Page 33 of Lost the Handle

“Em—” I groan, but she cuts me off.

“I’m not here to stroke the ego of any fragile male in this bar. I wore this for you—and only you.”

I press my lips together and ignore how her words make me soar. “This can’t happen.”

She leans in, and I can’t move even if I want to. I’m caught in her gaze, in her orbit, and I don’t want to escape. “Your cock says otherwise.”

I exhale a shaky breath, my cock throbbing as I shake my head. “Nothing can happen.”

“It will.”

“Emery.”

“Quinn,” she snaps back, her eyes narrowing. “I’m over this back-and-forth. You keep saying nothing can happen, but you and I both know it will.”

“No.”

“Sure.”

“Em—”

But words fail me when she stands. Her skirt is riding up in the back, and from where I sit, all I see is butt cheeks. Thick,tanned globes that I want to mold in my hands and then bite. With a knowing grin, she slowly moves to pull her skirt back down. It doesn’t contain all she has, and I cover my mouth to keep in the groan.

Pleased with herself, she goes over to where Flynn is dancing to join him. I know she’s doing it to get under my skin, and fucking Flynn knows it too. He may not touch her, but he entertains her as they dance. Meanwhile, I’m stewing in my anger. When Journey looks over at me, he leans on his elbows and grins up at me. His hazel eyes are shining from how much he’s had to drink, but also, he knows I’m struggling.

“You could ask her to dance.”

“I’m engaged.” I scoff.

“Sure, but not dead,” he says with a shrug.

“You and I both know that dancing with Emery will lead to us naked.”

“That’s the point,” he teases, waggling his brows at me. “It’s better than brooding over her and wishing she were dancing with you.”

“I’m good,” I lie. Truth is, my cock hurts as bad as my heart.

He gives me a look that says he knows I’m lying. “You two are good together.”

I can’t answer him. Emotion floods my mind, and I have to look down at my drink. I’ve missed her for three years; I can handle one more. Even if it means I’ll be miserable. I keep hoping that perhaps when I’m married, she’ll back off. She’ll see I meant what I said, and then when Ava and I divorce, maybe Emery will still be around.

But given the way the whole VIP section is watching her, I can’t help but feel that won’t be true. She didn’t want me three years ago, and I know how she is. She only wants what she can’t have. But by next year, she’ll have gotten bored with the chase and moved on.

How the hell can I be ready to risk it all when my heart wasn’t enough before?

Chapter

Fourteen

Emery

When Flynn leans in,I freeze a bit.

I just wanted to dance, but before I can push him away, he asks, “How pissed do you think he’ll get if I grab your ass?”

I snort. “Don’t worry about him. Worry about me kneeing you in the balls.”

His laughter is contagious, but it’s all I have to say to keep him in line. I feel Quinn’s gaze on me, but when I look over at him, he’s deep in conversation with Journey.

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