Page 42 of Rough Ride

“He wants to find out more about the ranch.”

“Is that so?”

She nodded and turned in the direction of her room. He followed her. They both had locking doors inside, but she had left hers open.

“So, that should be fun. I’d like to talk to him about his work.”

“Is that what you call it?” Eli asked.

She turned and frowned at him. “What are you talking about?”

“It was obvious he was interested in you.”

She sighed. “Eli, we’ve been through this. I’m pretty sure you’re exaggerating men’s interest in me. I got game, but I didn’t put out a freaking mating call. You don’t have any say in who I date and, since you were pretty happy to use his jet on the way over here, I’m assuming you trust him.”

He did. He actually liked the man. Devon Stryker had many secrets, but Eli had always been sure that Micah would never allow him to be around Dee if he were dangerous.

“He doesn’t play.”

She shrugged. Her nonchalance aggravated him on some level he couldn’t seem to grasp. “I told you that I wasn’t sure I was made out for that either.”

“But you’re going to Rough ‘n Ready tomorrow night.”

“Yeah. Both Dee and May said I should go and I know Micah wants to show me around.”

He didn’t know what else to say. He wanted to argue more about it, but he was running out of reasons she shouldn’t talk to Devon…other than he didn’t want her to. And that smacked of jealousy.

Eli St. John, jealous? He had thought it before, but he thought it would fade. It had been years, probably since his teens. He’d learned right off how to control that, though. Being jealous over a woman was stupid and it lead to situations.

But he was. That had to be the only reason he was trying to figure out a way to make sure Devon never made it over to the island. He was pretty sure the man was lethal.

“I don’t like it.”

Her brows furrowed. “What are you talking about?”

“I don’t like the idea of Devon being at the ranch.”

“And?”

“That’s it. I don’t like it.”

She was looking at him as if he was crazy and he didn’t blame her. He did sound crazy. She had made him that way. He was walking around half aroused most days. He had wanted to hit Rough ‘n Ready up tomorrow night, but the thought of taking on a sub…well he didn’t want one if it wasn’t Crysta.

Shit.

“I’m sorry but I’m pretty sure you’ve lost it. Devon just wants to be shown around.”

“He wants in your bed.”

She rolled her eyes. “I swear to God, St. John, you’re the only one who has kissed me. You have some kind of idea that men are all drooling over me, and I can assure you that isn’t true.”

Just her mentioning the kisses had his blood heating. The memory of the way she sighed, the taste of her passion…the feel of her pressed up against him had his cock twitching.

“Are you telling me that no one has tried to kiss you before?”

She must have detected the change in his voice. The glance she gave him told him she heard the change in his tone.

“No. Only you have manhandled me.”

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