Shiver Read Free Page A

the conversation, I excused myself to go to the bathroom, which was somewhat of an event for me. I shot Steph an apologetic look for abandoning her and then scooted out of there.
    The bathroom was down a back hallway through a set of swinging saloon doors.
    As I passed through into the hallway, I leaned back against the wall for a moment. That whole situation in the other room was weird and draining. Poor Alexis had done nothing wrong, and I was the other woman who’d slept with her boyfriend. Or I guess we were both the other woman, but the baby put her higher on the totem pole than me.
    Dear God, thank you for having kept me low on the totem pole!
    One thought the mess drove home was that my current life was not what I wanted. It was apparent I didn’t have much of a future or any sort of a plan. And I could have gone a long time without having to see Brett and his growing family. I probably could have gone back to Texas and found a job at a riding stable or something. Or gone to college. That probably would have made my parents pretty happy. I wasn’t sure, but I’d do just about anything to make a change for the better and start a real life, and that change needed to happen immediately. With a renewed sense of mental fortitude, I headed to the bathroom to start the arduous task of shimmying my pants down… and then back up.
    After an embarrassingly long amount of time, I came out to find Brett leaned against the wall in the same spot I’d been in earlier. His head was down, his hands in his jean pockets. He looked up as I walked slowly toward him, his pale blue gaze meeting mine. I settled my back into the wall next to him. I figured I might as well get a little closure.
    “So,” I said expectantly.
    “Yeah. I just wanted to say I’m sorry. Truly sorry. I wish things had happened differently. I wish we’d had a chance together.”
    He turned and tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear. I let out a long breath, not denying the connection we’d briefly had and the regret that lingered just a touch.
    “This thing with Alexis. It was a mistake. But I have to make it right, with her and her family. I owe her that. But it’s not real. It’s not like us.”
    He leaned in to kiss me, but my laughter stopped him an inch from my lips. I let my head fall back against the wall with a thunk. He stepped back, staring at me like I was a little crazy. Which was possible, because I was full-on laughing then.
    “Holy. Shit.” I tried to catch my breath. “I don’t even know what to say. You really are an asshole! I’m actually so glad this happened now.” I met his eyes, my voice rising. “You’re right. We did have something between us, but you ruined that pretty easily and without any thought whatsoever, for me or for Alexis. That’s a nice girl in there, and you knocked her up. Now you deal with it, but don’t drag me along for the ride.”
    “For fuck’s sake, keep your voice down.” He grabbed my elbow to pull me closer. As he did, it pulled my arm in a way that made me gasp as pain shot from my fingers up to my forehead. He let me go with an abruptness that left me just as breathless. I stumbled back and bumped into a chest. A tall, hard, hot, male chest. I could feel the heat through his T-shirt sear my bare shoulders, and it actually made me shiver.
    Wow.
    I felt strong hands come up to gently steady my shoulders, which I was grateful for because I was definitely not steady.
    “Oh, shit. Lissa. I’m sorry. I… I just forgot for a minute.” Brett was holding his hands up with a stricken look on his face.
    But I have to confess I actually forgot he was there for a minute.
    “Hey, man, I think you need to give her some room.”
    Holy. Ethan. Rex. Swoon. The sound of his voice alone could do that to a girl. An American voice. I’ll admit I was feeling patriotic. I’d rented a room from Ethan a few years back, which was a typical thing to do in the equestrian world. It was usually a short-term,