Page 73 of Take It Offline

Her knees tremble for the first few steps beyond the wine cellar, and hell if I’m not a smug son of a bitch as I slip my arm around her waist to help her back to the car.

The fundraiser is still going, and Emma might miss the pinched smile on Logan’s face as we leave, but I sure as shit don’t.

The way he seethes when I wink is almost as good as the lingering taste of Emma on my tongue.

CHAPTER 24

ANOTHER RUDE INTERLUDE

CHARLIE

“You’re so predictable,” Reese says as I put her on speaker. “You’ve always had it bad for a cute blonde.”

I resent that.

It’s true, but Emma is a hell of a lot more.

“Reese, I’m fine.”

“You’re eating shredded cheese out of the bag again, aren’t you?”

I still my hand in the bag. “No.”

Reese laughs. “Liar.”

“Whatever. Go back to torturing your Sims. This is… it’s what I signed up for. She’s still in love with her dick of an ex, and I’m just… offering a helping hand.” And mouth.

“You’re only saying that because you’re jealous. It doesn’t make him a bad guy.”

“He dumped her because of sex. What else would he be?”

“See? This is why women are superior. Men keep finding new ways to disappoint me. He can’t be all bad if she wants him back. Maybe he has hidden depths.”

Doubt it. “Hell if I get it.” I tip my head back and shake the last of the cheese into my mouth, then throw the bag into the trash.

“I will never understand how you eat so badly when you cook so well.”

It’s been a long time since I had someone to cook for. It’s not the same when I’m only doing it for myself.

“Seriously, Ree, you should see this guy. It’s like the bag of dicks manufacturers went back to the original formula. All the dick, none of the taste.” As soon as Emma stepped away, he turned hostile. It doesn’t sit right. Does he really want her back? Or is he just pissed that someone else is playing with his toys?

“First, gross. Also, she wouldn’t be the first woman to fall for a bland asshole. Just tell me you didn’t fight him.”

“I know better than that.”

She snorts. “While you’re at it, why don’t you just cock a leg and pee all over the tri-state area? He’ll be sure to get the picture then.”

“It’s not like that. Emma makes her own moves. If she even thought someone was trying to own her, she’d clear them a new breathing hole with her Louboutins.”

“I’ll start preparing your funeral then, shall I?”

Probably for the best, honestly. I bite back a smile. “I can handle myself.”

“Uh-huh.”

Reese is right. This is only going to end in disaster. If I was a smart man, I’d end it.

But why bother? What’s another scar? At least I’m going in with my eyes open. I’m walking a sure road to a broken heart, but I’ll take the gut punch I see coming over one I can’t.

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