Page 53 of All Jacked Up

Thankfully, he couldn’t hear my snarky internal comments.

“Thank you,” I replied, but I could hear the clipped tone in my voice.

He apparently did, too, because he glanced back at me with his brows drawn together.

Oops.

“You okay?” he asked.

No. I want to leave.

It was easier not to think about this part of his life when I lived in Manhattan and read his texts.

“Did one of them say something to upset you?” he asked, turning fully around now as his frown turned into a scowl.

I sighed and shook my head. “No. They were very nice.”

He continued to study me. “Is the stuff with your mom getting to you?” His tone softened as concern took the place of anger.

Why did he have to do this? Turn into the guy who cared. The one I couldn’t get out of my head.

“It should be, but no. There is nothing wrong.”Liar.

Ransom crossed his arms over his broad chest, and his tattooed biceps flexed, making the muscles in them pop out even more. He was what romance novels were made of … well, in looks at least. Which was why so many women loved him in the ones I had written. Tearing my gaze off his well-defined arms, I looked past him toward the long bar space.

“If you’ll point me in the direction of the food, I can handle the rest. You have company you should get back to.”

Okay, that had sounded a touch sarcastic. Damn my mouth.

When he said nothing, I chanced a glance at him to see he had one eyebrow slightly arched and his eyes narrowed.

“Cass?” he asked, as if that was ridiculous.

Yes. Cass.

“Unless there are more topless females hiding outside, awaiting your return.” Oh, for the love of God, could I not shut up?!

“No,” he drawled. “She is the only other female here, other than you, at the moment.”

Great. She’d been outside, almost naked with Ransom. Now she was sitting on Forge’s lap. She was a real winner, that Cass. And I was a judgmental bitch, apparently.

“Yes, well, then you should get back in there. Forge looks like he may swoop in and take your woman.” I had meant that to sound jovial, but the snark was strong with me tonight and coming out loud and clear.

“Shakespeare, you know me better than that. I don’t have a woman. I don’t want a woman.” He emphasized the last sentence, leaning slightly closer to me as he did it. “I have you. That’s the only female I intend to keep around. Cass is a dancer at a place in Jackson we frequent. She comes here from time to time to fuck. And not just me.”

Okay. What the heck did I say to that?

Ransom’s eyes seemed to be reading my damn soul as he stared at me. I needed to respond, but I was out of words.

“You know I like my options open,” he added with a crooked grin. “And seeing as you and I aren’t gonna be fucking, I needed someone here that I could fuck, smack on the ass, and send away.”

I swallowed hard, hating that it didn’t help my jealousy, but only made me ache more for something I couldn’t have.

“You don’t have to explain yourself to me,” I replied.

He tilted his head down toward me. “Then why does it feel like I do?”

The scent of nicotine should not smell that good. But mixed with whatever that was he wore that made him smell like something I wanted to wrap around myself, like a cocoon, it was intoxicating. I tried not to inhale deeply and get caught sniffing him.

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