Buried Secrets by Emme Rollins

Author:Emme Rollins [Rollins, Emme]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Fido Publishing
Published: 2013-08-23T10:00:00+00:00

✝Chapter Eleven✝

“You're coming.” Shane stood in front of her so she couldn’t get past him.

“I have to work.” Dusty swerved around him with a tray full of beer but he followed her. “You’re the one who wanted me to apply for this job, remember?”

She grinned over her shoulder at him as she put the beer on the table, watching four high school guys, probably just old enough to drive, dig in their pockets for cash.

Shane leaned close, whispering into her ear, “Don’t make me carry you out of here.”

“Caveman style?” she teased, taking the cash and counting it before putting it into her pocket.

“I’ll do what I have to.” Shane followed her back to the bar.

“Lee won't give me the night off on this short notice,” she protested, leaning on the bar, seeing Sam mopping in front of the bathrooms, his eyes dark and watchful.

“Sure I will.” Lee winked in her direction. “Turn in your profits and get out of here. You deserve some fun.”

“Hear that?” Shane grinned in triumph. “Let’s go.”

“But…” She bit her lip, trying to think of another excuse. He’d asked her several times to come out to the path with them. So had the rest of the guys, at various times over the past few weeks. She didn’t know why she hesitated. They’d all been having a good time, playing pool and talking, flirting and laughing, Shane occasionally pulling her into his lap again, whispering things into her ear that made her so dizzy it was hard to walk straight.

That was it, really. She was having a good time—a great time—with all of Nick’s friends. And Nick was dead.

“Stop punishing yourself.” Shane lowered his head to murmur the words into her ear. She shook her head, wanting to deny it, and then his voice dropped to a bare whisper, “Stop punishing me.”

She looked up, meeting Shane's eyes. Every time she looked at him, she saw Nick's face, heard Nick's voice, and the memories were sharp and clearer than ever. Her mind-scissors didn’t work well around Shane. Was she punishing him? And if she was, well… didn’t he deserve it?

That’s what she’d always told herself.

Now she wasn’t so sure.

“He loved you, Dusty.” Shane reached out, tucking a stray piece of her hair that escaped from her ponytail, behind her ear.

She smiled sadly. “But he loved you more.”

“Why do you say that?” Shane cocked his head, frowning.

“Because he always put you first.” Dusty bit her lip, sliding her empty tray up onto the bar. “You were his best friend.”

“He just wanted to protect you.” Shane’s voice was soft and he moved closer, so they were touching. She could feel his body heat.

She gave a little laugh. “From what?”

His hand moved through her hair and he lifted her chin so he could see her eyes. They were full of tears.

“Everything, I guess.” His thumb wiped at one of the tears making its way down her cheek. “That’s what I would want to do, if I was your brother.”

“Protect me

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