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“I want you to stay away from Jenny.”
“Ben. Not this again—”
“I’m serious. Something’s off with her. I think she deliberately said all that shit to me, knowing how I would react. She wanted this to happen.”
She sits up. “Wait—shewas the one who told you those things? She said I was leaving?”
“She told me you were getting back together with your ex. Shit about flowers, late-night calls. He wants you back, and you don’t want to throw away a three-year marriage—”
“Yeah, I told her that, but not in that context. The flowers were sent to my classroom. I don’t even know how he knows where I work. The hang-ups. . . I assumed they were him. Ben, I never said I was getting back with him. It was the opposite.”
My blood boils. I fell right into her trap. “She’s not getting away with this—”
“Honestly, I’m just as shocked. I thought we had a good talk the other day. I didn’t realize she was still holding ill feelings. I guess she’s still really hurt.”
I sit up as well. “Hurt about what? I never led her on. I barely even spoke to her.”
“Maybe she saw it otherwise. I may have. . . instigated the situation. I don’t know—”
“Yeah. . . well, because of the shit she pulled, I came home like a raging asshole. I couldn’t stop hearing her words in my head. Thinking you were leaving. That this wasn’t real for you. The way I treated you was so fucking wrong.”
She leans over and cups my cheek. “That’s over. We’re past that.”
“Are we? Because I need to make sure. I don’t want you holding anything over me. I know I messed up. I should have come home and been straight with you. Not let my emotions get the best of me.”
“The emotions associated with being worried the best thing that’s ever happened to you was going to walk out of your life?”
“Damn straight.” I pounce on her. The cutest damn squeal falls off her tongue. My body blankets hers, and I lean in, stopping an inch from her delicious mouth. “I need you to promise me you’ll stay away from Jenny.”
“Why? I’d rather just call her out and get it over with—”
“Just until I can get Levi to run a background check on her.”
“Okay,that’sgoing a little too far, don’t you think?”
“I’ve been doing this job a long fuckin’ time. I know when something doesn’t add up. This ain’t adding up, Mak.”
I look at her, needing her to see the seriousness in my eyes. “You really think she caused the fire? Intentionally?”
“I do. And I’m pretty sure I proved it. I’m sorry. I know you think she’s your friend, but what do you really know about her? Where was she before this? You sure her last name is even Swanson?”
She thinks about my questions, her brows creasing. “Honestly, I didn’t even know that was her last name. But no, there’s never been a time where I’ve felt the need to grill her about her past. She’s never really given me a reason to. We hit it off right away. She didn’t seem so different from me.”
“Don’t ever put her in the same category as you. You’re perfect and sexy and all I think about. She, on the other hand, is not right. Until I get the answers I’m looking for, I want you to stay away from her. Please.”
It takes her a moment to concede, but thankfully, she nods. “Sure, but I’m telling you, I think this is a bit overdramatic. I’ve never gotten any malicious vibes from her. I truly think you’re being paranoid.”
“If it proves otherwise, you can spank me and tell me what a bad boy I’ve been. You can ground me and force me to do naughty things to you.”
I love the way her eyes light up. My girl is frisky as hell. “Fine. You have a deal. You renege, though, there’ll be consequences.”
I finally grant myself the softness of her plump lips. “Oh, tell me more.”
“Cuffing you to a bed will be child’s play.”
“Your filthy mouth’s turning me on.”
“Yours should be doing things other than talking—yeah,right there. . .” Her words fade as I latch onto her perky tit and suck it into my mouth.
