Page 46 of RAKEish

“She was a model,” John said. “So I’d say the answer is yes.”

“Oh.” That threw water on Lux’s theory. “I wonder if she ever worried about him losing interest when she no longer looked like a model.”

John chuckled. “It was dad who worried she would someday find him not handsome enough. Especially once his hairline receded.”

Interesting. Lux had never considered men suffering from the same sort of insecurity as her. She would never stop loving a man just because he had aged. To do so would be the shallowest of shallows. A narcissist of sorts. A person only interested in what made them top dog in a situation.

“While I believe in love at first sight,” John said, “I also believe in taking the time to verify there’s a connection after your heart’s settled down and your brain has had a chance to get involved in the decision-making process.”

“You’ve given me something to think about. To be honest with you, I’ve always viewed insta-love as nothing more than insta-lust.”

John blushed. “I look forward to proving to you that when I say I fell for you instantly, it wasn’t just because you’re beautiful.”

Before she could form a reply, the music changed, and a strong hand landed on her shoulder. She knew who her new dance partner was before she turned. “You,” she said to Scott.

“Me,” he replied.

The music was a pop song, but he didn’t even pretend to try to follow the beat. Instead, he pulled her tightly against him and just swayed.

“You two looked quite chummy,” he growled against her ear.

“Probably because we were,” she shot back. “And if this is your idea of dancing, no wonder you turned down my offer last night. You don’t want me to discover you suck at sex.”

He brought a hand between them and lifted her chin, forcing their gazes to meet. What he saw in hers must have distracted him, because he stopped dancing, and slid his hand over the curve of her jaw before allowing it to rest at her nape. “I don’t suck at sex. But please, don’t take my word for it. Let’s get out of here, and I’ll prove it.”

Her knees turned to jelly and her brain to mush. Yes. This is what she wanted. One night in his arms. One night to remember as she went about living her life. But to say yes after the way he’d humiliated her last night would be pathetic. She raised her hand and cupped his strong jawline. “I can’t. As you reminded me earlier, I’m here to do one thing and one thing only…practice my flirting until I land myself a rake.”

With those words, she pulled out of his arms and walked away, not looking back and not stopping until she found Mr. Insta-love, who now stood next to Ms. Birdie, chatting as if they knew each other quite well.

CHAPTER 15

Scott intended to let Doc walk away, to vanish into the crowd with Mr. Corduroy. After last night’s blunder, he knew he’d earned the cold shoulder, and she certainly deserved a shot at joy, even if it was with a guy who had the allure of a dishrag. But as she moved toward Mr. Corduroy, that insufferable purveyor of insta-love, a raw, seething something clawed at Scott's insides.

It was a feeling that gnawed at him, dark and voracious, one he couldn't shake off. The acrid tang of it suggested jealousy, but that couldn't be—because a man cursed to never know love couldn't possibly know the first thing about jealousy, could he? Yet, what else could twist his gut like this?

He was moving before he could slap a label on the emotion, striding toward them with purpose. He reached for Doc’s arm just as she paused by Ms. Birdie, his fingers closing a touch too firm, a silent declaration of his presence.

Doc’s reaction was swift, her arm snapping away from his grip, her eyes shooting daggers colder than any ice. “Excuse me.” Her voice was arctic, and it should have cut him to the core—should have, but it didn’t.

“Sorry to interrupt, but Frankie needs to see us,” he lied smoothly, the deception rolling off his tongue like second nature. Well, it wasn’t an outright lie; Frankie had texted, just not for tonight.

Doc’s suspicion was palpable, even as she apologized to Corduroy. Scott watched as the guy’s attempt at charm elicited a smile from Doc, a smile that had no right to stir anything in Scott yet did. It fanned the flames of that unfamiliar, gnawing feeling as he watched another man touch her.

“We need to get going,” he interjected, his impatience not entirely feigned. The longer she lingered with Corduroy, the more the unfamiliar sensation grew, tainting his mood.

Doc ignored Scott and her gaze locked with Corduroy. It was as if Scott had faded into the background.

“No one makes Frankie wait,” he said with a touch more urgency, steering her away, the need to separate her from Corduroy burning through him like wildfire.

Once they stepped outside, Doc made her indignation clear, wrenching her arm free from his hold. “What is wrong with you? I liked him.” The tension that sizzled in the air between them was electric, almost alive.

A gentleman would regret his actions, but regret was a stranger to Scott. “I saved you from a mistake with Corduroy.”

“Mistake?” she echoed, disbelief etched into each syllable.

“You deserve better,” he insisted, and it was true. She did. But why it mattered so much to him, he couldn’t fathom.

“And you think you’re better?” she challenged, her eyes ablaze with a fire that he recognized all too well—it was the same fire that ignited whenever they sparred.

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