Page 45

“Everything okay?” Lachlan glances from Bron to me and stays. His gaze is searching. Assessing in a way that leaves me raw and vulnerable.

“We’re fine,” Bron snaps, rounding on his father. “Just talking to my girlfriend,Dad.”

He spitsdadlike he always does, with a blade aiming to cut.

But Lachlan is only focused on me. “Everly?”

With Bron monitoring my every reaction, every tick, I have no choice but to smile and nod. “Yes, everything is fine, Mr. Shaw. Thank you.”

He doesn’t say it because he’s a gentleman, but I know he doesn’t believe me when he cocks his head in his son’s direction.

“Set up the pit if you’re staying, or maybe turn in and calm down.”

He does nothing to conceal his disgust, and I know Bron hears it, too.

“Maybe that’s a good idea.” He turns cold eyes on me. “You can get out of those clothes up in my room.”

It’s the fact that Bron has never touched me, not even second base that has me too stunned to speak.

It’s not until he cocks his head in Lachlan’s direction, smirk glacial, that I realize the performance isn’t for me.

“You don’t mind if I take my girlfriend upstairs to fuck, do you?”

The fact that I can’t make out Lachlan’s features through the shadows gives me some hope that they can’t see the horror on mine.

Bron captures my fingers. The grip is a vise grinding the bones together. I cry out without thinking and that seems to fuel something in Lachlan because the next second, I’m torn from Bron and facinghis father’s back.

“Go.” The single word is a threat, a promise dripping with poison. “Now.”

I can’t see Bron, but the venom is a palpable heat washing over me.

“Fine. Everly, let’s go.”

I don’t move, not because I’m being defiant, but Lachlan’s hand extends to stop me.

“Only you.”

Bron scoffs. “If I go, she goes with me. Isn’t that right, Everly?”

My head is beginning to pound. I can feel the nerves pinging all the way down my neck. I wish I never accepted the invitation. I should have gone home. This is all going to end so badly and it’ll be my fault.

“I’m okay, Mr. Shaw,” I murmur, needing to defuse the situation. Needing to get Bron away from everyone. “It’s getting late anyway.” I step out from behind him and force a smile up into his face. “Thank you for dinner.”

Bron grabs my wrist the moment I’m out and I’m dragged to his side.

“You don’t have to worry,Dad.I’ll take good care of her.”

I let myself get hauled to the house. I manage a firm shake of my head to Lauren when she starts forward, fingersballed like she’s prepared to flatten Bron. I don’t even look at Van as I’m dragged up the patio steps and inside.

But I dig my heels into the linoleum the second we’re alone and yank my arm free.

“What the hell was that?” I glower up into his face. “That was humiliating. Telling your dad we’re...”

Bron smirks. “Go on, little miss perfect, say it. Fucking.”

I can say it. But the word itself is so dirty and ... private. It refuses to be expelled.

He scoffs when I can only frown at him. “What pissed you off more? That I embarrassed you or that my dad thinks I’m plowing your cunt and making you scream my name?”