Page 168 of Holiday Hire

"You're in Texas now, not California. This is how we do things here. You man up or you don't survive."

"So you would've killed him if I hadn't come into the bar and Mason made you stop?" she questions.

"Don't be ridiculous."

"Well, then maybe you should stop being ridiculous." She crosses her arms and locks her challenging gaze on mine.

I don't flinch. "This isn't about me being violent. You're upset I hurt your little boyfriend."

"Don't you dare twist this, Alexander. And stop calling him my boyfriend!"

"I'm not twisting anything. He stood on the bar with your photo in his hand, claiming you were his!" I cry out, more anger and jealousy flaring within me.

She shakes her head. "Are you listening to yourself right now?"

"Yeah, I'm hearing this whole conversation loud and clear," I reply, even though I wish I could stop being angry and make things right between us.

But I can't.

The rage swirls inside me, mixing with jealousy, until I feel like I'm going to explode.

I hate the thought of her with him. I've loathed it ever since I heard about him when she first told me they were on a break. But the minute he stepped on the ranch with his cocky grin and his arrogant ego, a new level of hate took over.

She lowers her voice. "I don't control other people, especially Lance. I told him we were done. I broke up with him. It's not my fault he showed up."

"He claimed you were his fiancée!"

"You know I never was, so why are you letting that bother you?"

I take another deep breath, then slowly release it. I admit, "I thought he was out of our lives."

"So did I."

"But he's not, is he?" I accuse.

"He is," she insists.

Tense silence grows between us. I can't get the vision of her with him out of my head. I toss out, "How could you even have been with him? He's a loser."

Her head jerks back. "Don't you dare question who I dated in the past while you've tramped all over town with your 'friend with benefits.'"

I seethe, "There you go again. Judging me like you're a perfect saint."

She blinks hard and turns away. "You're out of line, Alexander."

I start the engine. "This conversation isn't going anywhere."

She turns back toward me, asserting, "No, it's not. Take me home."

"Gladly." I drive down a few more dirt roads and then go through our back gate. I pull through it and make my way toward the house.

As soon as I park, Phoebe jumps out of the truck and stomps into the house.

I sit in the cab, lean against the headrest, and close my eyes.

I need to fix this.

She should have made it clear to him she's not his anymore.

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