Page 55 of A Tempting Seduction
“Ford came over for dinner last night,” I began.
“And?” Zoe settled back into the cushions, clearly prepared for a long story.
“And I made a complete fool of myself.”
Zoe rolled her eyes. “Specifics, Miller. What happened?”
The whole story came tumbling out. The dinner, the tres leches cake, Ford asking about my past. The way I'd broken down and told him about Lance and Carla. The way he'd carried me to the bedroom and I'd fallen asleep like some kind of exhausted child.
When I finished, Zoe was quiet for a long moment. Then she burst into laughter.
“Cotton panties?” she gasped between giggles. “You're worried about cotton panties?”
Heat flooded my cheeks again. “It's not funny.”
“It's hilarious.” Zoe wiped tears from her eyes. “Ruby, the man carried you to bed and tucked you in like you were precious cargo. Do you honestly think he cares what kind of underwear you were wearing?”
“But they were so plain,” I wailed. “So practical and boring and—”
“So what?” Zoe interrupted. “Ford Larson isn't dating your underwear. He's dating you.”
I slumped against the couch cushions. “I told him about Carla and Lance.”
Zoe's expression shifted, “About that. Why is this the first time I’m hearing about this jerk and idiot?” She’d said the sentence like reciting a grocery list.
“What?”
“I mean, we all know you’ve kept some secrets, but this level of hurt and betrayal? From a sister? You should have known you could tell us. Especially since we’ve told you that our mother tried to kill our sister. We understand the brutality of blood.”
That stopped me in my tracks. She was right. If anyone could have understood that part of my past, it was the Avery girls.
“I’m so sorry—”
She waved her hand. “I’m not looking for an apology. Not at all. I just want you to know, my sisters and I have your back. But that’s not everything, is it?”
My stomach dropped. “What do you mean?”
“I mean there's more to this story. A lot more.” Zoe crossed her arms. “You don't just pack up and move across the country because your fiancé cheated on you. Especially not to a tiny town in Tennessee where you don't know a soul.”
I fidgeted with the hem of my sweater. “I wanted a fresh start.”
“Incredible.” Zoe's voice carried the authority of someone who'd grown up with five siblings and could spot a lie on a gnat’s rear. “What really happened, Ruby? What are you running from?”
My chest tightened with familiar panic. “I'm not running from anything.”
“Try again.”
“Zoe—”
“Try. Again.”
“Can’t you please leave it at that. At least for now?”
She sighed. “For now. But don’t think I’m going to let you get away with this for long. Not because I’m a busybody, but because I’m worried. You’re in trouble, and you’re going to need us to circle the wagons. When you do, it’ll be easier if we know the whole story.”
After the way my father was killed, I’d leave before I let people hurt anyone here in Jasper Creek.
“Did you hear me?” Zoe asked.
