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A ripple of unease tore through her as she became acutely aware of Grant’s eyes focused on Kyle’s grip on her. Given the current circumstances, the simple act could appear aggressive. She found herself torn between the need for the small comfort and the desire to shrug it off, maintaining a clear boundary that her current situation with Grant required.
“Where were you, Julia?” His voice carried a mixture of concern and a hint of restrained emotion. The words, simple, yet loaded, reflected a turmoil she couldn’t dissect.
She swallowed hard as she tried to search for the words to explain the convoluted situation.
“She was making certain I have another shot at Lydia’s inner circle,” Kyle said, his hand squeezing her shoulder.
Grant shifted his gaze from Kyle back to Julia. “What does that mean?”
Julia heaved a sigh. “While we were talking to Sierra, Kyle called Lydia. She gave him a task to complete before she’d trust him again.”
“Get Julia away from you for a few hours…and produce some compromising photos of us,” Kyle answered.
“And you were just all too happy to oblige her,” Grant said, a disgusted tone to his voice.
Julia read the judgment in his voice. His frustration with the situation was obvious, but his read on Kyle wasn’t. At least she hoped it wasn’t. “That’s not fair.”
He flicked his eyebrows up as he offered her an incredulous stare. “Isn’t it? You know what also isn’t fair, Julia? Being tormented by Lydia with the scandalous photos of you two. And let me tell you, it doesn’t look like Kyle was having any reservations about putting his hands or his lips on you.”
Her shoulders slumped as she sought to temper his anger with an explanation, but Kyle beat her to it. He pushed in front of her, wagging a finger at Grant. “Don’t you dare blame Julia for this. She had no idea what was happening until we got to that cabin. And she wanted to contact you several times, but I stopped her.”
“Kyle…” Julia tried but Grant was already out of his seat, his hands curled into fists.
“I’ll bet you did,” he growled.
“Hey,” Julia said as she pushed between them, trying to diffuse the building tension in the room. “Whoa, let’s just all take a step back here. It didn’t happen the way any of us would have liked–“
“Except Kyle,” Grant said.
“Leave it, Julia. No matter what I do, he has a problem. This is just more evidence of that,” Kyle said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“Oh, come on, Kyle. Don’t you think this all seems just a tad too convenient? After our argument, Lydia just happens to ask you to take Julia to a cabin and kiss her. I’m sorry, but I just don’t buy that.”
“I’m sorry if you don’t, but that’s what happened.”
“Then why not tell me?”
“Because I couldn’t risk it.”
“Risk what?” Grant shot back. “Risk her not going with you? Risk being exposed for the liar you are?”
Kyle shook his head, his jaw tensing at the words. “You know what? You deserve whatever happens to you. It is no wonder Lydia is doing what she’s doing to you.”
“So you agree with her?” Grant asked.
“No,” Julia answered before Kyle could. “No, he doesn’t.”
Grant cocked his head, his eyes, clouded with anger, still fixed on Grant. “I’d like to hear him say that.”
Kyle flicked his gaze to the floor, his features still taut with frustration. “No, I don’t, okay? I’m just saying sometimes your behavior can be really aggravating.”
Grant heaved a sigh as he flicked his gaze out of the window.
Julia allowed the silence to stretch between them while everyone, including her, cooled off after the terse exchange. “Look, the timing of this wasn’t the best. And I’m willing to bet Lydia did that on purpose hoping for this exact scenario. She obviously wanted you isolated. She told Kyle that.”
“And he–“
“Don’t say he went right along with her,” Julia interrupted with a wag of her finger, “because he didn’t have much other choice. She did this on purpose for this exact reason. She doesn’t want us on the same side.”
