buffet style, when Mandy came around the corner of the building with a large stack of towels in her arms. As if sensing a change in the atmosphere or something equally weird like that, my attention slid to the corner of the cottage just as Lanie appeared with another stack of towels and other items.
I stiffened, immediately annoyed and thrilled at the same time. I didn’t analyze my feelings. They were what they were. I was butt-hurt because she hadn’t been straight with me.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt your meal,” Mandy said with faux innocence. Something in her tone dragged my wayward attention back to her. I almost missed the quick, sly glance between her, Caro, and Geneva. Those three were up to something, and I was immediately suspicious.
This was a setup.
I scowled at Caro, who smiled sweetly back at me, her expression one of total bullshit innocence. Geneva studied the boards on the deck as if they were the most intricate pattern she’d ever seen. Yeah, they set me up.
Once again, my attention swung back to Lanie. She met my gaze briefly and glanced away. Angry hurt roiled inside me. She’d lied to me. I might’ve been a guy who slept around with various women but not a married one. Now I knew how Axel felt when he found out after the fact that he’d slept with a teammate’s wife. At least he hadn’t fallen in love with another man’s wife like I had. I felt like dog shit, like the lowliest human being. And what did that make Lanie? She knew she wasn’t free to have sex with another guy. Didn’t her vows mean anything to her? Even if the guy was abusive, fucking rid yourself of him before you start looking for another guy.
I built up some self-righteous indignation. It made me feel better, masked the pain I was feeling, not to mention the humiliation of knowing my buddies had been right about her all along. Except Steele, and I had no fucking idea why he took the tactic he did.
“Here are the extra towels and toiletries you asked for.” Mandy directed her statement to Caro.
“Thank you.”
“We’ll leave these in the linen closet, then I have to be getting back to Brody. It’s our date night.”
“Aww,” the women cooed, and I rolled my eyes. Seriously?
Caro followed them in the cottage, and a few seconds later, the three came back out on the deck. I felt like they were acting out a scene they’re rehearsed.
“Laina, what are you doing tonight?” Geneva asked, as if making casual conversation.
Laina? How many aliases did the woman have?
I caught Lanie’s momentary panic, as if she suspected a trap. We were on the same page there. These conniving women were up to something, and neither Lanie nor I was in on it.
“I’m, uh, I’m washing clothes.”
I swear the three women shared a smirk as if they were slamming shut the cage door and getting ready to throw away the key, and I was in that cage with Lanie.
“Sit down, have something to eat with us. Hang out for a while.” Caro had that same determined expression she got whenever she and Easton debated about certain subjects.
“Oh, thank you, but I couldn’t. I have to watch the front desk tonight.” She was like a deer in the headlights, ready to bolt at any second.
“Laina, please, stay here. You deserve some fun. Everyone’s already checked in for the day. No need to stay at the front desk. I’ll leave a note.”
“But I—”
“Perfect.” Caro gripped Lanie’s arm and led her to over to the picnic table. “We’re so happy you’re joining.”
Lanie didn’t know what hit her. I read it in her eyes. She was no match for these three women, even as strong as she was.
Mandy waved a goodbye and winked at me as she walked past and disappeared around the corner of the cottage. Now what was that for?
A few minutes later, the group was seated around the picnic table, while the kids opted to sit on a blanket on the grass. The gang dug in like locusts. For several minutes, not one word was uttered as my friends enjoyed the meal I’d prepared. I sat back with a satisfied smirk, reveling in the rapture on their faces as they savored each bite. Or at least in my mind, what I was seeing was rapture. Good chefs had egos, and I was no exception.
I tried to avoid looking at Lanie, but