Keeping What's His: Tate (Porter Brothers Trilogy 1)

The hand with the phone dropped to her side when she was done. She had a terrible feeling she was going to be sorry she hadn’t handed Tate over to the police. She didn’t care what the townspeople or her family would say if it came out she had been harboring a fugitive. She was more concerned that old feelings for him would be dredged up, even if she wasn’t as innocent and easily susceptible as she had been.

She scolded herself while the voice in the back of her mind was telling her to run. Tate was even more attractive as a man, and that sexual awareness tugged at her body like a moth to a flame. If she didn’t find a way to get him out of her house, she would be burned or consumed by the very flames that had attracted her.

Sutton placed her hand on the porch rail, the sun glinting off her wedding band. The reminder of her marriage stiffened her failing resolve.

No man, especially not Tate, was going to get close to her again, not even to scratch an itch she hadn’t known could exist. She would give him a few days, and if his problems weren’t resolved by then, she would call the police and have him escorted from her life once and for all.

Chapter 12

“Where are you going?” Tate asked grumpily, setting down his beer on the end table.

Sutton paused before picking up her purse and car keys. “I’m having drinks with Cheryl. I told you this afternoon at lunch.”

“What about me?”

“You’ll be fine. I’m only going to be gone for a few hours.”

“Take your phone in case I need to get in touch with you.”

She raised the cell phone in her hand, waving it in the air before placing it in her purse. “You do that, and I’ll make sure I come running,” she said with an eye roll.

Tate narrowed his eyes at her. “Make sure you do.”

Sutton blew out an exasperated breath. “I need to leave before I bash that beer bottle over your arrogant head.”

“Why don’t you give it a try and see what happens?”

She tensed, noting the escalating sexual tension. The two of them being trapped in close confines was wearing heavily on both of their nerves.

“I’ll pass. I don’t believe in attacking someone weaker than me.” Sutton fled, sensing, like a bear with a sore tooth, she had prodded Tate one too many times.

She was parking her car in the parking lot of King’s when her breathing finally slowed. Angering a Porter never turned out well. She needed to remind herself that she needed to keep a distance between them. She wasn’t about to give Tate the opportunity to get physically or emotionally close to her again.

Cheryl was waiting for her at a small table. Sutton was amazed at the level of sophistication of the restaurant and bar: sleek, black, modern furniture and tables that made you want to relax and spend time there, which Sutton was sure was the effect the owners wanted.

“What do you want to drink?”

“I’ll take a Malibu.”

“That sounds good. I’ll take one, too,” Cheryl told the passing cocktail waitress.

“You’re early,” Sutton said, sitting down across from her.

“The store wasn’t busy, so Jared let me leave early.”

Sutton leaned back as the waitress set their drinks down in front of them. “It isn’t difficult working with your ex-husband?”

“At first it was, but it was harder being broke all the time.”

Sutton took a sip of her drink, enjoying the atmosphere of the bar. “I like this place.”

“I do, too. Jared brought me here the other night for dinner.”

Sutton couldn’t resist giving her friend a warning. “Be careful. I know you probably still care for him. It’s easy to let yourself fall back into a relationship with an ex.”

Cheryl gave a bitter laugh. “Maybe I was a naïve idiot at one time, but not anymore. I know what else is out there now. I won’t get taken in by Jared twice.”

“I’m sorry. I know how much you loved him.”

Cheryl lowered her voice, leaning across the tale so they couldn’t be overheard. “The thing is I’ve discovered a different side to myself. In bed, Jared was all about what he wanted. He didn’t care if I enjoyed it or not. I actually think he enjoyed it more if I didn’t.”

“I can see that.” Sutton nodded. “He was very controlling of you, even in high school.”

“Those days are over. I’ve found out that sex is better than potato chips. The more you have, the more you want.”

Sutton tried not to blush at her frank talk. She had never been the type to want to discuss intimate details with her friends.

“If they’re single, I’ve fucked them.”

Sutton couldn’t bite back the question on her lips. “Any of the Porter brothers?”

Cheryl lost her eagerness to share. Leaning back, she picked up her drink, and Sutton had the answer she didn’t want.