Page 24 of One Hot Texas Summer (The Prentice Brothers of Sweet Ridge #1)

A nticipation fired through Kelly as she waited at the bar for Tate to arrive.

He’d texted her to say he’d be there in about forty minutes and wanted to meet her for a drink.

She had expected that he’d want to go up to the room to dump his stuff, but maybe it was better they started the weekend off casually with a drink before they went up to the hotel room.

When she’d checked in, she’d been surprised at the size of their accommodations. It was more a suite than a standard hotel room. Tears had welled in her eyes when she spied the beautiful flower arrangement on the coffee table in the sitting area. Tate’s message to her had been short and sweet.

I can’t wait to spend time with you. Txxx

“Hey, beautiful, can I join you?”

The voice over her shoulder was familiar, and the hairs on her arms rose, like she had a million ants crawling over her skin.

Kelly swiveled her chair and came face to face with her past. “Hello, Edwin. And, no you can’t join me.”

Ignoring her, Edwin slipped onto the stool she’d been saving for Tate. “Oh, come on, Kel-Bell, don’t be like that. Surely, enough time has passed for you to let go of your bitterness about our breakup.”

Kelly clenched her fists at her side, controlling the desire to pick up her glass and toss the remainder of her wine in his face.

At the time, she thought his nickname for her cute.

Now it grated on her every nerve ending.

“I haven’t allowed myself to think about you over the last couple of years.

Though I’m surprised you’re allowed out.

Or are you on the prowl again for another woman to join your little wives club? ”

“Are you interested? Are you lonely, Kelly, and that’s why you’re sitting at the bar all by yourself?”

Dammit, she’d walked right into that.

“As if,” she scoffed. “And no, I’m not lonely. I’m waiting for someone.”

“And that someone is here, so I suggest you leave Kelly alone and go hit on some other woman.”

Relief swept through her. She slid off the stool, and in two seconds, she was by his side. “Tate,” she murmured as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pressed her body fully against him and captured his lips.

Tate’s hands gripped her waist tightly, and he angled his head, deepening the kiss as if he was as starving for a taste of her as she was for him.

“If this is for my benefit, it wasn’t necessary. I did enjoy the show though.”

Pressed up against him, she knew the moment Tate’s whole body tightened. The last thing she wanted was for him to get into a fight with Edwin. The guy wasn’t worth it. Plus, she needed to deal with this herself. Edwin was her past, not Tate’s.

“I’ve got this,” she muttered before turning to face her ex again.

Even though she didn’t need it, having Tate behind her bolstered her confidence.

“You’re such an ass, Edwin. What Tate and I have is a million times better than what we ever had.

I’m with a real man now, not a guy who has to surround himself with ‘yes’ women to make himself feel important. ”

Edwin’s face turned redder and redder with each word until it looked like he was about to explode. He got off his stool. “You were one of those women, Kelly. And if I do say so, you weren’t that great.”

“Enough.” Tate moved until he was standing toe to toe with Edwin. “I don’t know who the hell you are, but you don’t speak to Kelly, or any woman, that way.”

“What are you going to do about it? Hit me?” Edwin sneered and Kelly resisted the urge to do just that. It was what he deserved.

“Don’t tempt me,” Tate ground out.

How on earth had she thought Edwin attractive?

Imagined he was the man who was going to be her future?

Looking at him standing in front of her and Tate, he didn’t resemble the person she’d dated for more than a year.

It was clear he’d been hiding his true nature, and she was now seeing it.

Pity for his wife and any other woman who lived with him filled her, and as much as she’d like to tell them his real nature, in all likelihood they wouldn’t believe her.

Or they already knew and were happy to stay with him.

“You’re not worth our time, Edwin.” Kelly placed her hand on Tate’s forearm, the muscle still hard beneath her touch, as if ready to spring into action if she said the word. “Let’s go, Tate.”

“You’re the type of person who gives men a bad name,” Tate said and slipped his arm around Kelly’s waist.

She welcomed his strength and warmth.

Neither one said anything as they walked toward the elevator bank. Kelly’s heart rate was beginning to get back to normal, and the adrenaline that had been pumping through her was tapering off.

