Page 14 of Don't Game Me
She picked up her drink and walked to the table. Her skintight jeans accented all her curves in ways he shouldn’t be noticing with her brothers here.
Noah mumbled something and headed off to the restroom.
Becca hugged the lone girl at the table and then got enveloped in a hug from one of the four guys, a tall fellow who looked like an off-the-clock bouncer. She laughed at something the hugger said, her hand landing on the guy’s chest. Did she realize she was coming on to him? The hugger was probably thinking his chances of getting laid tonight just went up.
Jake pushed off of his stool to a stand, intent on pulling her away from the guy. What the hell was he doing? She wasn’t his problem.
Resuming his lean against the bar, he gritted his teeth until they ached. The hugger had his arm around her waist now. Who the hell did that guy think he was?
“She’s not a kid anymore,” Michael said.
“No shit. She doesn’t seem to realize what she’s doing to that guy.” Anger pricked at him.
“So?” Michael’s tone changed as if he suddenly understood. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
Jake’s head whipped around. “What?”
“Don’t try to pretend.” Michael shook his head and chuckled. “You’ve got it bad for my sister.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Noah might not get it if you…with Becca, at least not at first, but I think he’d come around. I always thought there was more to it when the two of you went for each other’s throats. She couldn’t do much better than you.”
“It’s not going to happen.”
Michael was quiet for a long moment while he watched Becca laugh at something one of the other guys said. “Why not?”
“I don’t even need to answer that. You know why.” Jake refused to think about it.
Michael chuckled. “Figures the two most relationship-challenged people I know would be hot for each other. I love Becca to pieces, but my sister sucks at choosing guys. She’s only had that one loser boyfriend in college and a couple of dead end dates in high school.”
Jake scowled. “Neither of us are…nope. Family means everything to me. I value you guys, your parents, and all of it too much. Becca and I would end badly. Like you said, relationships always go south for me. If that happened and you and Noah had to choose sides, you’d come down on hers. So, it’s a no.”
Michael nodded as if he had a valid point. It hurt to know their loyalty only went so far.
Becca’s laughter rang out over all the noise. The guy had his arm tighter around her waist.
Jake stopped thinking. He pushed off the bar counter, but Michael caught his arm and leaned in. “She’s not serious about him. Not with the way she keeps eyeing back at you. Chill out. She’ll come back.”
Jake sipped his cranberry juice, tempted to get it spiked. But he wouldn’t. No alcohol for him. Ever.
Michael rose. “Ugh. Noah’s over there freaking out over a girl who’s hanging off him outside the restroom. The boy just can’t handle women hitting on him. It’s a miracle he ever managed to snag someone as cool as Tori. I’m taking him home and calling Tori. Can you get Becca back to the hotel without”—Michael glanced to Becca, who giggled at something the big guy said—“killing someone?”
“Yeah, I’ll get her back. I thought Noah was under a no-sex mandate.”
“Noah needs to get laid. Like tonight. It’ll go better for all of us tomorrow.” Michael typed on his phone as he stalked off toward Noah.
Now the hugger had maneuvered Becca into a corner. Jake prowled to the corner and came up behind the guy.
For a few moments, neither noticed he was there, but then Becca’s gaze drifted over the guy’s shoulder and widened. The guy turned around, his eyes narrowing in challenge when they met Jake’s.
“Becca,” Jake said in a tone much calmer than the ferocity rolling through him. “Your brothers are headed out. Time to go.”
“I just got here.” She stared at Jake, cheeks flushing.
He glared, hoping she got the point he didn’t feel the need to explain himself. “It’s time to call it a night.”
Becca pursed her lips into a cute pout. “It’s early. I just got into town. I’m not ready to leave. Chris, did you see if they dropped off my refill yet?”
