“First of all, I was conversing. You know? That thing mature adults do? Second of all, whether or not I pick up someone is none of your concern.”
“It is when you’re causin’ a scene,” Ryden growled low. Unbelievable.
Jay looked around, then moved his narrowed gaze back to Ryden. “Yes, I can see everyone is absolutely up in arms about it. Oh, wait! No, they’re not.” He leaned forward. “Because they’re not all up in my business like you are.”
The little shit. Who the fuck did he think he was talking to? “You keep teasin’ men the way ya do, and you’re gonna to get yourself into more trouble ’n you can handle.” Wait.Shit. Ryden regretted the words the moment they’d left his mouth.
Jay’s bright blue eyes turned to ice. “I’m sorry. Did you just say I’m asking for it?”
Fuck. That’s not—fuck. Ryden’s face burned. “Um, I didn’t mean…. What I meant….” Whatdidhe mean? Not that. Okay, it kinda sounded like that, but no.Fuuuuuuck.
Jay’s eyes welled with tears, and the smack to Ryden’s cheek left a fierce sting behind. Wow. That hurt. Holy shit.
“Ryden Foster, you are the biggest asshole I have ever met!” Jay shoved Ryden harder than Ryden had been prepared for, and he stumbled back. This wasn’t—Shit. What had he just done?
“Jay—”
Jay jumped off the table and spun to go, but Ryden grabbed his arm, stopping him.
“I’m sorry. I?—”
“Go to hell!” Jay jerked his arm away and disappeared into the crowd.
This wasn’t… He hadn’t…. “I should go after him,” Ryden said, only to have Saint stop him.
“Let him go. I don’t think that’s a good idea right now.”
“I fucked up,” Ryden admitted. “I need to go after him.” He pulled away, and Saint, thankfully, let him go. How the hell was he supposed to make this right? Damn it. Every. Freaking. Time.
The guys were always teasing Ryden that he had a big mouth, and he did. He’d never been one to hold back, but what he’d said had been uncalled for. Jay pushed all his buttons for some reason, and Ryden found himself unable to hold back his reaction. No one got under his skin like Jay did, and things between them had been escalating recently.
Ryden moved through the crowd and hurried outside into the muggy evening air. The humidity in the summer was stifling, even at night, but what else could he expect from a state built on mostly swampland? Damn, Jay moved fast. He was almost to the sidewalk. Had Jay walked here? Maybe he’d parked somewhere else? Parking in the Historic District wasn’t exactly easy to find. They were damned lucky Four Kings Security had its own parking lot. Ryden caught up with Jay before he could leave the tavern lot.
“Jay, come on. Wait.”
“I have nothing to say to you,” Jay growled. “Leave me alone.”
“Can we please talk?”
Jay spun to face him, the hurt catching Ryden off guard. “This endsnow. I am done talking to you.”
“We work together. You kinda have to talk to me,” Ryden replied, hoping it might lighten the tension. Judging by the way Jay’s expression darkened, he’d failed. Miserably. No surprise there.
“You’re right. And as a professional, that will be theonlyexception.” Jay turned to go, but Ryden caught his arm again, pulling him to one side, closer to the brick wall with overgrown greenery away from the busy street.
There was never a time when St. Augustine’s Historic District wasn’t filled with tourists and locals. The last thing he needed was an audience to witness… whatever this was. It’d probably end up on social media, and King would have him working security at kids’ birthday parties for the rest of his life.
“Would ya just listen?” Ryden’s anger flared. “Why do ya have to be so fuckin’ infuriatin’?” He expected Jay to shove him again, or blow a fuse and curse up a storm. Instead, he closed his eyes, inhaled deeply through his nose, and then let it out through his mouth, drawing Ryden’s attention to his lips. They were so soft-looking. What the fuck? Where the hell hadthatcome from?
Jay opened his eyes and lifted his gaze to Ryden’s. “What’s going on here?” His words were quiet. “What do you want from me?”
Nothing. What could Ryden possibly want from Jay?Didhe want something from him? His gut tightened. Nope. Not a damn thing. Ryden shook his head. Why did he let Jay get to him like this? It was frustrating and pissed him off.
“You don’t know what you want, do you?” Jay moved his eyes to Ryden’s mouth. “Well, when you figure it out…” He moved his gaze back up, his pupils dilated. “Maybe you’ll have the balls to do something about it.”
Wait, what? What the hell was he implying? The fucking gall. Ryden’s jaw muscles tightened, and he ignored the weirdsensation spreading through him. “There goes that fuckin’ mouth again.”
“You seem to have an unhealthy obsession with my fucking mouth,” Jay purred. “Wonder why that is?”