Tate stabbed at the button; clearly, he needed a few more minutes for him to calm down a little bit. The wait wasn’t long and Tate stood to the side, allowing her to precede him into the empty car.

“Are you okay?” he asked as the doors slid closed.

“I’m fine. How about you?”

Tate blew out a breath and lifted his head, gazing at the ceiling. “I don’t know. I just wanted to, shit…” He scrubbed a hand down his face. “Who was that guy?”

That was the last question she wanted to answer, but it was the most logical one for him to ask. “That was Edwin Lines, my ex. I was seeing him before I moved down to Sweet Ridge permanently.”

His eyes widened in surprise. “You dated that jerk?”

“Yes, I did.” The doors opened on their floor, and Kelly stepped out without waiting to hear Tate’s response. As if his dating life was perfect. Tate had left a string of women in his wake. He had no right to judge her past.

God, she wished she could go back thirty minutes and not run into Edwin at the bar. Then, instead of being on the verge of an argument, she and Tate could’ve been sitting at a cozy table, knees rubbing together as they flirted with each other.

She fumbled with her keycard, and an arm reached over her shoulder, inserting the plastic rectangle into the slot. The lock disengaged and Tate pushed open the door. She ducked under his arm and strode into their room, tossing her purse on the bed.

Why was she getting so upset? It was true Edwin was a jerk, but it hurt that Tate seemed amazed that she once dated him.

The Edwin on display tonight was a completely different one to the Edwin she’d worked with and dated.

He was also different to the Edwin who confirmed he was indeed married and the lifestyle he wanted.

A lifestyle he hoped she’d be a part of.

The second he’d finished speaking she’d dumped his ass and walked out.

She had no issues with polyamorous relationships, but it wasn’t one she wanted to be part of.

Edwin had kept his true life a secret and it burned how easily she’d been sucked into his charming web.

The Edwin blinders had been ripped off, and she was glad they had been.

The last thing she wanted to do, though, was let the asshole spoil her weekend with Tate. This weekend marked a turning point in their relationship. She didn’t want Edwin or his toxic actions anywhere near the two of them.

She had to let her irrational anger at Tate’s comment go. “This wasn’t how I wanted our weekend together to start,” she said quietly. “I had imagined our evening being different.”

Kelly started when Tate’s large hands landed on her shoulders. He applied pressure and she turned from staring at the curtains to look at him.

“I’m sorry, Kel.” He cupped her cheek, his touch light but comforting. “I shouldn’t have said what I did. It’s not my place to judge who you dated in the past. Can’t say some of the women I dated were stellar decisions.”

Considering the reputation Tate had around town, she could believe that. “We all have a past, there’s no denying it. What we’ve been through on that journey has shaped us to being who we are now. Edwin used me and he hurt me. He lied the whole—” Two fingers pressed against her lips.

“I don’t need to know about him, Kel. He lost out, and I won because I have you here with me. All I want is to start the night over. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He pressed his lips against her forehead and then walked out of the room.

Yes, she’d like to start the night over. Picking up her purse from the bed, she placed it on top of the dresser. She might as well check her appearance while waiting for Tate to return.

In the bathroom, she ran a brush through her hair, touched up her makeup and instead of putting on more lipstick she settled for a light pink gloss.

Wandering back into the main part of the suite, she fluffed pillows that didn’t need fluffing and, for once, was grateful that there were minimal lights in hotel rooms.

Should she sit on the bed or one of the armchairs close to the window?

Open the curtains or keep them closed?

Closed. They might be thirty floors up, but there was still the chance that people could be cleaning the building opposite the hotel and be able to see into their room.

The door opened and thoughts of curtains and buildings and cleaners flew out of her mind. Kelly held her breath, waiting to see what Tate was up to. He walked in with an ice bucket that had a bottle sticking out of it in one hand, and in the other he held two champagne flutes.

Her heart rate inched up with every step he took, closing the distance between them.

“Hey, Kel. It’s good to see you.”

“Tate, glad you made it here safely.”

Tate placed the glasses and ice bucket on the coffee table near where she was standing and then placed his hands on her waist, exactly the same way as he’d done in the bar.

“You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.” Kelly was glad she’d packed this wrapround dress. The style accentuated her breasts and waist. The best thing about it was that it was easy to remove. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”