Page 130 of Positively Pricked

"Over dinner, did he give you a good earful?"

Hehad, in fact. But that wasn't the point. I said, "How'd you know?"

"You're inmyhotel."

"So?"

"So if I'm looking for you, it's not hard to find out when you left…" His jaw clenched. "…orwith whom."

In spite of everything, I just had to ask, "Did you seriously just say 'whom'?"

"I know plenty of words, and they're notallfour letters."

I paused. "But wait, thatisa four-letter word."

His eyebrows furrowed. "What?"

"Whom," I said. "It has four letters."

"Forget the letters. Now, tell me something."

"What?"

"Do you believe everything you hear?"

Of all the questions, this was one I hadn't been anticipating. But it didn't matter. I already knew what I thought.

Sure, it would be incredibly easy to believe the worst of Zane "the Prick" Bennington. He was, after all, the most impossible person I'd ever met. But when it came to Teddy's claims, I had more than a few doubts.

I just didn't know how to explain it. After all, I didn't want to cause any more friction between the two cousins.

I was still trying to come up with a diplomatic response when Zane moved a fraction closer and said, "Or did he want something else?"

I stared up at him. "Like what?"

In a tight voice, he said, "You know what."

Oh. That.My face grew uncomfortably warm. "Even if he did, why would you care?"

Something about his look made me want to step back, or maybe step forward. Stupidly, I couldn’t decide which. He looked raw and dangerous, and maybe even on the verge of losing it.

But that wasn't going to happen. I knew this, because Zaneneverlost it. Over the last few months, I'd seen this dynamic firsthand.

No, I reminded myself, whathedid was make other people lose it. In fact, I felt dangerously close to losing it now.

And hestillhadn't answered my question. It almost made me wonder. If Teddy was interested,wouldZane care? I stiffened. If so, he had no right.

Again, he moved closer. "What doyouthink?"

I lifted my chin. "I think you had dinner plans of your own."

"You're right. I did. And they went to shit. So, let me ask you again." Speaking more slowly and deliberately, he said, "Did he want something else?"

Yes. He did.He wanted me to spy on Zane. Oh sure, he hadn't put it quite that way, but I'd received the message loud and clear.

Still, I knew what Zane really wanted to know, and I wasn't one to play games. I said, "Well, he didn't want to sleep with me if that's what you're getting at."

Zane studied my face, as if he wasn't so sure. Finally, after a long, tense moment, he said, "Good to know."