Page 62 of Allegiance
“Bourbon?”
“No.”
“What do you have besides wine?”
“Water.”
“Fuck that,” he huffed, taking out his phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting some beer.”
She let out an exasperated sigh. “I thought you wanted to talk.”
He waved his hand between them. “We are.”
“Just go in the other room and let me put this stuff away. I’ll be there in a few,” she ordered in a tone of undisguised annoyance.
“Whatever you say,darlin’.”
Tank sat down on a camel-colored sofa and settled into its cushiony comfort. He was ready to call Riley’s Liquor when he heard aclinkon the glass top of the coffee table. Looking over, he saw a bottle of locally crafted beer with a coaster set underneath it.
“Thanks,” he said to Lena’s retreating back. “I guess you had some after all.”
She stopped and turned.
“I just remembered I had some left over from an event.”
“Cheers.” Picking up the bottle, he held it in the air. “Do you want one?”
The only response was the slamming of her bedroom door. Tank chuckled before taking a long pull of his drink.
A few minutes later, her footsteps had him looking up from his phone, and his breath hitched. She wore a short white T-shirt and gray leggings that clung to her curves, ending at mid-calf, which emphasized her toned muscles and rich tan. Leaning back against a throw pillow, he cocked his head and let his gaze travel down her body and back up again, enjoying every inch of it. The moment his eyes came to her face, he saw the disapproving frown creasing her forehead.
Lena sank down into a rattan armchair across from the couch and took a drink from her bottled water. He waited until she set it down on the table before he spoke.
“How’ve you been?”
“What do you want to talk about?”
He shrugged. “You owe me an explanation. I thought things were gelling between us.”
“I don’t owe you anything. Actually, you have a lot of gall coming over here.”
Tank tightened his grip around the beer bottle. “Just tell me what the fuck I did, then I’m outta here.”
“So you can go see Quinn Fitzgerald?”
He jerked back. “Quinn? What the hell does she have to do with this?”
“Everything,” Lena said in a quiet voice.
“Like what? Quit with the bullshit games and just tell it like it is.”
“I know you’re seeing her, and who knows how many other women. I know we never talked about being exclusive, but you acted like I was the only one you were interested in. I guess that comes easy for a lot of men.”
“What the hell are you talking about? I’m not fucking Quinn, and I haven’t even seen her since the engagement party. She’s been blowing up my phone for the last week or so, but I haven’t answered her calls. I don’t know why you think I’mwithher.”
