Page 26 of Hot & Bothered

Turning toward the driver’s side of his truck, he clenched his molars together again to keep himself from saying anything hurtful or that he might regret. But then a thought popped into his head and he turned around to face her again. “Your birthday is November eighth, right?”

She perked up a little. “Yeah. Why?”

“What star sign is that?”

Confusion swam in her eyes. “Uh, Scorpio. Why?”

“Hmm. No reason.” Then he turned back to his truck, opened the door, climbed in, and started the engine. Rolling down the window, he fixed her with a sharp glare. “Go get a restraining order, Bronwyn,now.” Then he drove away, hitting the screen in his truck to send a voice to text message to Peyton that hewas going to be late for their date. Then he asked her to send him everything she had on Scorpios.

“Sorry, I’m late,” Jace said, bringing the scent of Phad Thai with him as he came through Peyton’s front door. “I come bringing apology spring rolls, though.”

“All is forgiven then.” She smiled and lifted onto her tiptoes to peck his cheek. “How was your day?”

He growled, which stirred something deep in her lower belly—and it wasn’t hunger for spring rolls.

“Uh-oh.”

They made their way to the couch, and he began unpacking the takeout bag. “Remember that guy on Christmas Eve that we ran into on my floor waiting for the elevator?”

“Yeah …”

“And then the guy that I followed down the stairwell? I’m pretty sure it was the same guy who also nearly ran me over in the parking garage?”

Fear ratcheted through her. “Yeah …”

“Well, my building managerfinallygot me the security footage, and itisthe same guy. And that guy is a perp I arrested three years ago and put away for assault with a deadly weapon.”

Peyton dropped her spring roll on the area rug at the same time her bottom jaw nearly hit the table. “What?”

“He’s out. Annnnd, he was dating my ex.”

She squeezed her eyes shut tight for a good five seconds, shook her head, and opened her eyes. “What?”

“Yeah. Bronwyn came to the gym today to tell me that she dated Tiberius last year. Then he found out her ex—me—was the same cop that put him away and he went all squirrely.”

“She came to the gym today?”

“Yeah, like two fucking months after the fact. I’m livid with her. I went to my detachment and filled them in, and the Victoria PD to tell them what’s going on. I also ordered Bronwyn to get a restraining order against him.” He opened up the lid for his curry, then the lid for his rice, licking green sauce off his thumb. Peyton’s insides clenched as she watched his tongue swipe across the pad of his finger.

“How did Tiberius find out where you lived?” A sick pool of dread formed in her belly. Could Bronwyn be trusted? What if this was a bigger set up and Jace’s ex was in on it? What if she’d turned over to the dark side and Tiberius brainwashed her and now she was working with him to take down Jace?

Wow, that escalated quickly.

“Fucking Bronwyn,” Jace said, shaking his head and scooping some of his rice onto his curry. “Hang on. I’m going to grab a bigger bowl.” He got up from his seat and headed into her kitchen, coming back with a bowl she usually used for salads. He emptied his rice into it, then dumped the curry over top. “I mean, according to her, he had her by the wrist and shoved her against the wall, demanding that she tell him where I lived.”

“Do you believe her?”

He rolled his eyes. “She’s never been one to lie. But sheissomeone who embellishes things. However, I don’t think she’d tell him for no reason. Even though we didn’t end on great terms, she wouldn’t dox me and risk my safety if she didn’t feel her own safety was in jeopardy.”

Peyton’s stomach had been rumbling before Jace walked through the door. But now, hearing about his ex, and that Jace was potentially in danger, her belly was nothing but queasy. She stared at her spring roll and the unopened Pad Thai.

“Then, she had the balls to ask me for a second chance.”

Now, Peyton thought she might puke.The Six of Cups. A blast from his past. A reunion with a former love.

“Wh-what did you tell her?”

“I told her she was crazy, and that I’m with you.”

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