smile fell and shifted into a snarl. Asshat.
It’s simple, sweetheart. You play nice, I’ll play nice.
Her eyes narrowed. You ever wonder what it would be like to be with another man, Rhys? To feel all that hard muscle up against yours? You push me too hard, and you just might find out.
You said it was only dinner.
I’ll make an exception just to spite you.
You’re bluffing.
You want to test that theory?
You wouldn’t.
Do you really think you know me well enough to make that assumption?
Like I said. You play nice, I’ll play nice.
She figured that was the best concession she was going to get. With a quick last glance in the mirror to check herself, Addison finally returned to Jonathan, patiently waiting in the living room right where she left him.
What a gentleman.
I want to see what he looks like, Rhys demanded.
She almost refused him, but knew it would only draw her into another mental argument. She didn’t think she’d pull it off without Jonathan thinking she was certifiable.
How do you remain pleasant-looking when you’re telling someone off in your head?
With practiced ease, she looked at Jonathan and projected the image to Rhys. She knew what he saw: a tall, lean man, neatly-trimmed dirty blond hair, hazel eyes, wire-rimmed glasses, dress shirt, slacks, loafers.
Okay, so maybe he wasn’t the hottest piece of ass around—did she just think that?—but he was classically handsome and a complete gentleman.
Rhys did not agree.
Oh, for crissakes! That’s the fucking kind of guy you go for? A pansy-ass like that?!
She heard the disgust—who wouldn’t have?—but she also thought she picked up on a hint of disappointment.
Or maybe that was coming from her. Thinking about how Jonathan looked versus how Rhys did…
Well, woman? Is it?
Not anymore.
She cinched off the thought before it got to Rhys. Or at least she hoped she had. His lack of cocky response indicated she accomplished it, and all without having to close their connection either. Well, how about that?
“Shall we go, Jonathan?”
He held out his hand to her. “By all means.”
Clasping her hand in his, he lead her to the car. She was relieved he took the lead because she was totally preoccupied with trying to ignore Rhys’ surge of animosity towards her date.
After Jonathan closed her door, and was walking around the car to the driver’s side, she broke her mental silence.
Knock it off, Rhys.
I’m not fucking saying a word, am I? he snapped back.
No, to his credit, he wasn’t. But she wasn’t quite sure how long that would last.
Chapter Nine
Finally going out on a date with Jonathan after a month-long hiatus—heavenly. Going out on any sort of date with Rhys in her head—excruciating.
All evening long had been akin to waiting for a bomb to go off, without the pretty flashing light, but with every horrific part of the booming noise and destructive force.
Jonathan was the perfect date; courteous, polite, flattering, attentive, and chivalrous. But even that didn’t sit right with Rhys. Whenever Jonathan placed his hand at the small of Addison’s back, leading her from the car or to their table, Rhys stirred. Each time Jonathan took her hand and gave it a squeeze, Rhys tensed. And when Jonathan brushed his fingers over her arm or paid her a particularly endearing compliment, Rhys growled.
Yes…he actually growled.
All that, Addison could have handled just fine. No really, she could; she was becoming skilled at ignoring Rhys. But when Jonathan took her to a nearly deserted park after dinner…
That was when she lost the battle.
Jonathan pulled his Mercedes into the small parking lot by the pond. With a smile, he turned to Addison as he said, “I thought we could go for a short walk, if that’s all right with you.” Addison rested her hand on his, a flurry of nerves setting off in her belly. “I’d like that.” What. The. Fuck.
She ignored the comment as she slid out of the car, smoothing her dress down
It’s simple, sweetheart. You play nice, I’ll play nice.
Her eyes narrowed. You ever wonder what it would be like to be with another man, Rhys? To feel all that hard muscle up against yours? You push me too hard, and you just might find out.
You said it was only dinner.
I’ll make an exception just to spite you.
You’re bluffing.
You want to test that theory?
You wouldn’t.
Do you really think you know me well enough to make that assumption?
Like I said. You play nice, I’ll play nice.
She figured that was the best concession she was going to get. With a quick last glance in the mirror to check herself, Addison finally returned to Jonathan, patiently waiting in the living room right where she left him.
What a gentleman.
I want to see what he looks like, Rhys demanded.
She almost refused him, but knew it would only draw her into another mental argument. She didn’t think she’d pull it off without Jonathan thinking she was certifiable.
How do you remain pleasant-looking when you’re telling someone off in your head?
With practiced ease, she looked at Jonathan and projected the image to Rhys. She knew what he saw: a tall, lean man, neatly-trimmed dirty blond hair, hazel eyes, wire-rimmed glasses, dress shirt, slacks, loafers.
Okay, so maybe he wasn’t the hottest piece of ass around—did she just think that?—but he was classically handsome and a complete gentleman.
Rhys did not agree.
Oh, for crissakes! That’s the fucking kind of guy you go for? A pansy-ass like that?!
She heard the disgust—who wouldn’t have?—but she also thought she picked up on a hint of disappointment.
Or maybe that was coming from her. Thinking about how Jonathan looked versus how Rhys did…
Well, woman? Is it?
Not anymore.
She cinched off the thought before it got to Rhys. Or at least she hoped she had. His lack of cocky response indicated she accomplished it, and all without having to close their connection either. Well, how about that?
“Shall we go, Jonathan?”
He held out his hand to her. “By all means.”
Clasping her hand in his, he lead her to the car. She was relieved he took the lead because she was totally preoccupied with trying to ignore Rhys’ surge of animosity towards her date.
After Jonathan closed her door, and was walking around the car to the driver’s side, she broke her mental silence.
Knock it off, Rhys.
I’m not fucking saying a word, am I? he snapped back.
No, to his credit, he wasn’t. But she wasn’t quite sure how long that would last.
Chapter Nine
Finally going out on a date with Jonathan after a month-long hiatus—heavenly. Going out on any sort of date with Rhys in her head—excruciating.
All evening long had been akin to waiting for a bomb to go off, without the pretty flashing light, but with every horrific part of the booming noise and destructive force.
Jonathan was the perfect date; courteous, polite, flattering, attentive, and chivalrous. But even that didn’t sit right with Rhys. Whenever Jonathan placed his hand at the small of Addison’s back, leading her from the car or to their table, Rhys stirred. Each time Jonathan took her hand and gave it a squeeze, Rhys tensed. And when Jonathan brushed his fingers over her arm or paid her a particularly endearing compliment, Rhys growled.
Yes…he actually growled.
All that, Addison could have handled just fine. No really, she could; she was becoming skilled at ignoring Rhys. But when Jonathan took her to a nearly deserted park after dinner…
That was when she lost the battle.
Jonathan pulled his Mercedes into the small parking lot by the pond. With a smile, he turned to Addison as he said, “I thought we could go for a short walk, if that’s all right with you.” Addison rested her hand on his, a flurry of nerves setting off in her belly. “I’d like that.” What. The. Fuck.
She ignored the comment as she slid out of the car, smoothing her dress down
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