Page 25 of High Stakes

“You’re right.”

“I know it’s not that simple,” I add. “Not when feelings are involved.”

“I think she’s just a bad habit I’m struggling to break.”

“Every time she calls, think about Jake and what he’d say,” I suggest.

His smile fades again and pain shines through. “Good idea,” he almost whispers.

“I think the best medicine would be finish this delicious soup and watch a movie?”

He groans playfully. “The last movie you made me watch, made me sick.”

“Love Actually is a classic,” I argue.

“No, Bells, The Goonies is a classic. Back to the Future is a classic. Love Actually is trash.”

We’re halfway through an action that Aiden insisted on, when his mobile phone lights up, buzzing on the coffee table with Laurie’s name as the caller id. He glances at me,smirks, then goes back to watching the film. She instantly calls back twice more. “She doesn’t take a hint,” I mutter.

“This is what she does. She’ll get more and more persistent.”

“Stalker much.”

He snatches it up, sighing heavily. “Maybe you could answer it?”

I laugh, “No way. She already hates me.”

“She doesn’t know you.”

“I’m on her radar, Aiden. She followed me into the bathroom last night, making sure to stamp her territory.”

He frowns, “She did?”

“Just tell her you can’t talk right now.”

He stares at her name flashing on the screen for the fourth time. “She’ll sweet talk me.”

I shake my head in exasperation, snatching his mobile. “You’re weak,” I whisper hiss, accepting the call.

“Hello?”

“Put him on,” she snaps.

“Aiden’s busy.”

“Does he know you’re screening his calls?”

“I’ll let him know you called.”

“Listen to me,” she hisses angrily, “If he finds out I called and you didn’t get him, he’ll be pissed. I’m saving you from a dressingdown.”

Her rudeness only annoys me, and I give Aiden a wicked smile. “He’s currently in the shower waiting for me to join him,” I say smugly. “And it was him that asked me to answer your call and get rid of you because he’s occupied with me. So, stop with the constant calls and go fuck your husband.” I disconnect, letting out a small gleeful giggle. “Holy shit, I can’t believe I just said all that.”

Aiden

Bella throws the phone at me, and I catch it with one hand, making sure the call has been disconnected before laughing with her. I’m so hard for her right now that I have to sit forward to hide the evidence. “She’s so rude,” she adds, “What the hell do you see in her.”

“I think she’s just rude to you,” I tell her, smirking. “Jealousy can do that to a person.”

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