose it, do it outside. Stop barking in my house. I don’t have time for your games.”
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