at the implication, but I forced out a laugh.
She startled, taking a step back as I met her gaze. “What’s funny?”
“You are,” I said without hesitation, and I swore the chatter around us died down.
“Excuse me?” she hissed.
I set my apple cider on the bar, smiling at her with a hint of pity. “It’s funny,” I said, “what all you can learn when you remain quiet.” She tilted her head slightly, so I motioned to her. “True colors always present themselves when the person doesn’t get the reaction they’re looking for.” I laid my hand over my chest. “Hence, my silence to your little progression of an unwarranted tantrum only fueled you to spit the venom you so desperately tried to bury beneath sugar and passive aggression.” I stepped into her space now. “It’s sad, really,” I said. “How insecurity presents itself—high pitches in the vocal cords, attacks on physical appearance, social status, etcetera.”
“I’m not insecure!” she squeaked. Her friends reached for her, their eyes wide as they tried to pull her away from the scene she was causing.
“And as for Nixon?” I said, ignoring her denial. “I’m not trying to tie him down with anything, but I sure as hell don’t mind it when he ties me down.” I bit my bottom lip, letting my hunger for Nixon show just a bit.
“Damn!” Savannah laughed. “Ruthless, I love it.”
Jackie Lynn scoffed, her eyes widening at something behind me. I didn’t turn around—I knew better than to show my back to a woman who’d gladly take the opening to stab it. She forced a sugary smile on her face before turning to her imploring friends and hurrying away.
“That was…” Nixon’s voice rumbled behind me, and I whirled around.
“Too much?” I asked, the rage leaking out of my body and turning to doubt. Had I crossed a line? Had my protective instincts led me to embarrassing Nixon?
Nixon smirked, his dark eyes churning with heat. “Never,” he said, then glanced behind him at Teagan and Savannah. “Mind if I steal her?”
“She’s her own woman,” Savannah said, waving us off. “You’d better ask her.”
Teagan laughed but winked at me.
I took his outstretched hand. “I’ll allow it,” I said, and let Nixon lead me away from the crowds of people.
When we’d walked in silence for so long we were surrounded by nothing but the thick expanse of hickory trees, my chest started to tighten.
“Nix,” I said, wary. “Am I in trouble?”
He laughed softly but continued leading me down the cobblestone path that twisted deeper onto the property. “Why would you think that?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it has to do with you leading me away from public on a property as old as time with no indication as to why. Also, I just totally got all territorial with that cheerleader back there, and I’m sure that wasn’t very attractive—”
My words died when we rounded a cropping of trees to find a secluded little fountain flickering under the moonlight. Nixon guided us to one of three hand-carved wooden benches lining the fountain, settling me next to him.
“I just wanted to get you to myself for a minute,” he said.
I shifted my legs toward him. “So, I’m not in trouble?”
He rolled his eyes, stroking his fingers along the back of my hand. I squeezed our intertwined fingers. “You keep asking that,” he said. “Do you want to be in trouble?”
Something about the way he posed that question made heat pool in my core.
“No,” I said, slightly breathless. “But I didn’t mean to…overstep—"
“By telling off someone who clearly needed to be put in her place?”
“By claiming you,” I said, biting my lip. “When you’re not mine to claim.”
“Ah,” he said, tilting his head to look at the clear night sky above us. The silence stretched between us like a taut string.
“Just because you’re the baby’s doesn’t mean you're mine,” I tried to clarify when I couldn’t take the quiet anymore. “I should’ve thought of that before I ran my mouth—”
“Your mouth,” he cut me off, taking my chin gently between his fingers. “Is one of my favorite things about you.” He slowly brought his lips down on mine, the kiss hungry, fast, and enough to make my head spin. He drew back only enough to meet my gaze. “The way you held your own against her,” he said. “That brilliant mind of yours, the way you see things no one else bothers to look for…” he sighed. “You’re incredible, Liberty.” He kissed me again, and I fisted his