Chapter 11

Emily - YEARS AGO

It had been two months since Marcos and I started sneaking around. No one except his friend Carlos, Bete, and Bi knew what we were doing. They were the ones covering for us.

Even though we spent most of our time together, sometimes we went out alone to keep up the facade. We didn’t want rumors circling the town again, especially Marcos. He insisted on avoiding attention.

“You’re coming with me to Amanda’s party. Both of you,” Bete said firmly while picking out an outfit.

She’d already tossed more clothes out of her wardrobe than I could count.

“No way, not a chance,” Bi grumbled. “I have a test tomorrow, and I already spent Saturday at the lake with you guys. I need to study tonight.”

“I can help if you wa—”

“No way, Emily! That’s just a trick to ditch me and run off to Marcos!” Bete growled like the lioness she was, already deciding what would happen tonight.

“He’s out of town today, so don’t get any ideas. If you want me to go to that stupid party, beg!” I teased, but Bete actually did.

Bete was the kind of girl who knew everyone, but true friendship was only with Bianca and me. So if it was important to her that one of us was there, I’d go.

That night, I circled the living room for the thousandth time, dancing and looking for someone to talk to—not anyone specific, just someone to exchange a few words with while I sipped the vodka someone had handed me. But everyone seemed caught up in their own thing.

“Bruno’s coming over, and he told everyone you’re his tonight! But if you don’t want to hook up with him because of, you know who, I’ll understand,” Bete whispered in my ear, snapping me back to reality.

I didn’t want to hook up with anyone but Marcos, but he wasn’t here and was probably in the next town over with some woman. A real woman who’d give him what I wasn’t ready to.

That thought deflated me. He could be in bed with someone else. We hadn’t set any rules about fidelity. In fact, we hadn’t even talked about what we were—just agreed it was a secret.

Marcos had asked for that, to keep it all hidden and to spend some time apart.

“My beautiful,” Bruno said, grabbing my hand and spinning me until my back was against his chest. “You’re alone tonight, I’m alone. How about we fix that?” he asked smoothly in my ear.

Then he turned me to face him so I could answer, looking into his deep brown eyes.

I took a deep breath and a second to decide. I wasn’t going to play the faithful girlfriend when he was probably with others. I barely nodded before Bruno kissed me.

His hands slid down my arms, touching my waist, then resting on my butt. I sighed against his lips, and he started moving without breaking the kiss until I felt my body sink onto the couch with his.

Bruno kissed me slowly. It didn’t feel like when Marcos touched me—he didn’t set my body on fire with desire—but it was still nice. His lips were soft, gliding over mine, sucking gently. His hand slid down my thigh to my knee, pulling my leg over his lap.

I felt my dress ride up and his hand touch my bare skin. Things were moving too fast.

Then everything turned chaotic. In the next moment, Bruno was yanked away from me as a furious Marcos dragged him by the shirt.

What the hell was he doing here?

“Marcos? Look at me,” I called, but he was gripping Bruno too tightly, hurling insults. “Marcos!” I shouted louder, making him stop and look at me before he could punch the guy.

I stormed out, knowing he’d follow. I couldn’t believe he’d caused such a scene after all the effort we put into hiding our… whatever this was.

“Emy! Emy, wait!” he shouted. “Emily Carvalho, wait!” he growled behind me, but I only stopped when I reached his friend’s pickup.

“Carlos, take him away, please,” I muttered to the man in front of me, with Marcos and Bete trailing behind. “Get this idiot out of here before he does something else stupid.”

“I’m not going anywhere until you explain what that was back there!” Marcos demanded.

“I’m leaving with Bete,” I said, quickly avoiding his eyes. “We’ll talk tomorrow. Let’s go, Bete.” I grabbed her hand, dragging her away from them.

“You owe me an explanation!” I heard him two steps behind us and turned, nearly bumping into his chest. “Want to tell me why you were kissing that jerk? Or do I have to follow you home to get an answer?”

I couldn’t believe he was angry. I was the one who had the right to be furious, and I was, for the ridiculous scene he’d caused!

I growled without even realizing it.

“You two better calm down. Let’s go to the ranch so you can talk more privately,” Carlos said, and I glared at him.

Maybe it wasn’t a good idea—we might end up killing each other—but I knew if I went home, I wouldn’t sleep with the anger and thoughts swirling in my mind.

Bete got in the pickup with me in the back seat, to Marcos’ annoyance, who had to sit up front.

“We’ll leave you two alone,” Carlos said.

We’d just arrived at the ranch, and I’d never been there before.

“But don’t kill each other,” Bete muttered, already pulling Carlos off somewhere.

I stared at the living room with all the horse paintings and rustic ranch decor. They really were a cowboy family.

Before I could question him right there, Marcos grabbed my hand and led me upstairs to one of the bedrooms, locking the door. He clearly knew the house well since his best friend lived there.

“Care to explain what that was?” he barked, his voice calmer now, but I wasn’t calm at all.