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Trevor barked out a laugh. “No way, Pop, don’t do it.” He chuckled again, turning to Marissa. “Last time he cooked, the fire department showed up.”
“Shut up, boy. Not my fault you were a little pussy, all scared of a few flames.”
“Pop,” Caden warned.
Trevor didn’t seem to take offense at the comment. He grinned. “A few flames? Really? ’Cause as I remember it, the kitchen was pretty much blazing like the sun.”
“Enough, finish eating,” Caden said.
Marissa was accustomed to ignoring stares. She had done it so often she rarely could tell if someone was looking at her anymore. Usually. The hairs on the back of her neck rose. She glanced up as Caden lifted his plate and took it to the sink. It wasn’t him, obviously.
“Who the hell are you, again? You look familiar. You one of Kase’s girls?”
She shook her head, and his brows furrowed down. His glare was sharp. “None of that head bopping bullshit. When someone asks you a question, you answer them. Unless you’re a goddamn mute.”
“Pop,” Caden snapped.
Jack’s glare was pinned on her, and she smiled. It may not have come out very nice, but he was right. His glare deepened. It didn’t faze Marissa. She kept her smile locked in place. It was strange to watch Jack’s expression unfold. His eyes searched her face, striking some recognition, and then she watched his lips spread wide.
“Hi, Jack.”
He winked. “Hey, darlin’.”
She jerked her chin to his plate. “Better eat up before it gets cold.”
Jack immediately followed her orders but kept his attention on her.
She caught the confused stare of Trevor, but she kept her focus on Jack eating next to her. Occasionally, he’d glance over and smile. It was heartbreaking, really. He was lost in a world that didn’t exist. Not anymore.
Trevor picked up the conversation where he left off, rambling about school and football. Every so often, she glanced over at Caden, and each time, his eyes were on her. His reaction was a heated stare, which had her shifting her thighs and trying to ignore the moisture pooling between her legs.
“Finally got a good woman at my table.” He sneered at Caden. “Not like the trash you brought here.”
What the hell just happened? Things were fine, and suddenly Jack did a one-eighty.
“Oh fuck,” Caden said, sighing and tossing his napkin on the table. She eyed Trevor, who was holding back a laugh. It seemed this was a common occurrence in their house.
She reached out, taking Jack’s hand.
“I’m curious, what’s the best ride you’ve ever taken?” It was a diversion tactic, and from the gleam in Jack’s eyes, it was working.
“You remember the ride we all took, over in Colorado? Did the run through the canyon?”
No. She smiled and nodded.
“Ahhh…it was a good one. Perfect fucking weather, then we camped out at the little shithole on the base of the hill. You remember?”
Again, no, how could I? I wasn’t there. “The view was so pretty.”
Jack grinned, staring at her. “Yeah, it was.” He tightened his grip around her fingers. “We had some good times back then.”
“Yes, we did.”
Jack shook his head, and he frowned. “Then we lost Troy.”
Oh shit! She had no idea a sweet memory would spark something bad.
“Fucking bastards.” He slammed his free hand down on the table, and Marissa flinched in her seat.
