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Jesse lifted his chin to indicate the couple. “Embarrassment and interest. Like walking in here was a shock, a bother to their senses.”
The timbre in Jesse’s voice slid down Sam’s spine. “The same shock you got when you walked in?”
The guy shrugged. “Threw me for a second because it wasn’t what I was expecting.”
Sam turned, crossing his arms. “What? It was a surprise that the son of a powerful tycoon runs a lingerie shop?”
“Something like that.”
God, Sam hated people who passed judgment. He was a complete hypocrite because he was doing that same thing. Jesse was a wolf shifter, and Sam was kind of frightened of him, as if the guy would attack him while standing so close.
“What should I be doing, Mr. Hart? Sucking out souls, killing humans, rampaging through the downtown area, destroying everything in my path?”
Sam had no idea where that had come from.
Jesse simply studied him with those intense blue eyes. “I don’t stereotype.”
That statement was like a punch to the gut. Malcolm did pass judgment, and he had passed that on to his sons. They’d cut their teeth on the belief that all shifters were beneath them and should be kept as pets instead of unleashed into the world.
Sam turned away, unable to look at Jesse with so much guilt eating away at him. So far, at least in the past hour that they’d known each other, Jesse hadn’t done anything to prove he was a savage. He was quiet, observant, intense, with a touch of arrogance, but he hadn’t bared his canines at anyone or become hostile.
Jesse wasn’t rigid or cold, either. That had been unfair of Sam because he didn’t know Jesse enough to make that assessment.
The door to the shop opened again, and Sam couldn’t believe who walked in. His hackles rose as he moved away from Jesse and headed right for Brett. What in the blue blazes was his ex doing here? Sam had broken it off six months ago, even though Brett had tried a few times to call him since.
Sam had ignored those calls.
Brett’s brown eyes swept over Sam as Sam approached. There was no way Sam was going to make a scene, but he wanted Brett out of there. What more could be said between them?
“Hey, Sam.” Brett leaned forward and kissed his cheek before Sam could stop him. “It’s good to see you.”
Sam had a wild urge to wipe the kiss from his skin. “Same.”
There was nothing between them anymore, but Brett hadn’t done anything so bad that Sam should kick the man in the nuts. He’d been a demanding jerk, but Sam was going to be civil even if it killed him. He wasn’t going to let Brett see how much it bothered him to have his ex-boyfriend in the same room with him.
Even if Sam wished he never had to see the guy again.
Some men just preferred more in the bedroom, and although Brett had gone about it the wrong way, he wasn’t a bad guy. Sam just wished he hadn’t stopped in. That part of his life was over, and it was time Brett moved on.
“What brings you by, Brett?” Sam asked, trying to sound as casual as possible.
“You.” Brett looked him right in the eye. “I’ve missed you, Sam.”
This was so not what Sam wanted to deal with. That was how it had started when they were first dating, all sweet and enchanting, until they had sex. Then the demands would begin again.
“Look, Brett—” Sam’s words died when he felt a hand on his lower back. He didn’t have to turn to see who it was. Jesse’s scent wrapped around Sam in a way that made his belly do flips.
“Is there a problem?” Jesse’s voice was filled with steel. Sam wasn’t sure why. Jesse was his bodyguard, not his boyfriend, so what was with the small growl?
Brett glanced between them. “I didn’t know you were dating someone new.”
“I’m not.” Sam moved away from Jesse’s hand. Malcolm already dealt with Sam with a high hand. There was no way he was going to allow Jesse to do the same. His hand on Sam’s back was a possessive move that Sam did not appreciate.
“Oh.” Brett looked Jesse up and down. “Then can we talk in private?”
Sam didn’t want to talk to Brett, but at the same time, he didn’t want Jesse to think he could pick and choose who Sam could talk to. An overwhelming sense of dread filled Sam as he frantically tried to think of what to do.
* * * *
