Page 22 of Love Me, I Dare You

The question makes me laugh. Yeah, there is no world in which Bismarck King would approve of me being anywhere near his beloved daughter.

“He won’t find out Nash’s living with you. It’s not like you see much of him or mama, anyway. You come around, what? Like twice a month?”

That’s surprising to hear. Bailey adored her mother and father and was the perfect obedient little girl. It’s equally shocking that she went and did what she did, which pretty much goes against every part of her strict, conservative upbringing, so that may be the reason she doesn't visit home as often.

“You honestly think the rumors of Nash Bishop living with Bailey King won’t make it to him? He’s the fucking mayor, Jase.”

Jase runs his hands through his hair, debating what to argue next. I don’t understand why he’s so insistent on me staying with Bailey. There’s no way he’s suddenly okay with the idea of me being that close to his sister.

Ten years is a long time, but fuck, the last time I saw him, it looked like he’d never move on.

The thought of living with Bailey, being anywhere near her for that matter, makes my skin heat with arousal. Fuck, the possibility of seeing Bailey walk around the apartment wearing nothing but those sexy lace nightgowns I’m sure she owns. Or walking in on her in the shower, her sexy curves dripping wet as she rubs that deliciously scented body wash all over her skin.

I have to adjust myself when my indecent thoughts make my cock swell uncomfortably in my jeans.

“That’s not the point, Jase. Look, you know I’m the first person to lend a helping hand to those in need. To those who deserve it,” she says, intentionally looking my way as she speaks.Ouch. But I know I deserved that. “But not this, Jase. Don’t ask me to help with this. Monty can make room. Or he’ll figure it out on his own. He’s a big boy. I’m sure he wasn’t living in the same place for ten years. The man must be a professional at finding shelter for a night.”

Jealousy teases those pretty pink lips, a sassy little bite in her tone. Seems like Bailey’s done some thinking about where I’ve laid my head to rest, or in whose bed I’ve been in.

“Monty’s also having some repairs done after the flooding that happened there last week. There are no spare rooms in the house for him and I hear Monroe is as happy as you are to see him.”

“Then it’s settled. Monroe can stay with me and Nash will stay with Monty.”

“Bailey, come on. You know Monroe has her studio at her house. It would make no sense for her to live with you and then still go back to the house to work. Nash said she’s apparently now refusing to leave or make space for him.”

The fight in Bailey’s eyes as she argues leaves me with a hollow feeling. I knew she wasn’t happy to see me, but the way she’s fighting this so eagerly makes me wonder just how badly she despises me.

“I’ll talk to her,” she says, referring to convincing my sister to stay with her.

Looking around the bar, I notice no one but me is paying such close attention to the conversation between the three of them. It’s like they’re in this bubble only I have access to. I guess it’s a good thing no one else can hear the hatred in her voice as she speaks about me so effortlessly.

This time it’s Billie who speaks, though she’s kept quiet the whole time, curiously looking back and forth between the bickering siblings.

“Look B, you know Monroe shouldn’t have to up and flip her life around even more to accommodate him. She’s pissed off at him for leaving and it won’t do her anything good to feel once again forced out of her own home.”

Her words make their intended effect. Hearing Billie say how much the distance I put between myself and Crossroads affectedMonroe makes my heart ache uncomfortably for an entirely different reason. If I'd known how badly my return would be received, how much hurt I would cause by coming home, I never would have come. Regardless of how desperate Monty sounded on the phone.

Bailey sounds almost resigned. “This won’t work, Jase.”

Jase throws an arm over her shoulder and pulls her in for a hug. “It’s just temporary, B. He’ll be busy working at the ranch most of the day and you’ll be at work. Between HoneyBees and Stingers, you’re never home, anyway.”

Once again, her bright blue eyes meet mine, a sharp pain pricking my chest as I notice the sorrow in her expression. This is physically painful for her. My coming back, stepping back into the life she’s made for herself here in Crossroads. It’s like her entire being deflates as she lowers her voice, just barely.

“I can’t, Jase. Just please don’t ask me to make this work.”

Immediate silence falls over the trio, all eyes turning to me expectantly, but I pretend I’m busy throwing darts and not eavesdropping on their conversation. A moment later, Jase heads over toward me, alone, with a defeated look on his face. It’s not like I was expecting him to be successful in his quest and it was foolish of him if he thought otherwise.

He’s quiet for some time, before he picks up a set of darts and throws them, missing the target by an inch. “Look,” he says, his gaze lowered, refusing to look directly at me. “I know things ended up in a fucked up way. I should have never reacted like that. Shouldn’t have threatened with telling my pops or running you out of town the way I did. I was young, stupid, and pissed the fuck off at what I’d caught you doing.”

The last thing I want is for us to go into details about what occurred that night, so I quickly change the subject. “Forget it, Jase. You did me a favor. Not sure I’d have gotten out ofCrossroads if you hadn’t sent me packing. Trust me, I’m better for it.”

Jase shakes his head, not believing a damn thing I say as he tosses back a drink. He once knew me better than anyone and understands my comment is more to appease his guilt than the truth.

“Regardless, Nash. It was fucked up, and trust me, I’ve regretted it since the day you left.” I hit him with a look that says, yeah fucking right, he forgot that easily. I wouldn’t have if he’d be the one to fuck around with Monroe. He laughs. “Maybe about seven years later when I ran into you down in Nashville, but I did.”

I smile at the memory of how pissed off he’d been and how good it must have felt when he made me bleed. It took a lot for me to walk away without so much as a slap in his direction, but I knew that wouldn’t have made any difference.

“You mean the time your fist ran into my jaw?”

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