I went to introduce myself but JB cut me off. “This is the new chick living with Prince.” He gave her a pointed look and her expression slipped.
Interesting.
Something about finding out I lived with Maverick, or Macey, had her attention. I took one guess it wasn’t Macey she was worried about.
Her face narrowed into a scowl. “You’re Eloise Stone?” Despite the surprise in her voice, something told me she already knew exactly who I was.
It was my turn to narrow my gaze. “It’s just Lo.”
“Well, Lo, I’m Caitlin, though my close friends call me Cat.” She dismissed me and addressed her brother. “Please go and do something about your friend, JB.”
He pressed a thumb to his bottom lip, ignoring his sister and raking his eyes down my body. “On it. It was nice to meet you, Lo. See you around.”
Why did it feel like a promise … or a threat?
“One word of advice.” The hostility in her voice caught me off guard and I blinked over at her. “Stay away from JB.” She looked like she wanted to say more, but she smashed her lips together and sashayed out of the kitchen. I shook my head reaching for the fridge door. It really was like an episode of The OC around here. All I’d wanted was a bottle of water.
“Hey, there you are.” I spun around to find Laurie smiling at me. “I was getting worried.”
“Oh, I met JB … and Caitlin.”
She rolled her eyes. “How nice for you. JB is… well, he’s a guy with a dick, but he’s pretty harmless. Caitlin on the other hand, her claws are sharp.”
“I suspected as much.”
“She dated Maverick.”
That had my attention. “You’re kidding?”
“For almost a year. They broke up just before his junior prom. She’s had a hard time letting go.”
It explained the insta-hate radiating from her. I might have been ‘family’ but I still had tits and an arse. I knew the drill. To her I was a threat. She’d underestimated one thing though—Maverick’s anger at my arrival. Then a sinking feeling washed over me and I quickly did the math. A year?
“They were dating last summer? Funny, Kyle never mentioned her,” I tried to sound casual.
It wasn’t funny. Not since he’d failed to mention anything about his stepbrother at all. The more I thought about it, the more I realised what a strange situation it was. I’d spent almost two weeks with the Stone-Princes last year. Hanging out at their house. Visiting the local sights. And not once had I seen a photo of Maverick or heard them talk about him. Other than to tell us he and Macey were away for the summer with their dad.
“They got together at the start of Maverick’s junior year.”
After we’d almost spent the night together.
Fuck.
“I feel like I’m in the middle of a bad soap opera,” I groaned.
She laughed. “Welcome to my life. Come on, Devon finally revived. He’s making a fool of himself on the dance floor.”
I grabbed a bottle of water quickly and followed her back outside, pushing thoughts of Caitlin and Maverick and their drama far out of my head.
“I can’t believe I almost missed my chance to get up close and personal with you,” Devon whispered in my ear as he pulled my body back against his chest. We’d been dancing together for the last couple of songs. The boy had moves.
I looked back over my shoulder at him and smirked. “Keep your hands to yourself.”
He grinned, running his hands up my waist. So, it was a little closer than I intended, but I was actually having fun. Devon felt safe—despite the vibes he was giving off. Maybe it was the fact he hung around with Laurie and Autumn or he didn’t look at me as if I was his next meal, like some of the boys at school.
“I need to pee,” Laurie announced and Autumn offered to go with her. I waved them off, sliding my fingers into Devon’s and waving our hands in front of my body, rolling my hips to the beat.
The sun had set a while ago, but the amber glow of lamps hanging around the place illuminated the Holloway’s garden. It was easy to get swept up in the moment. And when Devon turned me into his arms and his eyes dropped to my mouth, I almost let him kiss me.
Almost.
I turned my head and his lips grazed my cheek. “Burned,” he murmured as his eyes shuttered with embarrassment.
“No hard feelings.” I punched him in the chest. “I want to go slow.” The words sounded like a promise I wasn’t sure I was making, but I felt the prickle across the back of my neck. Of course, he had to pick this exact moment to arrive.
“Prince is throwing us daggers.”
I let out a heavy sigh and bowed my head. “I don’t know what his problem is.”
“Well, I do.” Devon dipped his head and slid his finger under my jaw, bringing us eye-to-eye. “You’re his now.”
“What?” I reared back.
“You’re one of them. Like it or not, he owns your ass now. He closes rank, it’s always been that way.”
“Devon, I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I detangled myself from his grip. Aware we probably looked like a couple on the verge of a fight. Just what I needed. “I’m nobody’s.” I said, the defensive lilt in my voice obvious. “Definitely not a family that I just met.”
And definitely not the boy who looked at me like I was nothing more than dirt on the bottom of his shoe.
He didn’t look convinced as he raked a brisk hand over his hair. “Whatever. I need a drink. See you later, okay?”
I watched him leave. I’d been here a week and Maverick Prince was already screwing things up for me. My blood boiled, and I spun on my heels ready to march right up to him and give him a piece of my mind, but someone had beat me to it. JB was up in Maverick’s face, speaking to him—and only him—as everyone else watched on. His face gave nothing away, a steel mask, but I saw the quiet storm brewing. His fists clenched at his sides and I knew he was one second away from losing his shit. I’d seen the same look in my brother’s eyes more than once, usually right before he kicked someone’s arse.
I don’t know why I did it but I rushed over to them, acting as if I couldn’t see the hulk of a football player glaring at my step cousin. “Maverick, can we go? I need to get out of here. Like now.”
His eyes flashed to mine, and I saw confusion there. But then his cool exterior slammed back in place and he nodded tightly. “Go get in the car.”
“But…” I glanced between the two guys.
“London.”
It was a warning. Shit. Did I go and risk him getting into a fight or did I stay and risk making things worse?
I clutched my stomach and groaned dramatically, “I’m really not feeling well, can’t we just go.”
“If you need some help, I’d be more than willing to assist,” JB’s voice dripped innuendo and I felt Maverick tense beside me and felt sure the shit was about to hit the fan. But then his hand wrapped around my arm and he was all but dragging me out of the Holloway’s yard.
6
“You don't need to drag me, I'm coming.” I ripped my arm free and ground to a halt.