Page 44 of The Fake Out

“His very pregnant date?” I prompted.

Chris’s face turned to stone.

“That would be his baby.”

Like a current of electricity had jumped through him, his whole body jolted. He opened his mouth and then shut it again. His fists tightened into thick balls.

“Are you telling me that fucker cheated on my sister?” Chris growled through clenched teeth. “Are you saying that while I welcomed the asshat into my house, gave him tickets to games, signed shit for him, he was fucking around on her?”

I gave a clipped nod, and that’s all it took for Chris to growl and take a step to the side like he was going to barrel past me. I grasped his arm, stopping him before he could storm over to Jake and do something stupid. Then I pulled in a cleansing breath, searching for a calmness I didn’t feel.

“Then,” I said, “he told her she had to be lying about dating me. That there was no way a guy like me would date someone as unappealing as her.”

He yanked his arm away, trying to free himself from my grasp, but I tightened my grip.

“Listen to me,” I demanded. “If you go over there screaming instead of letting me take care of it, it’ll only prove his point.”

“The fuck?” Chris fixed the glare he was so well known for on me.

“Dragon, if someone picked on Avery, if a man said something awful about her, what would you do?” I lifted one brow.

“Go after him.”

“Right. So Gi’s date should be the one to take care of the Jake problem. And that’s exactly what I’ll do if you back off and let me.”

He blinked, and the hard lines on his face softened a fraction. “Oh.” He glanced over at Gi, then focused on me again. “Oh.” With one hand, he rubbed at the back of his neck. “Comfort your girl. Kill the ass. Right. That’s what you’re doing.” He shook his head. “Damn, you really are good at the fake out. After the way you kissed her, and then the looks between you two on the dance on the floor, I really thought…”

I said nothing. Not admitting to something wasn’t the same as denying it. At least that’s what I was telling myself.

He shook his head and blew out a breath. “Guess I’ll let you do your thing.”

I nodded. “I’m going to deal with Jake and then get her out of here.”

With the hint of a grateful smile, he dipped his chin. “Thanks.”

“Don’t need to thank me,” I assured him, and then I was off, headed back to Gianna, whose eyes hadn’t left her brother and me. “Want a drink, Mariposa?” I asked, bending at the waist and looming over her.

“White wine?” she asked, like she really thought there was a right answer here. Didn’t she know that I didn’t care what she wanted? That I’d get her anything?

I gauged the crowd, looking for the idiot. I wouldn’t ever forget the man. Not after the way he drank Gi in when he saw her in that dress. The way the material molded to her body was sinful. The slit that ran up, showing off the thighs I wanted wrapped around my hips. Every curve made my mouth water. But I’d forced myself to sit in my damn chair and brood silently as he eye-fucked her. The dude had one of those pretty faces that screamed he was owed a good nose breaking. Just to take away the shiny perfection and symmetry there. If not for the buzz cut that was more fitting for an eight-year-old than a grown-ass man, I would have had to admit the guy was good-looking. In that too perfect Ken doll type way, of course.

It only took a minute to spot the douche bag at the bar on the other side of the room.

“Streaks.”

He snapped his head up, pulling his attention away from the chick he was with. I didn’t recognize her, not that he ever brought the same date twice. His agent had probably set him up with her. He didn’t care who he took to these events. They were just arm candy. Someone to make him look good. He’d drop them as quickly as he found them. He lived by the friends before chicks mantra in life. The guy was almost thirty-five, and it wasn’t looking like he’d ever settle down.

“Sup, Bambi?” he asked, strolling over.

I tipped my head to the bar and took off toward it. He stuck to my side, and as we made our way across the room, I explained what I needed.

“Asshole,” Kyle muttered. “Learn how to treat women. All women”—he waved, gesturing to the whole outdoor space—“or your hand should be your only pleasure.”

I nodded. He was fucking right. But as we sidled up to the bar next to Gi’s ex, I jumped into character. “I don’t know, man. I’m just so fucking happy.”

“Probably because you finally got the girl.”

In that moment, I could be honest about the woman who haunted my brain. “I don’t get how I got so lucky. I’ve been waiting a year, maybe more, for this.” I shook my head. “And when she looks at me and smiles, damn. I didn’t know that kind of feeling existed.”

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