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“The same.”
“For me as well,” Jewel chimed in. “But skip the lime in Mr. Angelini’s drink.” She eyed his lip. “Citrus would hurt like hell.”
“Good point.” He grinned warmly at her. “Thanks for taking such good care of me.”
Vin swore under his breath. Then said to Melinda, “Make mine a scotch. Neat.”
“Of course.” The attendant gave him another beguiling smile. She obviously took a liking to him.
Not a big surprise.
“Better make it a double,” Vin added as an apparent afterthought.
“I’ll be right back.” Melinda left them.
Jewel was still leaning over Rogen, holding the pack to his lip. She glanced at Vin and said, “If you’ll recall, I held a package of frozen peas to your shiner over the Hamlet debacle.”
“That was before we’d slept together,” Vin said in a slightly cantankerous tone. “Before you and Rogen had slept together, too.”
“So me playing nursemaid has a different connotation now?” she challenged.
Vin grinned. “You never back down.”
“Are you waiting for me to do just that?”
It was a question issued in jest yet it held quite a bit of meaning.
Vin appeared to give her inquiry the consideration it was due while Melinda served drinks and then returned to the galley.
Rogen sipped his sparkling water, then set the glass in the gold-plated holder in the arm of his chair. He said, “Vin had a point about Holly. I shouldn’t have brought her up.”
Jewel’s gaze shifted to Rogen. “So you really do regret what happened, like Vin does?”
“Not a chance in hell. It was sensational.” He reached toward her and his fingertips grazed her cheek. “I just regret that nothing is ever cut-and-dried with the three of us.”
She frowned. “Well, there is that.”
Rogen gently pulled her hand away from his mouth. Took the ice pack from her. “Better buckle up for takeoff, sweetheart.”
She settled in her seat. Sipped her sparkling water. Stared at Vin.
Jewel didn’t miss the mix of emo
tions playing across his devilishly handsome face. He wasn’t feeling as glib as he was trying to project. She understood that about him. Vin had always been a bit sarcastic, sure. But after his parents’ plane crash, he’d developed an edgier, rawer side. And Jewel had been fiercely attracted to it. Still was.
For better or for worse.
THIRTEEN
Vin was glad he’d requested the scotch. He needed something to help dull the razor-sharp vibes he knew he exuded. Jewel sitting across from him in her tight black skirt with a hem so short she showed the majority of her long, bare legs made him hot and bothered. As did the silver satin blouse that was unbuttoned just enough for him to catch a glimpse of the scalloped trim of her black lace bra when she bent forward.
Conversely, the confused and somewhat remorseful look on her beautiful face made his gut pull tight.
She thought he and Rogen regretted sharing her when they’d been at her house. Vin couldn’t ascertain whether or not it was true, even for himself. It’d been exciting. They’d all gotten caught up in erotic sensations.
And the truth was, Vin had gotten over Rogen touching her and kissing her when Jewel had started moaning. When she’d started to burn for them both.
Vin had wanted to give her whatever she needed—and he’d wanted Rogen to do the same.
