He took a step back at the anger he could probably see on my face. I needed to leave before I did something I’d regret.
I pulled an insulated cup down from the cupboard, poured my coffee into it and left through the back door without glancing in my father’s direction.
Chapter 26
Thalia
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I paused at the kitchen door at the sound of raised voices. Jack and his father.
Not knowing what to do, I took a couple of steps back, intending to go up to my room, only to pause, when I heard his father shout ‘are you fucking another woman’. I wanted to hear his response and couldn’t believe it when I did. If I heard right, Jack just admitted to not having sex since he’d become engaged to Mia. Wow. Well at least it proved he honored his commitments.
He’d wanted me upstairs, and yes I’d wanted him. Having his hands and mouth on me had me ready to combust, and I still wanted him. He’d turned me inside out with just one look. He’d loved my strawberry tattoo, which made me wonder what he would do when he saw the one on my right hip or the other two. Yeah, I had a tattoo fetish, but in places that my parents would never get to see, unless I had my bikini on and then only the ones on my belly and hip would be visible.
“What are you doing out here,” Liam asked making me jump.
“Jack and your father were having a bit of a heated discussion in the kitchen,” I said, chewing on my lip.
“Sounds quiet now.” Liam pushed his way into the kitchen so I followed.
I’d heard Jack leave, because his father had cursed to high heaven just after I’d heard a door close. I wanted to go after Jack to make sure he was okay, but I didn’t think it would look too good if I did.
I walked over to the back window and looked out just in time to watch him roar out of the barn on his dirt bike.
Liam walked over, standing beside me. “You’re worried about him.”
“Yes.” I wasn’t about to start lying, plus Liam knew there was something happening between his brother and me.
He ran his hands through his hair, a gesture I’d come to associate with Jack. “Thalia, you’re both going to get hurt if this thing keeps growing between you both. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. He’s just as affected.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“In case you were wondering.”
“Thank you for that. I’m confused right now, so do you think we could get breakfast?” I asked, laughing.
He took hold of my hand and tugged me towards the toaster oven. “You shove some bagels in there and I’ll make the coffee. We can eat out back.”
“I’d like that.”
“Then I’ll take you to get a new pair of cowgirl boots – Alabama style,” he told me with a grin.
I gave him a friendly shove. “Hey, there is nothing wrong with the boots I already have.”
“Yeah there is. They’re Texas style.” He smirked and dodged past the hand I slapped towards him.
Rolling my eyes, I turned my attention back to the bagels spreading cream cheese over them. “I’ll take these out back.”
Pushing the door open with my butt, I walked out to the porch swing, placing the plates holding the bagels onto the coffee table before taking a seat on the swing. The swing, which, for the past two weeks, had reminded me of Jack, and our early morning snuggle.
“Do you want to have lunch in town? Or back here?” Liam asked, sitting opposite me.
“Why don’t we decide later, seems as though we’re only just having breakfast.”
Liam started to chuckle. “Okay. Point taken.”
Sitting back in the swing, I started to wonder where Jack had gone, because he’d torn out of the barn like no tomorrow.
“He’s probably gone to the river.”
I frowned.
“That’s where he goes to let off steam.”
All I wanted to do was go after him.
“Why do your parents treat him like that, if he’s always done what they’ve asked of him?”
“Because with my folks it’s never enough. He’s always worked harder to try and get their approval, which he’s never had. He’s not falling in line anymore, things are changing with him and my parents can sense that. And it all started with our arrival or more to the point when you arrived.”
I lifted my eyes to his. “I haven’t done anything.”
He smiled. “Thalia, you didn’t have to do anything other than be yourself.”
Liam ran his hands through his hair, which seemed to be a family trait. “I was watching Jack that first night here and when he caught sight of you, he didn’t notice anything, or anyone, else. You had all of his attention even through dinner.”
“Considering you asked me out, way back when, you don’t seem too bothered that I’m attracted to your brother.” There was something about Liam that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. He wasn’t gay, I don’t mean anything like that, because he looked at enough girls when we were out and about, but there was something.
“At first I thought there might have been something there between us, but there wasn’t. I like you as a friend, something of which I don’t have that many of.” He let out a sigh. “You know I think we need to clean up and then head into town.”