Page 99 of Burn With Me

Jackson takes the time to stop and introduce me to random people who call out his name. He’s polite, but not overly so, with the women. He makes it very clear that I’m his date, and he’s not interested in the sultry looks they throw his way.

There’s a blend of older people and ones our age, or his age anyway. All of which watch us together with thinly veiled intrigue. Finally, we make it to the other side of the room to see Scott talking with who I assume is Tripp’s parents.

“Margo, looking beautiful as always. Happy birthday,” Jackson says as he steps forward and places a chaste kiss on her cheek. She’s thin, with her blonde hair pulled back in a fancy chignon and a black gown that looks like a cupcake.

“Thank you, Jackson. I was just telling Scott here that youwon yourself a beauty. You are stunning, dear.” She comes at me like she’s going to hug me but ends up leaning in to air kiss my cheek. “I’m Margo, and this is my husband, Weylan.”

“Thank you. I’m Ginny. It’s nice to meet you. Happy birthday.” My eyes flit from her to her husband, who is talking to Scott. Scott’s eyes are lit up with delight as he smiles at me, seemingly ignoring Weylan.

“Good to see you, Ginny,” he says, raising his glass to me.

Weylan looks at me, his hand shooting out to shake mine. “Nice to meet you. So you’re Jackson’s new girl. Tell me, how on earth do you put up with this bastard?”

“Weylan! Language!” Margo scolds before her attention is caught by someone else, and she excuses herself.

Shrugging, I look up at Jackson. “Well, he’s house-trained, and I like walks in the park, so really, he’s well-behaved.”

The guys all laugh, and Jackson’s hazelnut orbs sparkle as he gazes down at me and murmurs, “You’ll pay for that later, Red.”

Weylan excuses himself as Margo calls for him from across the room, and Jackson’s eyes snap over my shoulder, his warm smile turning ice cold in an instant.

I’m about to ask him what’s wrong when I hear Viktoriya’s voice ring out, “Jackson! I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.”

“Dear lord, not her again,” Scott says into his glass.

Jackson straightens, and I turn to see her gliding toward us, eyes focused solely on him, just like that day at Citarella. Her hair is down in luxurious waves, and her strapless black dress looks like it was made just for her.

She reaches out to embrace Jackson, and without thinking, I step between them. Looking up at her, I paste my bestfuck offgrin on my face and say, “Hi. I’m Ginny, Jackson’sgirlfriend.”

Viktoriya doesn’t even look phased as she stops to appraise me. “Viktoriya Lukin. Jackson and I go way back.”

Her tone is smug, and when she looks over my head toflash him her mouthful of pearly whites, I feel the stinging, cold shock of hatred deep down in my chest. “Save me a dance, love,” she tells him before walking away.

Bristling, I turn, noticing that Scott has disappeared and Jackson is standing there just watching me with a pleased look. “I hate her.”

“I think you handled yourself pretty well,” he says as he steps into me, circling his arms around my waist. His body heat melts the chill away. “Does this meanIget to introduce you as my girlfriend?”

“Damn right, it does.”

An hour passes by quickly. Jackson hasn’t left my side all night, introducing me to more people before running into Tripp, where I get a few minutes of reprieve. Tripp is easygoing, and I don’t feel like I have to prove anything to him.

Everyone else here is another story. Especially when Viktoriya keeps shooting Jackson longing glances from across the room. He doesn’t seem to pick up on them.

Though, me and everyone else at the party do.

Jackson is immersed in a conversation with Tripp about what I’m fairly certain is a video game when I feel a tap on my shoulder.

Turning, I see Scott standing there, hand outstretched. “Come dance with me.”

George Benson’s “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You” starts to play as he smiles at me, and I return it as I put my hand in his. “I’ll be back in a minute,” I say over my shoulder to Jackson.

He doesn’t know the extent of my friendship with his uncle, and I know it’s something I’m going to have to tell him at some point. I’m surprised Scott is even asking me to dance, but thisishis and Sadie’s wedding song, and it’s his favorite.

“How are you doing? How is everything going with you two?” Scott asks as he twirls me into his arms.

“Good. I feel like we’re in a good place.” Looking over his shoulder, I lock eyes with my man as he manages to hold his conversation while watching me.

“Have you told him? That you work at the club?” Scott’s question isn’t threatening but genuinely curious. However, it pulls my attention from Jackson to him.

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