Summer Breeze Kisses - Addison Moore Page 0,149

comes over and stands shoulder to shoulder with me, and I like it. I like the camaraderie. I simply like Rex. “What were you thinking when you swooped in and began hitting on Duncan while we were still dating? Yes, that’s right. He outted you before you ever made him yours. He wondered why my airheaded sister was always touching him under the table, sending him inappropriate suggestive texts, and accidentally on purpose landing her lips over his! Yes, he called you an airhead among other things that I’m too much of a lady to repeat. I bet he’s uttered those things to your face, and you just misinterpreted them as dirty talk. You had no regard for me at the time, just like you have no regard accusing me of doing such a vile thing to our father. You pretended to be more than my sister. You pretended to be my friend. You had me confide in you all of the things Duncan liked, and then you altered your world to make them his reality. You were a snake in the grass, and I didn’t realize it until you took a fatal bite out of my relationship! Well, you can have him because I have someone a million times better. Someone who would never leave me for my untrustworthy sister or fall for her ridiculous schemes. What Rex and I have is real. We are in love, and we, unlike you or Duncan, will last forever.”

I snatch Rex up by the hand, dragging him off to the parking lot as we make a break for it.

My mind spins, just trying to keep tally of all the half-truths I just spewed. When did I become this person who lies to my family? The person who tries to hack down my father’s happiness like a six-year-old because I’m not getting my way?

Rex and I navigate over to his truck, and he pulls me in by the waist. The country club is thankfully out of sight so we don’t have to worry about Lawson putting Rex in a chokehold from behind.

“Are you okay?” he says it so sweetly, so genuinely I want to cry.

“I’m fine. Are you?” I wince at his swollen jaw.

“Better than ever.” We share a laugh at the irony. “What I said was true.” His Adam’s apple rises and dips. “I’m falling for you.”

“So my evil plan worked.” I meant for it to come across as comical, but it sounded a bit desperate in nature, swollen from all the feelings I’m genuinely having for him.

“You up for coming over?” He hitches his head toward the open road.

“There’s no where else I’d rather be.”

Rex Toberman’s rental house might be small by some standards, but it’s a castle in comparison to the thimble I’m forced to share with Daisy.

“Has anyone told you lately that you live in a palace?” I marvel as we step inside. There’s a slight hint of lemon cleaner, and the floors gleam as if they’ve just been swept. As much as I’d love to give Rex credit for the polish that’s taken over this place, I’m betting there’s a housekeeping fairy at the other end of this glistening shine.

“A palace of persuasion maybe.”

“That sounds about right. I’m sure it’s the truth.” My face heats at the thought of Rex propositioning girls by the dozens. At least he left the bedroom out of it. “You want to watch something?” I clear my throat, nodding to the giant beast of a television. I mean, he did invite me over, and really? What else is there to do? That kiss comes back to me, and I’m melting all over again.

His jaw pops as he shakes his head. There’s a thread of disappointment in his eyes. Maybe the thing he wanted to do back here was each other. I said it myself— propositions are his specialty. I’m just far too virginal to pick up on the sexual cues when I’m getting one. Rex has been around the sexual block, and I’m basically a preteen still trying on kisses for size. His fit the best, by the way.

“I thought maybe we could talk.” Rex pulls me in, his arms wrapping effortlessly around my waist. “What happened back there?” His brows furrow as he scours my face for any traces of what could be the truth.

My throat tightens. “I think maybe we succeeded in Operation Parental Takedown.” I bite down hard on my lip. “And I’m worried about what might happen next.”

He gives