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“No, your dog—”
“Our dog,” he corrected.
“Mufasa is fine.” She stopped in front of room nineteen zero five. “I need you, Cade. And I’m outside your room.”
The door swung open as she lowered her phone from her ear. Her best friend, and her only hope for surviving this night that was sliding so far out of her control, filled the entryway. He was wearing boxers and an inside out T-shirt, but he was still overdressed compared to her.
“What the hell?” he said, his eyes widening. But he didn’t hesitate. He stepped back, holding the door wide open. “Get in here.”
“Is Lucia—”
“She’s here.” He closed the door, turned the lock, and moved into the room. He kept his gaze fixed on the floor.
“Natalie?” Her sister stood by the bed securing a bathrobe tie around her waist. “What happened?”
Cade bypassed her and headed for the bathroom. He returned with a white hotel robe that matched her sister’s.
“Here.” Cade held out the oversize robe. “Put this on.”
“Thank you.” She set her phone on the floor and pulled the soft fabric over her half-buttoned shirt.
“Now sit down.” He made the command sound like an invitation. With Cade, it was always a request spoken in his deep voice. Unlike Jack—
“Tell us why you’re running through the hotel in Jack’s shirt.” He claimed one of the armchairs in the sitting area that was an exact replica of the space in Jack’s room, and he motioned for her to take the other. “And nothing else.”
And now it was her turn to dissect the carpet pattern, her gaze fixed on the floor.
Deep breaths. No tears. Cade will understand.
He’d run fast and hard from commitment for so long. For years, they’d had their own club of sorts.
“Natalie, if he hurt you—” The big, bad Navy SEAL’s voice shook.
“If who hurt her?” Lucia demanded, crossing to the sitting area. She placed her hands on her hips. “Is this about Jack? Why would he hurt her?”
“I’ll tear him apart,” Cade continued as though he hadn’t heard his fiancé. “I don’t care if it lands me in a Vegas jail the night before my wedding.”
She looked up. Her best friend sat on the edge of his chair, forearms resting on his thighs. His expression was a mask of concern. And her sister—Lucia looked like a furious angel in her white robe.
“He didn’t hurt me,” Natalie said.
Liar. Jack Barnes had taken a jackhammer to her defenses, breaking down the walls around her heart. And she was so afraid he’d fought his way in.
“Then where are your clothes?” Lucia asked.
“I was in a rush—”
“To get away from him.” Cade clenched his jaw and shook his head. “Look, I’ve been trying not to get involved in your bet. But I know Jack. He doesn’t give up. I know he admitted defeat. But if he made one more play—”
“He won the bet,” she said softly.
“I’ll fucking kill him.” Cade was on his feet, his hands balled into fists at his side.
“Bet?” Lucia said, her sharp gaze moving between her fiancé and Natalie.
“Don’t blame Jack,” she said, looking Cade straight in the eyes. “I wanted him. After the bachelorette party yesterday, I gave in. I let him win. And then today he told his team that he was giving up and—”
“What. Bet.” Lucia spoke loud and clear over their rapid-fire conversation.
