Page 68 of Tattered (Lark Cove 1)

“He came in last night,” I said, not meeting his gaze as we continued to the porch.

When I’d gotten home last night, Hazel had still been awake. She’d taken one look at my face and known I’d slept with Logan. Apparently, the I-just-had-three-orgasms look took longer than five blocks to fade. If it was still lingering, I didn’t want Jackson to see.

“Hold up.” He caught up to my side, gripping my elbow as we walked.

I tipped up my chin and smiled. “What? Come on. I’ll get you your beer and then set out the other snacks.” I squirmed out of his hold and hurried to the porch, jogging up the four steps. I’d almost reached the door when Jackson grabbed me again, spinning me around.

“Thea,” he warned. “Did you fuck him?”

“Hey,” I hissed, glancing toward the yard to make sure Charlie wasn’t close. “Keep it down and watch the language.”

“We talked about this, Thea. You’re setting yourself up to get used.”

I glared up at him. “It’s not like that. He’s not using me.” I had complete faith that Logan had been honest last night when he’d told me he was single. There had been only truth in his eyes.

“So what then?” Jackson asked. “You’re using him? Is that it? Haven’t gotten laid in a while, so you take advantage of having Baby Daddy around? You know, if you needed to get off, you could have just asked me.” He shuffled closer, right into my space. “I’d be happy to help.”

“Jackson.” I gaped at him. “What is wrong with you?”

He inched closer. “Nothing. I’m just offering to help you out so we can get rid of this guy.”

“This guy is Charlie’s father.” I dug my heels in, not letting Jackson push me backward. I wasn’t sure what he was playing at, but I’d had enough people push me around in my life. I wasn’t going to take it from my best friend. “Logan’s not going anywhere. Get used to it.”

“Oh yeah?” His eyes flicked to the side, but before I could turn to see what he was looking at, his lips came right down on mine.

Jackson’s kiss stunned me for a split second, but my anger kicked in. I planted both hands on his chest and shoved him back with all my might.

“Damn it, Jackson!” I shouted at the same time the door to the house flew open and Logan stormed out.

“Get away from her.” Logan moved in a flash, stepping between me and Jackson and shoving me behind his back.

“Butt out, rich boy. This is between me and Thea.” Jackson stood to his full height, but Logan didn’t back down from my idiot of a friend.

“No.” Logan stepped closer. “This is between you and me.”

I’d seen this standoff at the bar more than my fair share of times. We were seconds away from flying fists and bloody lips.

No way I was letting that happen on my daughter’s birthday.

“That’s enough.” I grabbed Logan’s arm, yanking it as hard as I could to get his attention. He barely moved an inch, but it was enough to slip around him and stand between the men. “It’s Charlie’s birthday. Ruin this for her, and I’ll kill you both.”

That got through to Logan. With grinding teeth and clenched fists, he took one step back.

I spun around to Jackson and shoved my finger in his face. “Don’t you ever kiss me again.”

A pained gasp echoed across the porch. My head whipped down the stairs, just in time to see Willa’s face pale. Blond hair streamed behind her as she ran away.

Goddamn it.

Everyone within a twenty-mile radius of Lark Cove knew that Willa Doon was in love with Jackson Page.

Everyone except Jackson.

Willa was as sweet and shy as they came. She’d worked up the courage about a year ago to ask me if there was anything between me and Jackson. I’d assured her that our love was the purely platonic kind. It always had been and always would be.

But if she’d only caught the tail end of that exchange, she wouldn’t have realized that Jackson had only kissed me to get a rise out of Logan.

“Damn it, Jackson.”