Dark Lonely Lies (The Denton Family Legacy 6)

She stepped into the water, keeping her body covered as much as possible. “It’s not too hot.”

She ran her hands in the water, leaning back. The bubbles covered her body so he didn’t get a good look at her tits. She didn’t turn toward him, and he hated her for cutting him off, but he knew deep down he deserved it. She didn’t owe him anything.

His feelings about Sarah were his own problem.

The truth was, he did feel guilty.

Guilty for letting Sarah down. The pain of knowing this girl had been out there the entire time, waiting for someone to love her, and he hadn’t gone looking. He hadn’t known she existed, but for him, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was knowing her, being with her, loving her.

She didn’t even know what true affection was.

“Is this your friend’s shampoo?” she asked.

“Yes, you can use it.”

“Awesome.”

He watched as she washed her hair, sliding back beneath the bubbles then coming back up for more.

Unable to not touch her, he stepped away from the door, walked the few steps toward the bath, and took the soap from the side dish. As he lathered up his hands, Tulip didn’t even look at him. He placed his hands on her back and began to wash her.

That one touch and he felt calm, prepared.

“I lied,” he said.

“What about?”

“Missing her. I did miss her. She was my friend for a short time. I ended up going to England because I caused way too much trouble. Sarah was a friend from the moment I saw her. She was nice. I liked her.”

“Good for her.”

“She was a good person, through and through. This life, I know it scared her.

There were times when I held her and she would tense up. I knew deep in my soul she couldn’t completely accept me for who I was, what I was. After she died, I wanted to kill myself. I thought a part of me was gone forever. Little by little, I didn’t go crazy. My anger is still there. I killed my father and I don’t regret that. For his own means, he killed innocent people and as far as I’m concerned, that means he can never be forgiven.”

“But your feelings for Sarah?”

“For the past few months, they have grown less and less. I think about her, but I don’t feel pain. I’m sad she’s gone. It’s such a waste of a life, but I feel myself returning. Since I met you though, something is different.”

She chuckled. “No offense, Landon, you’ve known me for a couple of minutes. It’s not long enough to get over a love.”

“What if I didn’t love her?” he asked.

“I can’t give you the answers you want. I don’t know what it is you felt for my … twin. I don’t even know what to call her. I only know that I’m here in the present, and I’m confused. I want to run away. I want to hurt you, but at the same time, I want to know what all of this means.” She nibbled her lip. “I’m not the kind of girl to give this feeling a chance.”

“What feeling?” he asked.

He cupped her cheek. She was so beautiful. Stroking her face with his thumb, he wanted to join her in the bath.

“Like the ground is shifting beneath my feet and I don’t have any way of controlling it. I don’t understand this. Even as I want to push you away, I don’t want you to stop touching me.” He saw her try to blink the tears from her eyes. “I’m scared.”

“You don’t have to be. I’m here.” He would do whatever he had to in order to protect her.

He leaned in, about to kiss those lips again, when the door suddenly crashed open.

Jade was there. “Someone’s here, Landon. I don’t know who it is, but we need to move.” She held the laptop, showing it to him.

He checked the security cameras that would alert them to anyone near the property. Three masked men were at the gates. He saw the guns.