Deceived

by Suzannah Daniels

  She straightened and glared at me in the mirror. A loud smack ripped through the air as I slapped her on the ass.

  “Ow,” she screeched.

  “Next time you’ll give it to me when I ask for it,” I said.

  “Now I’m going to make you wait twice as long.”

  I chuckled at her words as I walked away, silently betting that I could entice her to give it up.

  After checking out of our hotel, we spent the day running from one tourist attraction to the next, ending the day by driving to Dublin and securing two hotel rooms. Pax, Flanagan, and I found a pub near our hotel and stopped to grab a drink while we rested and talked about the day’s events.

  Pax and I both drank stout, while Flanagan sipped on Irish cider.

  Flanagan acted as a buffer between my brother and me, but I noticed that as she and I spent more time talking, Pax spent more time drinking, which was unlike him.

  “I can’t believe we’re flying back home tomorrow,” Flanagan said. “Even though we’ve seen a lot, I feel like there’re still so many things we didn’t get to see.”

  “We should come back one day,” Pax told her. “Maybe for our honeymoon.”

  I clenched my teeth, knowing that he was intentionally trying to piss me off. Flanagan had told me that she wasn’t interested in Pax, and I let her words soothe the jealous beast within me.

  Flanagan smiled at him. “Now, Paxton, neither of us have any plans to get married anytime soon, but when you find the right girl, I’m sure she would love to honeymoon in Ireland.”

  Instead of answering, Pax held up his drink and downed it.

  “I think we should head back to the room,” I suggested for two reasons: to get Pax back to his room while he could still walk and to get Flanagan soft and naked beneath me.

  “It’s our last night in Ireland,” Pax said. “I think we should all have another drink.”

  “I’m good,” Flanagan said, sipping her cider.

  I held my hand out. “Yeah, I’m good, too.”

  “Then I’ll have another one,” Pax said as he held his empty glass up to the bartender, who promptly set another drink in front of him.

  We chatted quietly while Pax finished his glass of stout.

  “Come on, Paxton,” Flanagan said softly. “Let’s go back to the room. We have a flight to catch in the morning.”

  By the time we reached Pax’s room, he was ossified, extremely intoxicated.

  I’d never seen Pax this wasted. Normally, he was a control freak, wanting everything to work exactly as he planned. He was so driven and meticulous, most things did go as he intended.

  I wondered if his willingness to drink in excess tonight had anything to do with the fact that Flanagan had rejected him.

  “Do you think he needs help getting situated?” Flanagan asked me.

  “He’s a big boy.”

  “Yeah, but he’s a very drunk big boy.”

  “He can handle himself.”

  “What are y’all saying?” he asked as he sat on the mattress and pulled off his shoes.

  “Do you need Cade to help you get to bed?” Flanagan asked him.

  “I don’t need Cade to help me do shit.”

  “Told you,” I mumbled. “Let’s go. He’ll sleep it off.”

  “Did you ever tell her?” Pax asked.

  My hands curled into fists. Surely, he wasn’t going to start his shit right here in front of her.

  “Tell me what?” Flanagan asked, furrowing her brow in question.

  “He doesn’t even know what he’s saying,” I said softly. “He’s drunk off his ass.”

  He pointed at me. “I know exactly what the hell I’m saying.” His words were beginning to slur.

  “We’ll talk about it in the morning,” I warned him.

  “What?” Flanagan asked, toggling her gaze between the two of us. “What’s going on?”

  “Did Cade tell you that he knew about the invitation ahead of time?” Pax asked her.

  That definitely piqued Flanagan’s interest, and I just closed my eyes as I silently groaned. The dam had broken again, and there was no way to rebuild the wall that he had just knocked down. If Pax hadn’t accepted the invitation himself, we wouldn’t be here right now, and I wouldn’t be in the awkward position of explaining things.

  She turned her face toward Pax, and I could see the confusion written on her face. “What are you talking about?”

  “I told you he didn’t know about it. You thought I meant he didn’t know about the invitation, but I actually meant he didn’t know I had come in his place. Maybe I should have corrected you then, but he’s been letting you think that I intercepted the invitation before he ever laid eyes on it.” He lifted his finger up as if he just had a revelation, his body swaying where he sat. “But I did give it to him.”

  “You gave it to him?” she repeated. Flanagan looked at me for clarification. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

  I wanted to punch Pax until he was unconscious, so he would shut the hell up. Instead, I watched her face, a cold fear creeping through my body.

  Pax continued twisting the knife. “He wanted me to tell you that he couldn’t go, to tell you that he would be away on business.”

  “Is that true?” Flanagan asked, staring at me hard with her dark blue eyes.

  I clenched my jaw and looked away from her, wishing I could deny it. I hated seeing the pain etched in her face.

  “Shit,” she whispered. “It is true. When I called you after I got to Ireland, you weren’t shocked because you didn’t know I’d invited you, you were shocked because Paxton took your place.”

  I reached out for her. “It wasn’t that I didn’t want to be here with you.”

  She pulled away from my touch.

