Our Little Secret by Palmer Jones

Author:Palmer Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sweet Blooms Publishing, LLC

14

Austin was second out of the house, right behind Zoey. His hands itched to grab her and keep her inside. Toss her over his shoulder if necessary. But that move would really piss her off.

Tim Dalton stepped out of his sedan. “Good. I was hoping…” He trailed off, glancing at the string of men leaving the house behind Zoey and Austin. “I was hoping you were here,” he finished. “This works. I needed to speak with Kyle, too.”

“You have some damn nerve showing up at my parents’ house.” She stopped a few feet away. “I can’t imagine you’d think we’d welcome you here.”

But Austin didn’t pause behind her. He wasn’t there for support. He strode forward, blocking Zoey and going toe-to-toe with the man he held responsible for Zoey’s trust issues. “How about this? You’re not fucking welcome here,” he said in a low voice. “Leave.”

Recognition was instant on Tim’s face.

Damn, but the man looked old. They were all in their thirties, but Tim looked worse compared to who he was in high school. Since being back, Austin had overheard that Tim had moved in with his mom after a failed marriage. The Rossis had managed to block him from getting good jobs in Hinecaster.

Tim retreated a few steps, seeming confused. “Austin Robbins? What in the hell do you have to do with any of this? Shouldn’t you check in with your parole officer?”

“Glad you’re still a dickhead so I don’t have to come up with a new nickname,” Landon announced as he reached Austin’s side. “Why are you here?”

“I need to talk to Zoey and Kyle. Figured they’d both be here since it was a Sunday.”

Kyle joined the conversation. “And you found us. What do you want?” He spoke with an even, calm tone, but it might have been the first time Austin witnessed that much anger in the oldest Rossi’s face. He was the levelheaded one of the group.

“To tell you to stop spreading rumors and keeping me from getting a job. I don’t want anything to do with you or your family.” He motioned to Zoey, still blocked behind Austin. “What happened between me and Zoey was a long time ago. You went to jail for drugs and theft, and this family welcomed you back with open arms. Seems a little hypocritical that everyone still blames me for what happened.”

“That’s because I took responsibility for what I did. You’ve yet to own up to the shit you pulled.”

Zoey yanked hard at the back of Austin’s shirt. “Move.”

“No.”

She started to push between him and Landon. “I don’t need a bodyguard. Or four of them.”

With a heavy sigh, he stepped away from Landon, letting her squeeze between the two of them. Landon caught her shoulder, keeping her from marching up to Tim.

“No one is spreading any rumors,” Zoey began, sounding upset but in control. “We have more important things to do than to worry about ruining your life. If there are rumors in this small town, it’s because of your shitastic character.

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