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Jake chooses that moment to saunter over. Masculine swagger drenches his towering stature. His faded jeans hug his muscular thighs in a way that should be criminal. A plain white shirt tries and fails to conceal the carved definition along his abdomen. The short sleeves put his biceps on prominent display and highlight the colorful ink decorating his skin. Those tattoos are my ultimate downfall. If I stare too long, I’m likely to slip in a puddle of my own drool.
“What can I do to you?”
I blink myself back to reality. “Huh?”
“Oil change? Tire pressure? New windshield wiper blades?” His slip of the tongue doesn’t go unnoticed, but I choose to let it slide.
“Sydney asked if I’d come to your house for dinner.”
His eyebrows take a hike so high I’m surprised they don’t disappear into his hairline. “Is that so?”
The little girl gasps. “I’ll start cooking!” Then she dashes to a kitchen playset in the corner that appears designated for her toys. Glitzy lets a shrill ruff fly free before bounding after her.
With Syd out of earshot, Jake ditches the tolerant pretense and spits a curse. She’s the only one who softens his jagged edges. The rest get piss, vinegar, and a heaping dose of disdain.
The glare he shoots at me confirms as much. “I wasn’t aware we were expecting company.”
“Funny,” I quip. “I could say the same about dinner last night.”
His glare is lethal. “This is you getting back at me.”
“Why would I need to get back at you?”
“Cut the shit,” he growls.
“Does that mean you’re ready to admit that you sabotaged my date on purpose?”
His scoff is dipped in arrogance. “Should’ve thought of that before telling my daughter about it. Like I said, you’re her second favorite person. Might as well have sent her a personalized invitation.”
“I didn’t spell out the details,” I retort. The conversation with Syd at the studio filters through my mind. “Well, not exactly. She’s very clever and sneaky. Just pulled the info right out of me.”
“Or you secretly wanted us to crash your date.” The satisfied gleam in his gaze isn’t appreciated.
That serves to remind me of all the snarky crap he dished out last night. “You’re quite capable of turning into a charismatic asshole when the mood strikes. I wasn’t aware you had such experience in bullshitting.”
Jake kept Daniel engaged in meaningless conversation the entire meal. I’d be impressed if I wasn’t ambushed.
His chuckle is too cocky. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
My eyes narrow until our glares clash. “You shouldn’t. It was a distraction tactic, and you know it.”
Jake wrenches his gaze off mine, choosing a random spot behind me as his next target. “What would I have to gain?”
“That’s what I’m trying to find out.”
And it’s an itch I can’t freaking scratch. Steam is about to whistle from my ears in a frustrated spew. There’s always been an attraction between us. That level of chemistry doesn’t just evaporate. But in the years since our fleeting relationship, Jake has given me nothing but hostility. There’s more to the story, an angle he’s playing at, and I’m determined to figure out what it is.
As if hearing my mental plotting, he grunts and crosses his arms. “Good luck with that.”
Kade and Penn—both hidden from view under the hoods of their current ticket—must read the room. The pair straightens to assess our tense standoff. After a matching set of silent nods, they make a hasty escape into the office and shut the blinds.
Jake clenches his jaw. “Real nice, Pitch. Your temper tantrum is disrupting my employees.”
“Should’ve thought of that before interrupting my plans.” I pin his flimsy excuse back on him.
Once again, his eyes reveal the thrashing upset brewing inside of him. Light fades into darkness as he glowers at me. “You expect me to believe you actually like that guy?”
“So what if I do? It’s no business of yours to interfere.” I’m not upset about Daniel, but it’s the principle.
