Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath

After the doctor hooked Susanna up to an IV, she was still blushing from the earlier commotion, her cheeks flushed an even brighter shade of pink.

A few minutes ago, she'd been full of energy, eavesdropping in the hallway like it was her life's mission. Now, leaning back on the hospital bed, she felt deflated, like a balloon losing air.

Hull handed her a glass of water. "So, you really enjoy listening in on people, huh?"

Susanna was still a bit dazed from everything that had just happened. Oh, boy... Stella's temper was legendary-a real firecracker, that one.

And Dan? He actually faked his own death just to trick her? Was he out of his mind?

"About Dan-" Susanna started.

"Dan, your brother," Hull clarified.

"Please. I don't have a brother like that," Susanna blurted out without thinking.

Anyone who'd go so far as to fake their own death? That's about as low as it gets. If she admitted he was her brother, she'd probably get punched just for sharing the same last name.

As far as she was concerned, family ties like that were best left as distant as possible.

Besides, she'd heard that years ago, Yvonne nearly lost her mind over a man like that.

And it turned out the guy was lying to her the whole time? How could anyone stand for that?

If Stella found out, she'd probably lose it—and Susanna didn't want to be caught in the crossfire.

Susanna almost reached for her phone to warn Stella, but glancing at the clock, she decided maybe it was best to wait until morning.

Hull's question snapped her out of her thoughts. Susanna thought about it for a second. "It's not like I eavesdrop on just anyone."

If it didn't involve her, she wasn't interested. No matter how juicy the drama, she'd never bother-except she'd overheard Stella mention Yvonne's name earlier, and, well, that was different.

at Hull. "Um, you should probably head out. You don't

her cheeks burning again. She'd been

couldn't believe she'd

curled into a smile at her

and

suddenly just inches

breath hitched. "W-What

eyes glittered.

"I... uh..."

didn't seem so shy when you

face turned scarlet. "Can we not

about it, her friend couldn't believe she'd actually negotiated

a little, will you?" she

"You know Leanne's in this hospital, right? Are you sure

here? So, the Nelsons

The Murrays. They

Right," Susanna

a handful, to say the

mom's not here,

turned stormy at the mention of her father. She tried to push Hull away, but his chest was like a brick wall-he didn't budge an

"What's wrong?" Hull asked.

that man's not my

man who shoved his own wife under the bus just to protect his mistress? He didn't deserve to be called a father-he barely deserved to be called

for a moment, then said quietly, “He probably knows you're here

both showing up,

been the

about his priorities.

determination settled in her