Page 86 of Floodgates

He pointed, and I saw a reading nook, a window seat, a rocking chair, and a love seat stacked high with plaid blankets in fall colors.

“I love it,” I sighed, and he clapped me on the shoulder.

Back downstairs, I followed Mr. Alcott into the great room, unwinding my scarf while I took off my hat.

“Oh,” Michelle Alcott gasped, looking at me. “Why, Tracy, you’re just gorgeous.”

“Thank you,” I said, thinking that if she thought I was pretty, Evan would give her a heart attack.

“Tracy,” Breckin said as he got up and crossed the floor to me.

“Yeah?”

“I’d like to speak to you in here, please,” he said tightly, grabbing my arm and pulling me out into the foyer. The floor was black marble, just beautiful. He turned me around to face him. “What the hell are you doing?”

“When? I—”

“With Cord.” He cut me off fast, furious. I realized I just hadn’t noticed he was seething. “With goddamn fuckin’ Cord!”

He didn’t yell, but it felt like it. “What are you talking about?”

“Staying at a hotel with Cord? What kind of game are you playing?”

“What?” I was confused.

“Is this what you want? Are you giving me a taste of it?”

I sighed deeply. “Oh, for crissakes, Breckin, I’m not gonna stay here. Get serious.”

“I am serious.”

I launched into him. “I’m not trying to give you a taste of anything. I’m not like that,” I finished quietly. “You should know better.”

“I guess I forget when my ex flirts right in front of me,” he said tightly.

“You shouldn’t care,” I reminded him.

“So you are flirting with him.”

“Why does it matter?”

“Since when, Tracy?” he asked, his jaw clenched so tight he could barely speak.

“Since when what?”

“How long have you been fucking Cord?”

I was incredulous. “Are you serious?”

“Answer the—”

“Never,” I said, glaring at him. “The answer is that I have never fucked Cord Nolan.”

“But you’ve always wanted to.”

“Yes,” I answered honestly. “I’ve always wanted to.”

He drew his arm up to backhand me, but I caught it and held tight. I was so stunned, I just stood there and let my eyes fill with the realization. I was still hurt from my attack, and he’d tried to hit me. I had no idea who he even was.