Offside (The Barker Triplets 1)

“You’re so full of shit, Bobbi. You came home because your night with Dooley was a big fat dud. He spent all that money on a bed-and-breakfast and I bet he didn’t even get into your pants.”

She could tell by the expression in her sister’s eyes that she’d hit the nail on the head.

“I think it was a dud because you can’t stop obsessing over Shane Gallagher.”

“Don’t you dare go there,” Bobbi’s voice was hoarse. “You don’t know anything about Shane and I.”

But she was going to go there. And she was going to hammer it home hard.

“I know that he happens to be the man I spent last night with.”

Shocked silence followed Billie’s declaration and only after she took the time to appreciate Bobbi’s pained look, did she think about Logan. About the amazingly hot and delicious kiss they’d shared.

About the fact that he wasn’t into playing games.

About the fact that she’d just lied through her teeth.

Sure she’d spent most of the night with Shane but they’d talked. Nothing inappropriate had occurred. Why would it? Shane Gallagher was still in love with her sister and judging by the hurt in Bobbi’s eyes, her feelings for the man ran a lot deeper than she wanted anyone to know.

Maybe a lot deeper than she even realized.

“Well, then,” Bobbi said as she turned toward the house. “I hope it was worth it.”

Billie watched her sister march up the porch steps and disappear inside the house. She winced as the

door slammed shut, heart beating madly against her chest. God she wanted to lean on something because her legs felt like noodles.

Gerald cleared his throat and took a step toward the house, but thought better of it. He mumbled something, climbed into his truck and pulled away.

Slowly, Billie turned.

Logan leaned against his truck, hands shoved into the front pockets of his jeans, his expression blank. He pushed off and gazed at her for a few moments until the silence became uncomfortable.

“I, uh…”

He arched a brow, but didn’t take his eyes off her.

She knew what he was thinking and didn’t know what to do or say to make it right.

“Thanks for the lift,” she mumbled, eyes skirting away as she exhaled a shaky breath.

“Sure,” Logan answered. “No problem.”

He hopped into his truck and slowly backed out of the driveway.

Billie listened as the motor eventually faded and then she gathered up her hockey gear. She wanted nothing more than to go away and hide. To not face her sister and see the hurt she’d instigated.

But that would take wheels and since her car was out of service for the next few days, she heaved the bag over her shoulder and followed in her sister’s footsteps.

Chapter Nine

By Monday morning word about the damage to Billie’s car had spread throughout New Waterford. The town was small, and though the residents weren’t immune to crime, something as deliberate and mean spirited as what had happened—to one of the Barker triplets no less—made for many animated conversations.

Add to the mix, the fact that Billie had already stirred the pot with her ‘crazy desire to play with the boys’—other people’s words, not his—and Logan couldn’t get away from it.

Hell, he felt bad for what had happened and he’d like nothing more than to get his hands on the asshole responsible, but he had to be honest—he was still pissed about the kiss. About how good it had felt. About how good she had felt. Against his body. In his arms. In his mouth.

Shane had been gone most of Saturday and hadn’t come home until late Sunday night. Three guesses as to who he’d spent all those hours with.