Bitter Sweet Hell (Hell Night 2)

“Did you get in touch with your friend?”

“Yeah.” She runs her hands up and down her arms, like she’s trying to ward off a chill. It can’t be any cooler than seventy-two in here, so I know it’s from the situation and not the temperature. “She’s fine. Freaked because Sampson was gone when she went to go check on him this morning and was worried about telling me. I’m just glad she wasn’t there when Diego took him.”

“Judge is going to stay here until all this is over. I’ll do a bit more digging and put out an alert in town.”

Her eyes flicker over to Judge and Jenny and she bites her lip. I know what’s coming next when her questioning gaze meets mine again.

“Is there something going on between them?” She juts her chin their way. “Because I just saw him kissing another woman on our way back here from Remi’s.”

I move my hands on the outside of her legs and shift them upward a couple of inches. The temptation to spread her legs and step between them is great, but I force the desire away. Now’s not the time for seduction

“That’s something you’ll have to ask them,” I answer.

It’s no big secret that Judge and his ladies share an open relationship, but it’s still not my business to tell Eden about it. Besides, they’re better at explaining the situation than I am.

She frowns, but drops the subject.

“I’m going to head out. You’ve got my number if you need me.”

Her tongue darts out to wet her lips and my eyes follow the movement. Of course, my body plays the insensitive prick and twitches in my jeans. Eden is a beautiful woman, and I’d give my left nut to have her in my bed, but that’ll have to come later. When her emotions aren’t so fresh from losing her dog in such a horrific way.

I give her leg a squeeze before turning for the door, giving Judge a chin lift on my way. Before walking out, I cast my eyes to Eden one more time and find her watching me, an inquisitive look in her eyes. Breaking my eyes away, I walk out and close the door behind me.

EDEN

STRETCHING AND THEN GROANING at the ache in my ribs, I get out of bed. The stress of yesterday has left me with a bitch of a headache. I grab some clothes and my travel bathroom bag and carry them to the bathroom. After doing my morning business and downing a couple of pain pills and my birth control, I get dressed in a black ankle-length skirt, a pale-blue off-the-shoulder peasant top, and toss my long hair into a half ponytail before tying a scarf around it.

Leaving the bathroom, I drop my bag just inside my bedroom doorway and walk out to the living room. The delicious smells of coffee and bacon greets me and my mouth waters. I lost my appetite yesterday, so I skipped dinner, opting to go to bed early.

Expecting to see Jenny in the kitchen, I’m surprised when it’s Judge I find instead. He’s standing at the stove, clad in dark-grey slacks, a light purple dress shirt, and dress shoes. He turns and looks at me over his shoulder, his expression cool, but not quite as much as yesterday.

After seeing him kissing the woman i

n the driveway and then him with Jenny on the couch, I’m unsure how I feel about the man. I’m leaning toward dirt bag at the moment though.

“Morning,” I mutter and walk over to the coffee machine. “You mind?” I gesture to the machine.

“Help yourself.” His voice is rich and deep, gravelly.

I pour myself a cup, keeping it black, and carry it with me to the bar. If my memory serves me correctly, Jenny said Judge lives here sometimes, something I find very strange after seeing him kiss another woman. I haven’t spoken with him yet. Might as well get to know the man since we’ll both be under the same roof for a while.

“Where’s Jenny?” I inquire, then take a sip of my coffee.

“Still in bed,” he throws over his shoulder.

Switching the burner off, he lays strips of bacon on a plate already piled high with scrambled eggs. He grabs more plates from the cabinet and starts divvying up the food. Picking up two of the plates, he sets one in front of me and carries the other one out of the kitchen. A moment later, he’s back, sans plate, which I’m sure he gave to Jenny. Leaning against the counter, he picks up a third one. His eyes bore into me as he lifts his fork and shoves eggs in his mouth.

“Just spit it out,” he says calmly after swallowing.

I set my fork down and regard him warily. I’ve always considered myself a straight forward person, and now will be no different. I’m new to this town, new to everyone here. I’ve got no ties to anyone and no one owes me a thing. The answers are none of my business, but I still find myself wanting to know. Jenny’s been nice to me, so the thought of her being hurt in anyway, doesn’t sit well with me.

“I don’t get it. Jenny and I both saw you kissing another woman yesterday, then you showed up and she literally crawled in your lap.”

He shrugs. “Maybe I’m her concerned brother and we’re close.”

I level him with a look that says I’m not an idiot. “Unless you’re kissing siblings, don’t try to bullshit me. I saw the way she looked at you and you her. It was an intimate look only lovers share.”

He sets his plate down and picks up his coffee, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he downs the rest of it before depositing it in the sink.