Free Shameless (St. Martin Family Saga) by Gina Watson Page A

where the van had been parked. “Parker’s my friend.”
    Cory raised his brow and tilted his head in her direction. “Seems like more than friends.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Did I not give you enough last night? I guess not. Considering how you’re dressed, I figure you’re trolling for sex.”
    Brook looked down at her clothes. Shorts and a tank is what she always wore to deal with the unbearable heat. “There is something seriously wrong with you.” She would walk home. It didn’t seem that far. She headed out to the driveway.
    Cory followed. “Are you so mad because what I said is true?”
    “I’m mad because I just realized what an idiot I’ve been to think emotion and sex could be isolated. After observing your behavior, it’s clear that they can’t be separated.”
    “My behavior?”
    “Yes, yours. Or didn’t you notice yourself stewing in a sea of jealousy? You have so many commitment issues that you should lock your thing up until you straighten them out, but instead you just take out your problems on innocent women.”
    “Women are anything but innocent. You shouldn’t even use the words in the same sentence.”
    Brook abruptly stopped and whirled around. Her eyes wide, she asked, “What part of I don’t sleep around did you not understand?”
    Cory shrugged. “All of that terminology is relative. You weren’t a virgin when I first had you, so clearly you’ve been sleeping with somebody. And then you’re on the pill, that’s convenient.”
    Whack ! The sound hit her just before the seething pain screamed through her hand. She’d slapped his stupid face. Attraction be damned, there wasn’t enough great sex in the world that would have her putting up with his bullshit.

6

     
     
    C ory recoiled, feeling as if a two-by-four had been rammed into his face. “Goddammit, Brook!” His hand went to his cheek. It was hot from the rush of blood where she’d slapped him.
    She’d already turned and was pounding down the road. Crazy woman; where did she think she was going to go? Their land went for miles in either direction. And where the hell had she developed that right hook?
    It would be dark before she even reached the main road. He went back for his SUV and caught up with her in moments.
    “Get in the damn truck.”
    She turned her flushed, tear-stained face to him. Fuck, she was crying. His chest immediately burned. He pushed two fingers into it to relieve the pain.
    “Why are you crying?”
    “I’m crying because you don’t know shit that you think you know. You hurt me and any other woman that comes across your path. Instead of using your fortune for good, you use it to demolish. You’re like a tornado.”
    What the hell was she talking about? Women were all bat-shit crazy. “I’m sorry, but I don’t follow.” He didn’t even know why he bothered asking her to explain.
    She stepped up to the open passenger-side window and threw her arms in the air. “You have the face and body of a god. And you know it too. You have a great practice—people trust you with their animals because you’re good and caring. And yeah, you have the family name and reputation behind you. And yet you use all sorts of defense mechanisms to hide your feelings. And don’t even get me started about how you use sex. Even if love were all around, you wouldn’t see it because the sex would be in the way.” Rubbing her forehead, she sighed. “You have a community that supports you in spite of your many irresponsible sexual conquests, including those with married women.” She pointed a finger at him. “You better be on the lookout for a few pissed-off husbands. No matter what you think about their virility, no man wants another man’s hands on his woman.” She stepped back and crossed her arms. “Your family supports your every move and desire. You are blessed abundantly, but you’re so jaded you can’t see what you have right in front of you. Do you even know that most people would kill to