I leave the party behind and make my way back through the front of the Lucas Family home—where the wedding was held. The backyard is all about the reception, which means the front yard is empty now. Nothing remains but empty chairs, the runner Ida Sue walked down the aisle on, and the arch that she and Jansen were married under.
I finally start to breathe easier, the tension leaving me very slowly. Being around people is hard. Being around Blue is harder.
“Leaving so soon?”
I freeze, as my heart drops to my feet. It appears I’m not getting away unscathed after all.
“Tomorrow is the shelter’s busiest day,” I respond to Blue, my voice clipped as I turn around to face him.
“You’re running away again,” Blue accuses.
“I don’t know what you mean,” I tell him, lying through my teeth.
“Bullshit,” he says, his blue eyes almost piercing me with their intensity.
“I’ll talk to you later, Blue,” I mutter, just wanting to get away.
I give him my back and that’s a mistake. His hand wraps tightly around my upper arm. He jerks me to a stop while pulling me into him. Then, he somehow spins me around so that we’re facing each other.
“Don’t you ever get tired of running from me, Doe?”
My mouth goes dry, as my heart hammers against my chest.
Crap.
Chapter 2
Blue
I literally smell her fear. It pisses me off how she has always been afraid of me. I’d rather cut off my arm than hurt her—even when she ripped my heart out and left it lying on the ground. It’s beyond my comprehension how she can be afraid of me yet run into the arms of that sack of shit she’s tied to. I’ve spent more years than I should being bitter about that—hurting over it. You would think I’d grow tired of raking myself over the coals where Meadow is concerned, but it’s clear that’s not going to happen.
I start to back away from her, letting her go—for the millionth time. I need to return to pushing her out of my thoughts and memories. Just as I make a move to do just that, I notice something that I’ve never allowed myself to notice before.
She’s turned on.
It’s there, reflecting in the depths of her dark eyes.
The tip of her tongue sneaks out and rubs against her upper lip, moistening it. My gaze drifts down to her breasts that are straining against the thin, cornflower blue dress she’s wearing. I see the taut tips of her nipples clearly. The more I look at them, the harder the nubs get, swelling, as her breath becomes ragged.
“It’s not running, Blue. It’s called self-preservation,” she whispers, her head going down. She moves to go around me, and I should let her go.
I know I should.
Instead, I move my hand down to encircle her wrist, using the hold to pull her with me.
“What are you doing?” she cries.
God, if I only knew the answer to that question. I figure I’ve finally gone completely insane. That’s the only thing it can be. I just know that I’m not letting her walk away from me again—not without at least one fucking taste to hold in my memory.
My options are limited. I can’t take her into Mom’s house. The back of the house and the barn are swarmed with wedding guests. I look at the damn play house. It’s tall. You don’t have to bend over, although if this goes the way I plan, Meadow will. Unfortunately, it’s well-used, but I guess at this point, it will just prove I truly am part of this crazy family.
Before I have a chance to second-guess myself, I pull her into it and close the door behind me—engaging the lock that Jansen conveniently installed a few years back.
“Blue—” Meadow gasps my name out once I let her go, giving my attention to the door. When I turn back around, I can see that some of the desire I read in her eyes has been replaced by fear. I push my conscience away. I won’t let her deny me this time—especially if it’s what we both want.
My hands move down to the belt on my slacks. I hate being in monkey suits. I’ve avoided it at all the family weddings except for Mom’s. She insisted, and I was stuck. I could agree or have Jansen pissed and Mom bitch at me for the rest of my life.
“What are you doing?” Meadow asks nervously.
“I’m going to fuck you out of my brain,” I grumble, my voice low and harsh.
“Blue we can’t. I don’t…. No,” she says, backing away. The handmade table that Jensen put in here scrapes slightly on the plywood floor as the back of Meadow’s legs hit against it.
“If you don’t want me, then we won’t,” I tell her, already knowing she does.