Love Me Knot by Shelli Stevens Page A

tightened. “She had his baby?”
    Ryan dipped his head in acknowledgement. “Yes. He wanted nothing to do with her or the baby. He even offered to pay for a an abortion when I confronted him.”
    “My God you must’ve wanted to kill him. Must’ve hated him for what he did to your sister.”
    He didn’t deny it.
    “Did you know Lance was my brother before you slept with me?”
    His shoulders went rigid and he hesitated. “I found out just before we ate dinner.”
    Ciara could feel the color sliding from her face as the pieces began to come together. “That’s what changed that day. You become so quite and withdrawn. I sensed it. Oh my god you must’ve wanted to hate me.”
    “I was conflicted,” he admitted grudgingly.
    She had to know. It might hurt, but damn it she had to know. “Was Lance right? Were you just sleeping with me to get back at him?”
    “Don’t be ridiculous. It was never...it’s not about revenge.”
    He’d changed his wording halfway through his answer. Subtle, but she’d caught it. Which meant maybe at the beginning it had been about revenge.
    “Wasn’t it? Then why the three days of complete radio silence after our night together? Was it a coincidence?”
    There it was. The flash of guilt in his eyes before he shook his head.
    “You’re not responsible for what your brother did, Ciara.” He reached out to catch her hand, but she pulled away.
    “I’m sorry, but are you telling yourself that, or me?” She swallowed hard. Oh god, I’m such a naïve fool . “It just seems a little weird that you’d be cool sleeping with the sister of the guy who ruined your sister’s life.”
    “He didn’t ruin her life. Anna’s happily married to another man who adopted my nephew.”
    “My nephew too,” she said quietly.
    He looked almost stunned at that last statement, as if that hadn’t quite occurred to him.
    “Were you ever going to tell me any of this?”
    He didn’t answer, just looked more conflicted.
    It just gets worse and worse.
    Ciara turned and continued on the trail toward the road. “I’m going to head back to the house.”
    “Yeah, I’d rather continue this conversation there.”
    Her heart twisted and she stumbled in her steps. What more was there to say? She needed to get out of here before she made a complete fool of herself and star ted crying. Already the burn of tears pricked at her eyes.
    She didn’t turn around. “Actually, I’m going back alone.”
    “Ciara—”
    “I need time, Ryan . Give me a few hours and then we’ll talk.”
    He cursed softly. “Okay. I’ll come by tonight with dinner.”
    “All right. That sounds good.” Because I’ll be on my way back to Idaho.
    Ciara strode away with him and didn’t bother to stop the tears that fell.
     
    “She ’s gone. She fucking up and left after telling me we’d have dinner and talk.” Ryan dropped the bag of Chinese food on the table and paced Tyson’s living room.
    Tyson winced and shook his head. “Are you sure she’s gone? Maybe she’s out for a drive?” 
    Ellie snorted. Tyson’s six-month pregnant wife sat in a recliner knitting what looked like a baby sweater.
    “Come on guys, of course she’s left. A girl doesn’t exactly like hearing she was a revenge fuck.”
    “ Ellie .” Tyson shot his wife a raised-brows look. “Let’s not jump to conclusions here.”
    Ryan grunted. “No, no. She’s right. The house was dark, the doors locked. Ciara abandoned ship.”
    Ellie rolled her eyes and set down her knitting needles. “Of course she did. You dropped a massive bomb on your budding relationship. I’m not really sure why you’re surprised here.”
    “Well, maybe she ran to the store and just locked up and turned out the lights,” Tyson persisted. “It doesn’t mean—”
    “Excuse me, cuz,” Ryan patted his cousin on the shoulder before crossing the room to sit down on the couch near Ellie. “I think your wife is going to be better at doling out advice right