Page 9 of Roughing the Princess

Her text appeared on my phone: “My publicist gave me this number. But maybe this was some kind of weird prank? I think I’m the one that needs a pic.”

I could do that. I turned around so I could get Mav and Jasper in the picture too. Jasper stuck his tongue out through his big bushy beard and Mav put two fingers above my head. I snapped the picture and sent it to her. And her text came back almost immediately.

"Oh my God. I love your big beard.”

What the hell?“That’s my brother,” I texted back. “I’m the one in the middle.”

“Oh. I thought Talon was the big sexy brother. Bummer.”

Jasper laughed.

“Not funny,” I said. And I was bigger anyway. Or at least taller. Jasper had like fifty pounds on me.

“It’s called banter,” he said, mimicking me. “She’s just messing with you. Pretty sure she’s obsessed.”

“Most stalkers are,” Mav said. “And most stalkers are creepy men. Just saying.”

I needed Mav to stop telling me I was talking to a middle-aged man. “Your turn,” I texted.

“If you’re expecting me to be lounging around in lingerie, I’m not. I’m just hanging out with my cats.”

“She does have cats,” I said.

Mav shook his head. “You and the whole internet know that.”

“Prove it,” I texted.

No dots showed up.

Mav sighed. “Sorry, man.”

But then my phone buzzed. I stared at the picture of her. She was in bed with her back propped up by a punch of pillows. And the old T-shirt she was wearing barely covered her underwear. I stared at her exposed thighs.Lord have mercy.

“Cute pussy,” Jasper said.

I would have hit him. But I knew he was talking about the cat on Tova’s lap. It had one of those cute smooshed in faces.

“How do we know that’s from tonight?” Mav asked. “Anyone could have taken that.”

“Anyone?” I kept staring at the picture. “It’s a selfie. She’s alone.”

Mav grabbed my phone and squinted at the picture. “Is that reeeeeeally even her?”

It was definitely her. I knew the blue hue of her eyes. I just never thought she’d be staring at a camera posing for me. My eyes drifted back to her thighs.

Jasper drummed his hands on the table. “And the best wingman award goes to…Jasper Kendrick. Suck it, Mav.”

Mav laughed and handed me my phone back. “I’m not conceding on the wingman thing. But I will admit…I’m pretty sure that’s her. Bro.” He shoved my shoulder.

“You’re talking to the girl that gave you teenage wet dreams,” Jasper said.

“I’m never letting either of you meet her,” I said. Even though I hadn’t even met her yet.

“Text her and tell her what I said,” said Jasper. “About the cute pussy.”

“No.” I kept staring at the picture. I actually had no idea what to say. For once in my life, I was speechless.

“Look at that grin,” Jasper said, pointing to my face. “Idid that.”

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