Page 22 of From West, With Regret

God. Why am I imagining kissing her and sinking my fingers into her hair? Into the curves of her full, round ass and those perfect tits?

I walk along the edge of the pool, only a few feet away, staying close but eyeing her suspiciously, ignoring the twitch in my dick. “Oh, what?”

“Nothing.” She smiles, shaking her head.

“No.” I chuckle. “There was clearly something else beneath thatoh.”

Her gray eyes can’t stay still, looking everywhere but at me. I keep my hands in my pockets, my fingers wrapped around her napkin. I bend at the hip, forcing her to look at me.

Begrudgingly, she finally matches her eyes with mine. She sighs and leans back in the water, kicking back farther toward the center of the pool. “I just don’t believe you.”

“You don’t believe me?”

“No, I don’t believe you just come to these to appease others.” She continues to dance her fingers along the surface of the water. “You’re a Hall. You were raised on coming to events like these.”

“Was I?” I ignore the punch to the gut. She’s reminding me of who she thinks I am.

“Yeah. Heath always loved these types of events. Gave him an opportunity to show off.”

“And you didn’t enjoy goingwith him?”

“Nope. I don’t think it’s in my veins.”

“Hence why you escaped to the pool?”

“I love the looks others give me.” She tips her head to the upper level. “They look at me like I’m an alien from another planet.”

The attendees gathered near the auction table eye us with suspicion before no doubt writing down their six figure bids. At least their money is going to a good cause.

“Sometimes I feel the same,” I confess.

London scoffs as she rolls her eyes. “Yeah, okay.”

“Ouch.” I remove my hand from my pocket and place it against my chest. “I’m actually kind of hurt you don’t believe me.”

She frowns, and her eyes soften. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. It’s just…”

“No, it’s fine. I understand.” I remove my phone from my pocket, making sure I pull the napkin out with it. After tucking it neatly underneath my phone, I place it on one of the lounge chairs behind me and walk to the edge of the pool to, where I bend down, swing my feet out from under me, and sink into the surprisingly warm water.

London pushes away from me as soon as I’m chest deep.

Keeping my gaze locked on hers, I swim closer to her. Once I’m within two feet of her, I dip my head under the water. As soon as I emerge, I push my hair back and wipe my hands down the front of my face, clearing my vision.

London’s gorgeous face is frozen with surprise. The closer I get to her, the more I find myself taking note of everything about her that reminds me of before. The angle of her nose, the way the gray in her eyes has a hint of blue from the reflection of the glowing water, and those goddamn dimples in her soft cheeks. I want to count her lashes and take inventory of everything I’vemissed over the years. Instead, I push down my thoughts and decide on another bit of honesty.

“You didn’t offend me,” I tell her. We move closer together. Her hands have disappeared beneath the water, and I fight the urge to search for them with my own. “Can I tell you a truth?”

Her black-lined eyes search my face. “All I ever want is the truth.”

I anchor myself to the bottom of the pool, and my heart hammers like a beating drum in my chest. “I’m not a Hall. I never have been.”

SEVEN

LONDON

Water drips from his bottom lip, disappearing into his thick beard. His hair is slicked back, revealing familiar eyes—ones that tug at my gut with a taut string, directing me to follow.

West’s confession hangs in the air between us. There’s hesitation mingled with a bit of fear in his expression, as though he’s afraid I’m going to disappear.