  “It was bad enough that Paxton had deceived me, but you deceived me, too? Apparently, Paxton isn’t the only Mayfield brother who’s an ass.”

  I closed my eyes, the sting of her words going straight to my heart.

  “I’m sorry,” I said softly. “I never meant to hurt you. If Paxton hadn’t come in my place, things wouldn’t have unfolded this way.”

  “Why?” she asked, her voice begging me to tell her something that would make sense of this debacle. “If you didn’t want to come with me, then why are you here? Why did you make love to me last night?”

  “Damn, Cade,” Pax said, picking the most inconvenient time to vomit his words. “One girl literally just had your baby, and you’re already trying to impregnate another one?”

  Her eyes widened. “You have a child?” she asked, clearly shocked.

  I took a step toward Pax, my hands fisted at my sides. “Why don’t you shut the hell up?”

  Flanagan put her hand on my arm to stop me. “Don’t hit him, Cade. He’s too drunk to defend himself. Besides, I think it’s about time someone told me the truth. I know we have no commitment to each other, but I never expected to be played like this. Not from you.”

  I turned back toward her, capturing her wrist in my grasp. “I’ve never played you.” I held her gaze, daring her to deny the attraction that sizzled between us. “I want you, Flanagan. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone.”

  “But some poor girl just had your baby?”

  I wanted to explain, but I knew that I couldn’t. Not now.

  “Maybe you should come and get your things and sleep in your brother’s room tonight,” she whispered. She was putting on a brave face, but I could tell. She was breathing more rapidly than normal. She pursed her lips, but I could still detect a hint of a quiver. I had done exactly what I hadn’t wanted to do. I’d hurt Flanagan.

  This was the exact reason why I had told Pax to tell her I couldn’t go on this trip. If he’d just done what I asked, she wouldn’t be crushed right now.

  We both walked out of the room, and I was relieved when Pax made no move to follow us. Not that he could do much more damage than he’d already done.

  “Flanagan,” I said softly as we
walked down the hall, “the situation that I’m dealing with happened before you came back to Creekview. It’s complicated, but just so you know, the baby’s mother and I aren’t currently in a relationship. The feelings that I have for you are real.” They were the only words of comfort I could offer.

  She nodded. “I would really like to be alone.” When we reached her room, I quietly gathered my clothing and toiletries and stuffed them in my suitcase. Last night had been the best night of my life, but now I just felt like shit. For her sake, I wished it never happened. But for mine, I was glad that it had.

  I stood at the door with my suitcase and watched her sink onto the end of the bed. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I do want to explain everything to you, but I can’t right now. I have to talk to…I just can’t.”

  She didn’t look at me, but I saw the slight nod of her head. I wasn’t sure whether she was pissed or about to cry or indifferent.

  I wished that she had yelled at me or hit me or thrown something. But she’d taken the news with more understanding than I deserved. And it just made me feel like the undisciplined prick I was.

  “I know I don’t have any right to ask you this, but….” I ran my fingers through my hair, working up the courage to finish my sentence. “Could you not say anything about the baby right now?”

  She did look at me then, an expression of incredulity on her face.

  “I’m not asking you for myself,” I quickly added. “I’m asking you for their sakes.” I exhaled loudly. “Look, I know a lot of shit has been dumped on you, but just give me a couple of weeks to get them situated. Then, I’ll explain everything to you.”

  She didn’t answer, but I knew Flanagan. I trusted her, and she would grant me this request, even if I didn’t deserve it.

  I left her room, shutting the door quietly behind me.

  Chapter 11

  Bucketing Down

  Seren

  I was stunned. I’d never heard Cade talk about dating other women. Not that I thought he was celibate, but I certainly never expected to find out that after all this time of talking to him at Whiskey Nights he would have a child.

  My mind raced as I wondered whether Mason had ever mentioned it to Lexi. Surely she wouldn’t have kept such an important piece of information from me. Cade had asked me to keep it to myself. Maybe he hadn’t even told Mason.

  I wondered whether Hawk knew, but I also knew that Hawk was such an honorable guy he would never betray his friend’s request for silence.

  I had fought my emotions as long as I could. Last night had been sheer ecstasy, and not just the lovemaking, the way it felt to have his arms around me, the emotion that poured through me at just the touch of his hand. No one had ever made me feel so content. He told me his feelings were real, and I believed him. Before coming to Ireland, I had questioned it. But now that he and I had spent real time together, I was convinced that our attraction was genuine, and I thought I had known it since our very first kiss.

  He told me that his situation had happened before I’d come back to Creekview. I tilted my head back and closed my eyes, breathing through my nose as I tried to keep my tears at bay. What would have happened if I’d come back to Creekview just a little bit earlier? Would Cade and I be together now?

  I felt as if I’d been seconds away from having everything I wanted, and someone jerked the finish line up and pushed it miles away from where I now stood. Once the hot tears spilled onto my cheeks, I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop them. I curled up in bed, pulling the pillow he’d slept on last night into my arms and hugging it to my chest. I should be pissed at him for not telling me all of this before he slept with me. But would it have mattered if he had? Would I have been able to turn him away?

