Page 20 of Under Pressure

“You ready, babe,” I ask and slide my arm around her waist.

The guy puffs out his steroid-enhanced chest and glares at me. “She’s afraid, so she’s coming with me so I can protect her.”

I seriously know I’m acting like a jerk. If I don’t cool it, I’m going to scare her off. I need to take things slow, let her get used to the idea of being mine long term before I go acting all fucking caveman with her.

Long term?

Where the hell had that thought come from?

I’m not sure, but now that it’s out there, fuck yeah, I want a long term with her.

“Oh, I’m pretty sure she’s not. If my fiancée needs anything, I’ll be the one to give it to her.”

Reese, my fiancée?

Damned if I don’t like the sound of that. Yeah, I might come from a long line of bastards that could never commit, who always ended up hurting the women in my family, but fuck family heritage. I’m a better man than that, and this is Reese—I’d never, ever do anything to hurt her. She comes first and foremost, always has, and that’s never going to change.

Two sets of eyes zero in on me. I steal a quick glance at Reese, giving her a minute to think on that, to get used to the idea. Mouth-breather narrows his brow, doing his best imitation of the missing link as he tries to sort that one through. His gaze goes from Reese’s empty finger to me.

“Your fiancée?”

“That’s right,” I say, and hold Reese tighter. She sags into me and puts her hand on my chest.

The guy stares at me for a minute. I’m pretty sure he’s debating whether to call me out on my lie. Maybe even punching me in the face from a steroid-induced rage. What-the-fuck-ever. He might be a big bastard, but I can hold my own.

“Not worth it,” the guy says, and stomps off to follow the crowd.

Reese angles her head, and when I glance at her, she doesn’t seem too pleased with me.

“What did you do that for?”

“That guy was all wrong for you,” I say as she pushes away from me.

“No kidding.” She shakes her head and looks at the sky. I follow her gaze to see the sun disappear behind a bank of dark clouds. Shit. I hope to God we don’t have a storm. They always bring back painful memories for Reese, and I want her to have only great memories from this trip. “Why am I such a jerk magnet, Cole?” She rubs her forehead. “Do I have a sign on me or something?”

I frown and give her hand a reassuring squeeze. “I’m sorry Jared hurt you. But not all guys are douchebags.”

She laughs and jerks her thumb toward the guy stomping away, the ground practically rumbling beneath his feet. “You’re going to tell me that after Mr. Steroid pretty much told me I was a wild thing he wanted to tame?”

I rub my knuckles along her arm. “Reese,” I say, and pitch my voice low. “There are good guys out there.”

She snorts and turns toward the group walking toward the cheetah pen. “When you find one, let me know.”

I push my hair from my forehead, and it takes all I have not to blurt out how I feel. But I’m too fucking worried I might ruin things between us. “I’m not a bad guy, you know.”

She stops and looks at me, a deep sadness on her face. “I know, Cole. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say you were.” She goes quiet and looks down at her feet. I step up to her, touch her chin, and angle it until she’s looking at me.

“What?” I ask.

“Why did you come on this trip with me?”

“You needed me.”

She nods and gives me a smile, but I can tell it’s forced. Then she lightly punches me on the arm. “I can take care of myself, whether you and the girls think so or not.”

“What are you talking about?”

She gives a deep sigh. “I get it. Whoever sponsored this trip thought I couldn’t do it without you. I can, Cole. I’m quite capable of taking care of myself. I don’t need you here.” She folds her arms the way she always does when she’s serious about something. “I don’t think we should sleep with each other anymore.”

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