Page 49 of Knotted Laces

“Tell me.”

He closes his eyes and stares out the window for a long time. “I know you’re in love with Lex, so I?—”

I nearly knock over my mug.“What?”

“—know this makes things complicated.” He pushes his bowl away. “But I know you’d never do anything to mess up his relationship with Frankie?—”

“What?”I know I’m just repeating myself, but what the actual fuck is this man saying?

“You’re a good person, Ats. I know that. And?—”

“Okay, Cameron Jackson,” I snap, slapping my hands on my table and standing. “Stop right there. I amnotin love with Lex.”

He blinks. “You’re not?”

“No.Godno.” I shudder. “He tried to kiss me once—years ago when he was drunk and before we were partners. It was—” I shudder, swallow down a gag. “He’s literally like a brother to me. Like all of you?—”

I stop, unable to finish the sentiment because Cam…

Well, I don’t think of him like I do about Lex or Carter or Chance or Caleb or Connor, now do I?

Because I don’t think about any of their penises.

Or their asses.

Or how the stubble on their cheeks might feel rubbing along the insides of my thighs.

But Cam…

Well, I woke up in his arms and wanted to roll over and find out…

“I’m not in love with Lex,” I repeat firmly. “I never have been. We both knew that early on, Cam.”

His gaze locks on to mine and then he slowly slides his chair back, pushes up to his full height.

He seems bigger now, somehow. Taller. Stronger.More.

“You’re not in love with Lex,” he says quietly, and there’s a hint of demand in his tone that has me both bristling and…melting.

This is a side of him…well, it’s a side of him that I haven’t seen before.

And now I’m thinking about his ass again.

And his dick.

“No,” I whisper, “I’m not.”

He steps closer. “Not in love with any of them?”

I find myself shifting back. “Any of your brothers?”

He nods, takes another step.

I shake my head. “No,” I whisper, sliding another pace away. “I’m not in love with any of the Jacksons.”

That has his brows dragging together, a scowl clouding his face. “Well, I am.”

“Y-you are?” I ask, sliding back another step, finding my back pressed to the wall, shock rippling through me. He’s?—

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