Page 55 of How Jenna Became My Dilemma

There has to be rules, especially with the touching. Because if left up to me, I’d be all over the woman. They’d have to pry her out of my arms with a pair of pliers, and I’m guessing she wouldn’t like that—the touching, not the pliers.

So, I’m using this interview to prove a point.

I’m all over her like white on rice.

When I’m through with her, she’ll be begging me to put rules in place.

“How long have the two of you been together?” Marley asks.

We answer at the same time, me saying a couple of weeks and Jenna saying a couple of months. Our heads flip to each other, and her wide-eyed gaze tells me she’s probably wishing she’d gone over strategy a little bit more.

Jenna backpedals with an overdone laugh. “I mean, the tension between us has been building for months, but we didn’t act on it until a couple of weeks ago.”

I squeeze her shoulder as I tug her in closer. “That’s right.”

She doesn’t even look at me, just keeps her eyes trained on Marley.

“And what happened a couple of weeks ago that turned the tide?”

Jenna opens her mouth to answer, but my shushing finger covers her lips. “I’ll take this one.” I send an air kiss in her direction before turning to Marley.

Stay close to the facts. That’s what she wants.

“I was attracted to Jenna from the moment I met her. She’s classy, smart, beautiful, feisty, and kind. Who wouldn’t fall head over heels for her?” Her head slowly turns to me as I talk, but I keep my focus on Marley. “But my reputation preceded me. She wasn’t interested, and to top it off, she didn’t even like me.”

“So what did you do?”

“I did what every mature man would do. I acted like I didn’t like her either.”

Marley chuckles at that, but Jenna holds still, watching, listening.

“But the more I got to see the real Jenna, with nothing obscuring my view, the more tangled up in her I became. Like shoelaces in a bike wheel.”

Marley smiles. “I love that metaphor.”

“Me too. It really shows a lot.” I start stroking the side of Jenna’s arm with the hand wrapped around her shoulder. “We’re just two people stripped naked of all the pretenses that were covering us up.”

“So romantic,” Marley gushes.

“Isn’t it?” Jenna’s smile is tight.

“And did the same happen for you once you got to know Cody better?” Marley’s eyes flip to her.

“You know, Cody puts on this tough-guy persona in front of the cameras, but really he’s such a sweetheart. He’d give you the shirt off his back.”

“Hmm. That does sound like me.” I nod, liking how Jenna picked up on the inside joke. I don’t know how she could’ve missed it. I literally put it on a platter for her.

She turns to me with a goofy smile. “Yes, it does.”

I take the opportunity to thread my fingers through hers. She fidgets with her other hand like our position makes her a little uncomfortable, but this interview gives me a free hall pass to touch her, and I’m not wasting it.

“So you’ve been dating in secret for a few weeks?”

“Best few weeks of my life.” I nuzzle my nose into her neck for added effect. When I lean back to my spot, my eyes catch Tawny behind the cameras, giving me a double thumbs up. She’s clearly enjoying the show.

“That’s correct, Marley.” Jenna smiles, laying it on thick. “How can I resist a man like Cody Banner? He’s not rumored to be good with the ladies for nothing, if you know what I mean.”

I shoot her a stare, conveying that one was a low dig, but she just smiles sweetly back at me. It’s time to get even with her.

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