“I’ll be finished up by this afternoon with the painting and then I’ll be out of your hair.”
I nodded my head as I took in a few deep breaths through my nose. “Sounds good, Sierra.”
She tilted her head and stared at me. “Hey, listen I’m sorry about mentioning you and Dodge being together yesterday morning.”
My heart dropped. I wanted to ask her if Tristan had said anything about it. Had the comment bothered him? Was he unaffected by it or did it piss him off knowing I was being fucked by Dodge?
Smiling politely, I said, “S’okay. I just didn’t know how Tristan would feel about it, because you know we dated not too long ago.”
Sierra narrowed her eyes at me. “Do you still have feelings for Tristan, Ryn? I mean, there is nothing at all serious going on between us.”
Now it was my turn to narrow my eyes at her. “Really? Because last night it sure looked like he was being pretty serious with that orgasm you obviously had.”
Oh God. I sounded like I was gearing up for a catfight.
Sierra gave me a weak smile. “I’m gonna go ahead and head back to the house and finish up the painting. Enjoy your run, Ryn.”
Turning, Sierra took off running toward her house. Dropping my head back, I let out a long frustrated moan. “Shit!” I said as I began jogging. I had really liked Sierra and it wasn’t her fault she and Tristan had a past. It’s not like Tristan was taken, not that that would stop him anyway.
I wasn’t sure how long I ran for before I stopped and sat. Staring out over the waves, I thought back to the day I decided I would never again let anyone make me feel like I was nothing.
Staring straight ahead, I stood there and listened to Tristan talking to another woman. Tears began streaming down my face as every moment we had spent together the last two weeks vanished in an instant.
“I’ve missed you too, Liberty. Yeah, it’s been okay. I’m ready to get back home. When can I see you?”
Every gentle touch of his fingers on my body now meant nothing. Whispered words in my ear . . . nothing.
Wiping the tears from my eyes, I stood. I hated myself for the way I was feeling. As much as I wanted to tell Dodge that I would be his everything, my heart was putting up one hell of a fight for Tristan. Closing my eyes, I could still feel his breath against my skin.
I’m falling in love with you, Ryn.
My head was telling me it was all a lie, but my heart couldn’t erase the look in his eyes when he made love to me that night. Wrapping my arms around myself, I tried to make sense of it all. One minute Tristan professed his love and the next, he made plans to meet up with another woman. Was he scared of his feelings? Did he regret the whispered words?
My phone buzzed in my pocket and I jumped. Shaking my head, I pushed all thoughts of Tristan away.
The name flashing across the screen made me smile.
Joyce. Tristan and Lark’s mother.
“Hello,” I said, attempting to sound chipper.
“Kathryn darling, how is the beach?”
Smiling, I began walking back toward the beach house. I had just seen Joyce a few days ago at Lark’s wedding. Azurdee and I had grown really close in the last ten months. I was happy she and Lark had found their happily ever after.
“The beach is wonderful. How are you and Peter?”
Peter was Tristan and Lark’s father. He was spit and fire like his sons. His passion in life, besides his wife, was the hunting ranch he owned.
Letting out a gruff laugh, Joyce said, “He’s out on the four-wheeler. I’ve asked him not to ride that thing, but he won’t listen. He is stubborn and has to do things his way or it’s the highway.”
Huh, must have passed that down to his son.
“You know boys and their toys,” I said with a giggle.
“Kathryn, I want you to come visit us. We haven’t seen you in so long.”
Laughing hard, I shook my head. “Joyce! I just saw you at the wedding.”
“We were too busy to visit. MaryLou wants you to finish that quilt you started a few months back with her. You don’t want to break the poor old lady’s heart, do you?”
I stopped walking as my mouth dropped open. “Joyce Williams, you are not laying a guilt trip on me right now?”
“Oh, but I do believe I am.”
Rolling my eyes, I looked down the beach as I pulled the phone away from my ear. I sucked in a deep breath and blew it out. I had fallen in love with Tristan’s parents last Christmas. We had kept in touch and I was one hundred percent positive, Tristan knew nothing about my growing friendship with his mother and father.