I didn’t have time to look in the mirror before leaving Briar asleep in his bed, but it’s irritated from his mouth and the roughness of his beard. I ignore the implication and make my way to the fridge. I pull out an apple and take a big bite before turning back in his direction. I skipped dinner last night, and I’m paying for it this morning.
“If he can’t at least cook you breakfast in the morning, he doesn’t fucking deserve you,” he grumbles as he empties the water from the full coffee carafe into the machine.
I snort. The thought of Briar cooking anything is comical. Lynch’s eyes narrow, but I raise a challenging eyebrow in return. I wouldn’t put it past him to ask me the details, but internally I’m praying he just leaves it alone.
“I hope you made him use the condoms I gave you.”
Glaring at him, I wonder how he got over the idea of Briar and me so quickly, but then I realize he’s not talking about his VP. He thinks I spent the night with Owen.
“We didn’t—” My attempt to swallow the chunk of apple without fully chewing it nearly chokes me. “I didn’t have sex with him.”
“The condition of your neck and swollen lips tell a different story.”
Thank god his back is to me or he’d see my eyes widen in surprise.
“I’m not discussing this with you,” I mutter, throwing my half-eaten apple in the trash before making my way toward the staircase.
“Thank fuck,” he grumbles. “Stop.”
Frozen in place, I’m terrified that he’s realized something, and he’s about to lose his shit over where I actually spent my night.
“We’re heading out for a ride.” Relief washes over me. “I’d prefer you take the week off from the vet’s office and stay here with Zoe. There will only be two—”
“Sure,” I agree a little too quickly. It’s the best excuse I have and staying here with her under his advice won’t force me to explain right away why I won’t be returning to work.
“Did he hurt you?”
“Excuse me?” I turn in his direction, taken back by the scowl on his face.
“I assumed I’d get an argument from you.” He waves his arms in front of him. “All of the ‘I’m an independent woman, you can’t keep me here’ bullshit you spewed last week.”
“If there are only two of the guys here, it’s best that I stick close by.” I fake a smile and hope he thinks it’s genuine. “Besides, without you here, I can actually spend time with my best friend.”
I disappear up the stairs before he can take his interrogation any further.
“Jesus,” I hiss as I open and quickly close my door. My breaths are ragged as I lean against it with my eyes closed.
“That bad?”
I squeal when Zoe speaks. With a hand over my racing heart, I glare at her. She’s unaffected by my outburst, sitting Indian-style on my unused bed and smiling at me like the Cheshire cat.
“What are you doing in here this early in the morning?”
“What are you doing trying to sneak in the house this early in the morning?” When I don’t answer her, she pats the bed by her thigh. “Come sit. I want all the filthy details.”
“There aren’t any details.”
“So, you gave yourself all those hickeys?”
Guiltily, my hand rushes up to the offending flesh.
“I’m not talking to you about anything.” I cross the room and grab a scarf from my closet. “You’re sleeping with the enemy.”
“Lynch isn’t the enemy.”
My eyes narrow on hers as I cross the room again, kick my shoes off, and climb under the covers. The fabric is cold, and I immediately miss the warmth of Briar’s huge body. Zoe doesn’t say anything when I position my feet under her ass to warm my toes faster.
“I don’t think your brother noticed, but I saw your car in the lot when we got back from dinner last night.” My traitorous friend is looking down at her perfect nails like she didn’t just drop a bomb in my lap.
“Did—”
She holds her hand up, and I silence immediately. “Lynch didn’t notice a thing. He had other issues on his mind.”
The laughter in her voice makes me cringe. She’s not talking about club business, and I’m too grossed out to ask. The implication is clear.
“So, before you lie to me, know that I know you came back, at least to the clubhouse last night.”
My jaw snaps shut. If she doesn’t want me to lie, I just won’t talk to her at all. Words will only cheapen what I shared with Briar last night, even though I know he was still drunk when he rubbed against me. He may not even remember it this morning, and if he does, he’s got a week or so to question what we did and come up with another million reasons why it can’t happen again.