Page 18 of Keeping What He Wants

“Apparently.” He frowned at the bag. “Do I want to know how much or should I wait for the surprise when the statement comes in?”

“I only forced you to pay half. I paid the other half with my money.” She glanced over at the woman.

Beth licked her lips. “I never imagined you’d be that fancy or the type to need a man to buy you fancy things.”

“It’s just a purse.”

“I’m surprised it’s not a diamond ring.”

“Uh.” Ryker stood, obviously noting the tension between the two women. “We were going out to eat. Go put your things away and join us.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Ella glanced down at her bag. “I wouldn’t want my fanciness to burden you.”

Ryker gripped her shoulders and leaned in to kiss her. “Stop it. You can go with us.”

“I’d rather not.”

Ryker tilted his head, frustrated.

The other man in the room chuckled. “I don’t know, Ella. You and Beth sure as hell are entertaining me. It’d be a shame to quit now.”

“Who the fuck is he?” Ella glanced over Ryker’s shoulder.

“Ella, they’re my friends.” Ryker propped his hand on his hip. “Please.”

“No, thanks.” She moved away from him. “Have fun.”

She carried her bag to the bedroom and took it out of the package. The store had wrapped it nicely for her. It was rare that she ever bought anything so extravagant, but she could afford one special treat. She hadn’t bought anything else while she went shopping with her friends. She shouldn’t feel bad about it.

She sat it on the dresser and decided to change. A pair of stretchy shorts and an oversized tank top that she normally worked out in sounded nice. Ella pulled her hair back and crawled onto her bed.

“Are you still in a pissy mood?” Ryker came into the bedroom and closed the door behind him.

“Depends. Is your girlfriend gone?”

He sighed. “Beth is not my girlfriend.”

“Oh, please. You’ve been all up inside that.”

He blinked a few times. “Jealousy is really an issue today, isn’t it?”

“Who is jealous?” She frowned. “I don’t like that trash in my home.”

“Ella,” he started, then stopped when she narrowed her eyes at him. “Nothing has happened if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“You’ve fucked her. It’s written all over her face.”

“Yeah, I have. Before you were ever in the picture.”

“She still wants you.”

“I know.”

She waited a beat. “And you want her.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Yes, you do. You can’t hide that look on your face.”

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