Free MakeMeShiver by Aline Hunter Page B

shook her head, eyes downcast, knowing what was coming. “I broke it off when I found out he was boning Karen.”
    “Karen!” Candice snapped, placing a hand on each hip. “His secretary?”
    “The very same.”
    “What a fucking asshole! Did you kill him? Are you here to enlist help in disposing of the body? Because I know of a place near Sevierville that’s perfect for the rat bastard.”
    “As much as I’d have liked to, no, I didn’t kill him.” She closed her eyes, balled her fists and decided it was time to confess. “I slept with Michael last night.”
    Candice frowned, her perfectly arched, brushstroke eyebrows creasing. “I’m sorry, can you repeat that? I could have sworn you just said you slept with Michael.”
    Hurt and anger combined, snapping her already teetering control. She should have woken up in Michael’s arms this morning, partaken in a recap of the fantastic sex they’d shared and had the opportunity to enjoy breakfast with him before they thanked each other and ended what never had the chance to start. That’s how one-night stands occurred with people you knew, right? It was only with strangers that you got the hell out of Dodge as soon as you woke up and realized the party was over.
    “Damn it, don’t do this right now!” Lacey snagged the coffee pot and turned to the sink. “I know, okay? I get it. I fucked up. He got what he wanted and that’s that. You were right and I was wrong. There. Are you happy?”
    “Hold up.” Candice took the pot from her and turned off the water. “Don’t put words into my mouth, and don’t go spouting off. As far as I knew you were dating Scott as of yesterday. Then this morning you bust into my house, demand coffee and tell me you spent the night with Michael. Since there’s only one Michael I can think of who fits the bill, I have a feeling there’s more going on here than a night of great sex.”
    The fight left Lacey’s body. Screaming at Candice wasn’t the way to go, and technically she didn’t even have the right to be angry or upset with Michael. It had been a wonderful night but it was never meant to be more than that. He’d never lied to her or made false promises. It had been exactly what it was—two consenting adults sharing an extraordinary night together. She was just too enamored to accept it with dignity and tact, keep her mouth shut like she should have and move on.
    “You’re right, I’m sorry.”
    “Now that we have that settled,” Candice placed the filter inside the machine, “tell me what’s going on.”
    So Lacey did, starting with Scott and Karen, working her way to the car wreck and consequent tow and finally revealing all of the lusty details of her night with Michael. It was if a dam had burst wide, lancing the wound so it could begin to heal. Each sentence was expelled in a rush, coming out faster and faster.
    It wasn’t until Candice pulled her into a comforting hug that she realized she wasn’t just gabbing about her pain and anger, hurt and betrayal, hope and loss. She was doing something she hadn’t done in years.
    Damn it all to hell.
    She was crying.

Chapter Seven
     
    He was going to kill Aly.
    As Michael stood outside Candice’s apartment, pounding on the door, he lost any sense of sympathy he’d had for the woman. How could he feel sorry for her after he’d witnessed the devastation she’d caused? All he’d gotten was a glimpse of Lacey’s bloodshot eyes and blotchy, tear-stained cheeks before she’d slammed the door in his face, but it was more than adequate.
    Fuck if the knowledge that he’d caused her suffering didn’t kill him.
    It hadn’t taken him long to track Lacey down, considering Candice was her only friend in town. However, it was obvious more than enough time had passed for her to get well and truly upset. An argument was taking place just inside, Candice’s huskier voice bickering with Lacey’s obviously exhausted one. Candice didn’t want to draw attention to her