Free White Collar Cowboy by Parker Kincade Page B

days ago, and Erin had dragged the whole story out of him.
    “Not yet. This morning.” He finally found his belt under a pile of clothes he hadn’t put away and bent to pick it up.
    “Do you know what you’re going to say?”
    He straightened and blew out a frustrated breath. “I’m not sure there’s a good way to tell her my decision to move back to Texas caused her job to be eliminated. Goddamn, Erin. No matter what I say, or how I say it, she’s gonna be pissed.”
    “But not at you.”
    God, he hoped not. Her job search frustration level was high, so he wasn’t optimistic. She’d loved her job with Clearwater and had been blindsided by the loss. “No way to know until I tell her.”
    “Gavin, it wasn’t your fault,” Erin said reassuringly. “If she’s half the woman you told me about, she’ll get it.”
    He walked out of his closet and stopped dead. Lauren was standing in the doorway, watching him through amber slits.
    She’d heard.
    Fuck. That was not how he’d wanted her to hear that information.
    Fuck, fuck, fuck. “Erin, look honey, I’ve gotta run,” he said into the phone, his gaze locked firmly on Lauren.
    “Okay, but don’t dawdle. I’m not the only one waiting to see you. Drive safely. I love you.”
    “Yeah, I will. I love you, too.” The color drained from Lauren’s face. He hung up the call and tossed his phone to the bed. “Lauren, honey, I—”
    “Stop,” she snapped. “I’ve heard enough.”
    He supposed she had, but he wasn’t giving up. “I was going to tell you.”
    “Yeah?” She crossed her arms, eyes fierce with anger. “When?”
    Shit. After what she’d overheard, he knew it would sound as though he was lying. “This morning,” he said slowly.
    “I see. And had you planned this talk for before or after you fucked me? Not that it matters at this point, since you’ve been fucking me for two weeks.”
    Founded or not, her insinuation plucked at his temper. “Whatever you’re thinking right now, I never meant for this to happen.”
    “For what to happen? Us?”
    What the hell was she talking about? “What? No. That’s not what I meant.”
    “Who the hell is Erin?” The sound of his twin’s name being spat from Lauren’s lips fired his anger right up. “Are you fucking her too, honey ?”
    “No,” he said, his voice deadly calm. Goddamn it. This was getting out of control. “Erin is my sister . Jesus Christ, Lauren. What the fuck?” His voice gained power. “Do you really think I’d do that? Have a woman on the side while I’m with you?”
    Infidelity had almost destroyed his brother. Married or not, when Gavin was in a relationship, he was monogamous. He’d never cause his partner the pain his brother went through. Ever.
    He thought he saw her shoulders relax a little. “How am I supposed to know? Up until a few weeks ago, I rarely saw you outside of work. We hardly know each other.”
    “That’s bullshit and you know it.”
    “Do I? I know you have brothers and sisters, but you haven’t talked about them or given me their names. You haven’t talked about your family much at all. So, how in the world would I know Erin was your sister and not your lover?”
    He scrubbed a hand over his face. He hadn’t mentioned his family because he’d been focused on her. On them. “Because you know me, whether you want to admit it or not.”
    Her voice shook, as if she were trying to keep from breaking down. “And yet, ten minutes ago I would’ve sworn you’d never lie to me.”
    “Lauren,” Gavin fought to keep his own tone smooth. He took a breath. They wouldn’t get anywhere with them both pissed off. “Sweetheart, I’m so fucking sorry. I wanted to tell you, tried to tell you but then…” He hadn’t wanted anything to ruin their time together.
    “You came to my office that afternoon,” she said, less angry now, although the hurt that replace it tore at his heart. “You knew then, didn’t you? Is that why you came by?”
    “I