  My heart ached as I realized that all my daydreams from the past few months had been dashed in one evening. After I’d had the accident, it was Cade who had put his arm around me and soothed me. When he’d dropped me off at my house, I had dreamt that night that we had gotten married. I supposed part of me had hoped that it was a good omen, a tiny glimpse of what my future held.

  But now?

  He hadn’t clearly explained what was going on, but the fact that he had just had a baby with someone else certainly didn’t fare well for me.

  This trip had been my last hurrah before joining the workforce.

  Was it his last hurrah before settling down as a dad? And what about the mother?

  I didn’t want it to work out between the two of them. As I swiped my tears away, I knew I should be hoping the opposite for the sake of the child.

  Crying myself to sleep, I hoped that when I woke, this weak, emotional girl would be gone. It hurt too much to be her.

  ***

  Unable to sleep well last night, I got up earlier than I’d anticipated. I was ready and packed with plenty of time to spare.

  I called Paxton’s room to see if he and Cade were ready to check out.

  “Hello?”

  Paxton and Cade sounded a lot alike, and as I thought back to the night that Paxton had kissed me, I decided that I would double-check this time before I started talking.

  “Cade?”

  “Yeah. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” I answered, determined not to let him think he’d gotten to me at all. “I was just wondering if y’all were ready to go.”

  He breathed into the phone. “We got up late. Paxton’s getting in the shower. Are you ready?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you care if I shower in your room?”

  “If it will help us get to the airport on time, then no.” I knew my answer sounded a little cold, but I didn’t care.

  “I’ll be there in just a sec.”

  When he knocked on the door, I quickly let him in.

  He reached out for me, and I took a step back. “You better hurry. We don’t want to miss our flight.”

  Frowning, he stepped into the bathroom and closed the door.

  I sat down on the edge of the bed. The hurt from last night had been replaced with indifference, and I was glad. It was easier to deal with Indifferent Seren than it was to deal with the weak girl who’d fallen asleep heartbroken.

  Irritated with the way he had so carelessly played with my feelings, thoughts of getting even floated through my head.

  I walked to the bathroom door and quietly opened it, peering inside. He was still in the shower, the spray of water making him unable to hear me. I reached in and removed his haphazardly folded clothes from the vanity, leaving him nothing except his towel, his wallet, and his phone.

  After quietly shutting the door, I stuffed his clothes in a plastic bag, grabbed my belongings and went to Paxton’s room. Paxton was dressed in designer jeans and a blue pullover shirt when he answered the door.

  “Are you ready?”

  “Yeah, where’s Cade?”

  “He’s going to meet us at the car. He wanted us to grab his luggage.”

  He grabbed their jackets, tucking them beneath one arm. “Why couldn’t he get his own damn luggage?” He picked up their bags and carried them toward the door.

  I just smiled to myself as I followed Paxton into the hallway. As we walked toward the elevators, Paxton cleared his throat. “Listen, Seren, I’m sorry about last night. I’d just had too much to drink, and I was angry with Cade.”

  “It’s okay. I’m glad I know the truth.”

  He shot me an apologetic grin. “I did warn you that I was the better man.”

  “Is this where I remind you that you’re just as much of an ass as Cade?”

  He laughed. “No, I think I got the message loud and clear the first time.”

  My phone dinged with a text message, but I ignored it as I checked out, paid for a towel, and made my way to the car. By the time I arrived, it had dinged a few more times.

  Paxton loaded our luggage while I read Cade’s messages, feeling almost evil as a grin spread across my face. Maybe this would help him think twice before he did this to another woman.

&
nbsp; Cade: Where are you?

  Cade: Where the hell are my clothes?

  Cade: Come on. This isn’t funny.

  Cade: Flanagan?

  Cade: Did Pax put you up to this?

  Me: This has nothing to do with Pax. This is you and me, baby.

  Cade: You’re mad?

  Me: I’m not mad. Just teaching you not to screw with people’s feelings.

  Cade: I told you I was sorry. Bring me my clothes, and we’ll talk about it on the way to the airport.

  Me: Not interested.

  Cade: Not interested in what? Bringing my clothes or talking about it?

  Me: Neither.

  Cade: What am I supposed to do?

  Me: Come to the car.

  I cranked the engine and drove the car to the opposite side of the parking lot, pulling into an empty parking place.

  “What are we doing?” Paxton asked.

  “We’re going to wait right here for Cade.”

  “Does he know that?”

  “He will soon enough.”

  Cade: Hurry up and bring my clothes. We’re going to miss our flight.

  Me: I’m waiting for you in the parking lot.

  Cade: Shit, Flanagan. Really? You’re really going to do this?

  Me: Really am.

  When he didn’t immediately answer, I imagined him sneaking out into the hallway in nothing but his towel. All the women who passed him on his way to the car could thank me later. He had an amazing body, and it was about to be on display.

  After a few minutes, my phone dinged again.

  Cade: Where the hell are you? Don’t tell me you’ve already left for the airport. Are you seriously going to leave me in Ireland with no clothes?

  Me: I let you keep your wallet. You can buy some new ones.