Queen of Men by Terri E. Laine

Author:Terri E. Laine [Laine, Terri E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-19T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty-One

After walking back to the schoolhouse, reconciling the community’s books turned out to be a great distraction. Everything was in order as expected. By nightfall, I headed to Violet’s.

When I entered, Turner and Steven were sitting at the table as Vi worked on dinner. My eyes locked with Turner’s and my stomach did funny things.

It wasn’t as though I’d forgotten Kalen. I just remembered Turner and all his sugar and spice that made everything nice for me growing up.

He stood, stepping over the bench to stand before me.

“I want to finish what we started before,” he whispered into my ear, causing me to blush.

The redness that filled my cheeks wasn’t the only part of my body that betrayed me. My body tightened at the promise of what could be.

He took my hand, leading me back to the table as my heart, brain, and core warred over two men. One wanted me with the desperation that I read in his eyes when we parted ways. The other loved me like no other man had before.

In a fantasy world, I could have them both. But the truth was, I’d given one up. I’d vowed to set him free with no turning back. Yet, part of me still hadn’t let go, not completely.

Turner continued being a presence I couldn’t deny as he placed his hand on the middle of my back after we sat and rubbed soothing circles as if he knew the comfort I sought.

“How was everyone’s day?” I asked.

Turner quickly responded, “Busy.”

Before Violet’s husband, whom I still couldn’t read, could speak, my sister walked over.

“Dinner’s served,” Violet cut in, setting a spit roasted bird on the table. She turned to grab a plate of corn on the cob and place settings for us before I could get up to offer to help.

“Thanks, sis,” I said.

Her grin filled the room with such warmth, I felt more at ease with her choice of husband. Still, there was something about him I couldn’t quite put my finger on. It felt as though there were secrets in this house not yet exposed.

“What I would do for a beer,” Steven said.

I looked toward the floor cubby that held beer the night before.

Violet answered her husband before I could think of a response. “You could make a beer run,” she said and glanced my way.

Steven followed her gaze, his chin steepled on the top of his fingertips with his elbows perched on top of the table. Then he sat up straight and the gleam in his eyes said trouble as he turned to me. “How did you get here?”

My mouth opened, but I knew what my answer meant.

He pointed at me. “You have a car.”

There was no point in lying. “It’s parked all the way at the front of the compound.” It was an attempt to make it sound like an avenue not worth pursuing.

“Let’s go,” he said, like it was a forgone conclusion. “We’ll get beer and maybe some cards. We could play poker.”

Automatically, I looked at Violet.

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