Page 41 of Ruthless Heir

“Really? I’d love to see you try and stop me. Jack also happens to have an extra room and I’m more than welcome to stay with him. I’ve decided I’m going to take him up on the offer.”

I grab her arm and pull her back so hard she crashes into my chest. “Like fuck are you staying with him. Josh asked me to look after you, notJack. You’re staying here. There is no way I’m going to let him down and allow you to move in with some asshole.”

“Asher, Josh is in a submarine hundreds and hundreds of miles away. Deep, deep, deep under the sea. If I choose to leave neither of you can stop me. You are a ridiculous nightmare andI can’t live with you. You’re the one who’s an asshole. Not Jack. Now let me go.”

Her words sting worse than I imagined they would. I stare back at her, realizing I’m not going to win here. Not tonight. So I release her.

Harper rolls her eyes at me and storms away.

I watch her until I can no longer see her and when the haze of rage clears from my mind, the second layer of realization dawns on me that she’s right.

My behavior just now was…

Not like me at all.

This girl is making me act fucking crazy.

I bring a weary hand to my head and breathe out a haggard sigh, sounding like a man who’s fallen into a deep dark hole he can’t get himself out of.

Just now I was rude and ridiculous, enraged and furious, volatile and ruthless.

My temper went from zero to one hundred in a matter of seconds just because Jack was with Harper.

Because he wastouchingher.

Something wicked slithers down my insides and something more hits me that sums up my behavior with one simple annoying word—jealousy.

I wasn’t acting crazy for no reason.

I behaved that way because…

I’m jealous.

Chapter Nine

Harper

God in Heaven.What am I going to do?

I march into my temporary room and slam the door behind me. The impact makes the bookshelves rattle.

Feeling my blood still heating, I slump against the wall and allow the coolness from the satin wallpaper to seep into my skin and calm me.

Asher is an absolute nightmare.

The other day at dinner was bad enough but what happened just now with Jack was utterly outrageous.

Sure, I’ll admit that I told two little white lies that definitely fanned the flames of Asher’s rage.

I lied when I said Jack was perfect for me. And I lied when I said I was thinking of moving in with him.

Jackdoeshave a spare room that I’m welcome to stay in but I’d be an idiot if I didn’t know he wants to fuck me.

He was the gorgeous waiter Beth and I met years ago who now owns our favorite restaurant. It turns out he became more gorgeous and more interested in me.

We went to the restaurant today and I got talking with him. Beth had to leave early and I ended up spending more time than I should have with Jack.

He’s a nice guy and maybe I liked the attention.

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