Page 46 of Holding Out For A Holiday Hero

Richard. The ex. No, he shouldn’t be in Rosewood. Richard’s happy ass should be up in Colorado. He should not be making his way determinedly across the road and straight toward True.

She climbed out of the SUV. Stood at Jake’s side. She grabbed for his hand.

Automatically, he looked down. True was holding his hand. His fingers tightened around hers.

“True!” Richard began jogging toward them.

No, toward her.

“True! I’ve been waiting for you!”

Oh, had he?

Richard staggered to a stop right in front of True. And Jake. Richard whipped off his sunglasses and shoved them into the right pocket of his khakis. His bloodshot eyes locked on her. “You didn’t come home last night,” he accused her.

“No,” Jake said, voice flat. “She didn’t. Because she was with me.”

Richard’s glare jumped to him. “Who the fuck are you? And why are you dragging my wife home after some all-nighter?”

Oh, no. This SOB did not just say that shit to me.

“I’m not your wife,” True fired back. “We’re divorced, and you know it, Richard.”

Jake stared back at the other man. And smiled. Richard. Wasn’t the shortened version of that name… “Dick,” he said with a nod. “Yeah, Dick, she’s not your wife. And as for who I am? I’m the?—”

“He’s my b—” True began.

Maybe she’d been about to say bounty hunter. But Jake finished his words before she could, and he very clearly proclaimed, “Boyfriend.”

Richard gaped at him.

“I’m the boyfriend,” Jake repeated. “The man True was with all night long. Last night. And the night before.” His fingers tightened on hers. “Where True goes, I go. Now that we understand who I am and why I’m here…why the fuck are you here?”

Rage twisted Richard’s face. “Y-you’re screwing my wife?”

“I prefer to think of it as making her scream as she comes for me, over and over again.”

“Jake!” True snapped.

And Richard snapped, too. As in, went crazy right in front of Jake. The prick drew back his fist and came in swinging it.

The problem with the swing? Well, problems with it? Problem one was that the guy couldn’t swing for shit. Couldn’t make a strong fist for shit. Another problem was that Richard’s wild and spinning blow might just accidentally hit True.

And that wasn’t happening on Jake’s watch. He moved quickly to shield True with his body because that fist was flying far too recklessly.

The fast movement protected True and resulted in Richard getting in one lucky punch to Jake’s jaw.

“Jake!” True cried.

Such a weak-ass punch.

Jake smiled at the ex. “Is it my turn now?”

Richard was winding his arm up like he’d punch again.

“I think I get a turn,” Jake decided. “Fair is fair, after all.”

But Richard clearly did not agree. His fist flew at Jake once more.

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