Page 82 of Sack

“Yep.”

He heard paper tearing and then a soft gasp. “How did you—”

“I noticed you admiring them.”

It had been on their trip to the beach. They’d visited a small jeweler, and she’d been immediately drawn to the pink sapphire stud earrings.

“I don’t know what to say. It’s too much.”

“Nothing is too much for your birthday. I just hope it makes up for me not being there.”

“Nothing can make up for that, but they’re beautiful. Thank you.”

“You’re—”

“There you are.” A male voice intruded on their conversation. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. You’re not trying to renege on the dance you promised me by hiding back here, are you?” The guy’s teasing held an edge of laughter as though the thought of Ivy not wanting to dance with him was fucking hilarious.

He heard Ivy’s lilting laughter before she replied, “Of course not.”

And then Ivy must have done something to draw attention to her cell because he heard the guy say, “Oh, sorry, didn’t know you were on the phone.”

“It’s okay.” She must have taken him off speaker because her voice sounded far away. “I’ll be done in a minute.”

What she didn’t tell the guy waswhoshe was talking to and that had Colt grinding his teeth.

“Sorry about that. What were you saying?” Ivy asked into the phone.

“Who was that?” He made an effort to keep the bite out of his tone.

In true Ivy form, she didn’t try to pretend she didn’t know what he was talking about. “Matt. He’s the bartender I told you about a few weeks back that Emerson hired.”

“And you promised to dance with him?”

“Yes. Do you have a problem with that?”

She wasn’t being confrontational, it was a direct question, so he answered in the same vein.

“Should I have a problem with that?”

“Not with me, but…” She hesitated just a second, which put him on guard. “Matt has expressed his interest.”

And that had him squeezing his cellphone so tightly he heard a cracking sound in his ear.

“Then I guess I do have a problem with you dancing with him.”

“Does that mean you don’t trust me?”

“No. I don’t trust him.”

“No. That’s implying you don’t trust my judgment. Matt and I are friends, just not the same kind as you and I. He respects that and wouldn’t cross the line.”

Colt wasn’t so sure about that. “And if I told you I don’t want you dancing with him?”

“Then you would need to give me a very good reason for why not.”

And that was the rub. Other than him fucking just not liking it, he didn’t have one. “What if I said I don’t want another man touching you?”

“We’ve had this argument before. You know where I stand.”

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