Page 101 of Light My Fire

“Don’t look at me,” I protest. “I’m not cool with a fucking thing right now. But I do want to talk to her. I didn’t like the tone of her last text. She sounded upset.”

Some guy accidentally jostles me, passing by my bar stool. I glare at him when he doesn’t apologize.

He glares back.

“Watch where the fuck you’re going.” It’s misplaced anger, but he’s a convenient target for the tornado of emotions I’m feeling. The last two weeks have sucked.

Something about my expression clearly warns him off because he keeps on walking without another word.

I’m torn between wanting to see Brooke alone, so I can get her naked. I’ve been having a lot of fantasies about tying her by the ankles to my bed, her slim legs spread so that I can see her tight little cunt, her arms tethered to my headboard…

I shift on my stool.

But at the same time, I like the idea of having the guys with me as a buffer, so Idon’ttie her to my bed and keep her there forever.

“She’s meeting us—well, me—at my condo in thirty minutes,” Jackson says, setting his phone down on the bartop.

“That was fast.”

“She must really want to see you.” Wyatt blows out a breath, like he isn’t sure how to feel about that. He lifts his handresolutely and indicates to the bartender he wants to close his tab. “Let’s go. Brooke awaits.”

This is either going to be a fucking disaster or something really incredible.

Might as well see which one sooner than later.

“I’m ready.”

“I’ll have a drink at home.” Jackson is already off his stool.

Half an hour later, Brooke is standing in the doorway of Jackson’s condo, frozen.

“Oh, hi,” she says after a pause.

It reminds me of the night we came upon her in the cabin, and she was so flustered.

“You know Luke and Wyatt,” Jackson jokes as he closes the door behind her.

Jesus. I fight the urge to roll my eyes.

But Brooke gives us a soft laugh and tucks her hair behind her ear. “I thought I was coming over to check on Henley and the puppies. I hope I’m not interrupting a guys’ night.”

Her tone puts my fears to rest. She sounds flirty, not angry.

“We’re here because of you,” I tell her. “Let me take your coat.”

I hold out my hand, and she peels off her jacket and passes it over to me. I lean in and kiss her cheek. “It’s great to see you,” I murmur.

Brooke shivers and turns her head quickly so that we’re eye to eye. “It’s great to see you, too. I…”

“What, Angel?”

But she shakes her head and turns to Jackson. “You could have warned me.”

He pulls her into a hug. “Nah. I couldn’t risk you saying no. We need to talk, Brooke. We’re all tiptoeing around each other and that isn’t good for any of us.”

“I don’t want that.”

“Neither do we,” Wyatt says firmly.

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