Page 42 of The Fix

If I hadn’t had my focus zeroed in on Anna, I would have missed the slight shudder.

“Actually …” Anna trails off, a flush rising on her cheeks. “I’ve been trying to eat healthy. I can’t remember the last time I ate something like this.”

Hello, cold bath.

“What?” I snap, my brows furrowing. “Like you haven’t ever had chili?”

“No, I have.” Anna flutters her hand between us dismissively, but that tinge of pink is still on her cheeks when she turns away and something about the color suggests it’s not arousal. “It’s just been a long time. How do you fix yours?”

“Load it the fuck up ’til it’s goop.”

“Attractive.” She wrings her hands. Just like at the store.

I round the counter and snag her wrists, dipping to catch her sight. “I’m not going to judge.”

I’m not sure what makes me say that, but it must be close to the right thing because she sighs and rolls her fucking eyes again. “You microwaved Bailey’s. You have no room to judge.”

“Exactly,” I state. “So, what’s the problem, Prune?”

Anna huffs. “I’ve been on this diet for forever and I—”

“Hold up,” I interrupt. “Diet? For fucking what?” Lifting her wrist, I take in her curved stature, and for the life of me, can’t find anything other than sexy standing in front of me.

She lets loose another irritated sigh. “What do you think, Jeffers?”

I narrow my eyes at her sarcastic tone. “Spell it out. Tell me why the hell you think you can’t eat the chili.”

“I never said I couldn’t,” she growls and wiggles her wrists in my grip.

“Then why act like it?” I hold tighter.

“Because!” she snaps, yanking free from me and spinning away.

Except, I chase. “Because why?”

Anna stalks in the direction of the bedroom, with me hot on her heels.

I’ll be damned if she thinks she can escape me this time.

“Just let it go. Leave me alone.” She throws up a hand as she walks, that ass of hers swaying with each step.

“No can do.”

I hook an arm around her waist before she can cross the threshold to the bedroom and pull her back against my body. Her ass crashes into my groin, and I don’t bother holding back the thick noise that escapes me.

“See,” she hisses and forces her fingers between my forearm and her soft belly in an attempt to push me away. “I’m like a freaking wrecking ball.”

“Whoa, Mama.” I cinch tighter around her midsection despite her resistance. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“I’m—Just let me go!”

“Nope.”

Anna growls, struggling more in my arms, and that’s when I move. Lifting her up, her back hits my chest and her legs raise to kick at air. “Let me go, Jeffers!” she squeals, her nails biting into skin and her heels meeting my shins as I walk.

I ignore it all as I advance until the bed is in front of us and there’s no room left to move.

Tossing her onto the mattress, I snag her ankle before she can skitter away.

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