Page 83 of The Rancher's Unrequited Love

Bomb.

Dropped.

And.

Boom!

Chapter Ten

I START BABBLING THEmoment I see Aidan raise a brow at my direction. "I told Jack how you rescued me that night, that's all, and Jack told everyone—-"

"It was too good a story not to share."

I've never wanted to kick a man in the nuts before, but I know if I ever do, Jack will definitely top my list. From looking like a sulking little boy earlier, he now looks like he's just discovered Aidan's a frog to his princely butt, and oh my God, I so badly want to smack that look of smug condescension off his face.

I know I'm no Aphrodite. I know I'm still not special. But I do know that I deserve better than this jerk, and—-

"You really should join us, man," Jack's telling Aidan.

"I'd be happy to," Aidan says right away.

What in the world is happening?

My gaze snaps back to Aidan, and even though I know I owe him a thousand apologies, I just can't help glaring at him as well.Why don't we just go?

His expression doesn't change, but the gleam in his dark eyes delivers a pretty clear message.

Stay.

Put.

My teeth gnash at this, but since I owe Aidan, and he obviously wants to spend more time with Obnoxious and Company...

Fine.

Aidan's given a seat, and I quickly take the chair next to him and pretend not to notice the glare Jack throws my way. We're through as far as I'm concerned, and I only wish I hadn't left his ring back home. It would've been nice if I could return it to him tonight and completely sever all connections between us.

Jack finally takes his seat and shoots one last glare at me from across the table.

I lift my chin, intending to glare right back—-

"Aidan, isn't it? What would you like to drink?" It's Harold who asks the question, and I immediately tense up. Harold is Jack's toady both inside and outside the law firm, and I can tell by the sneer in the other man's tone that he's about to do something nasty. "I'm not sure we have your usual beer here since this place only imports alcohol from Japan and Greece..."

"Anything will do," Aidan said easily.

"You ever tastedsake?"

"I have, yes."

"You're not saying that just to impress us, are you?"

The whole table laughs except for Aidan and me, and I'm torn between outrage and shame when Jack and Harold actually exchange hi-fives in front of Aidan.

Can these guys get any more childish?

I open my mouth, intending to show them just hownotclassy I can get when I'm furious, but before I can get a single word out, that's when I feel it—-

Aidan's fingers suddenly brushing over my knee, and I jerk up in shock.

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