Page 70 of Undone, Love Times Three

“At the same time, I might have overreacted a little.”

“No you didn’t.”

“That woman showing up, threatening to expose me as someone who uses my body to get what I want triggered me.”

“She said that?” I sit up straighter, getting pissed at Erin all over again.

We never went through with my suggestion to sue the newspaper, that was my anger talking. Lauren dealt with it.

She wanted to know about Blue, because I carelessly threw out that someone I cared about was being hurt. I didn’t tell her anything.

Talking to Blue first was my only priority. As harsh as it sounds, Lauren has nothing to do with me now. She has no right to my life.

“In not so many words,” Blue says. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t care what people think about me. But I do care that those I surround myself with are honest.”

“That’s fair,” I agree.

“I’m guessing you know the lawsuit was withdrawn completely.”

“Because of you.”

Her nose scrunches and she drinks more beer to hide what she’s thinking. I can read her like a book. Enough people have told her she did this, she doesn’t need me to convince her.

“I had help,” she shrugs.

“Maybe you did, but, you make this bar what it is, Blue. No one would have helped you the way you needed if that wasn’t the case. Your heart is in this place. You were always going to beat Faulkner, with or without my company’s involvement.”

“Did your dad threaten to call things off if I didn’t back down?”

“No, that wasn’t how it happened. It was more about the way Faulkner was handling the situation. Going against a small business because Reed embarrassed himself made dad second guess. In all honesty, he was still pissed Reed hit me. That isn’t how dad does business. The deal was so far along, it would have been a mess to untangle. Shit, you don’t want to hear this.”

“Yes, I do,” she says. “Continue.”

God, all I want to do is stand up, take her face in my hands and kiss that mouth. She can tell too by the way her eyes darken but she leans back in her seat. Maybe to stop herself swaying towards me.

“Yes, they had a frank conversation about the bad publicity but it’s not up to dad to tell them how to run their business. Telling them he thought what they were doing was bullshit was enough.”

“Sounds like your dad is well respected.”

“He is,” I nod. “When I told him about you, he said he absolutely wanted nothing to do with them.”

“You’re making that up.”

“I’m not. Blue…” I take a deep breath.

She gives me a look that makes me pause. Sure, I was always going to work for this, but I get the feeling she is messing with me now. Seeing how far she can make me go.

“You’re evil.”

Her lips quirk into a small smile. “I’m not the kind to make anyone grovel.”

“I’d do it,” I say. “And not conventionally.”

“Meaning,” she plays with her bottle again, fingering the opening at the top.

Reaching across the table, I run my finger across the top of her hand and around her wrist. She never takes her eyes off me. “Meaning I’d get on my knees for you. And I wouldn’t get up until you were screaming my name.”

Her pulse thumps against my fingers.

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