And he moaned.
"That's what I wanted," I breathed before yanking his jacket open and halfway down his arms.
But someone pointedly clearedhisthroat.
Immediately, J.D. and I whipped our heads over to see Jake sitting on one of the couches with a clear view of all of that. His feet were kicked up on the coffee table, there was a plate beside them, and a bottle of water in his hand.
"The fuck?" J.D. demanded, standing up just to brace up.
"Cody's drunk," Jake explained as he rocked to his feet and reached for the empty plate. "I may have raided your fridge. Never mind that youhavea fridge." And he headed toward the kitchen to put the shit away. "I also figured out that neither of you realized I was here."
"And killing my mood," I mumbled.
Which made him chuckle. "Yeah, sorry about that. Have to admit, I figured J.D. would be throwing you against the wall, Tanner. Not the other way around."
"Got a problem with it?" J.D. demanded, shifting so he was staying in front of me.
"Nope," Jake said. "You know I don't, J.D. And once the blood is above your waist, you'll remember that." He set the plate on the counter, then sighed. "And I was kinda hoping you were in a good mood."
"Why?" I demanded, clasping J.D.'s shoulder to hold him back.
Jake sighed again, but this time he looked down. "Um, Cody had a lot to drink."
"And?" J.D. demanded.
"She may have kissed me," he said softly.
"And?!" J.D. growled this time.
"And she's here," I said, trying to calm him down.
"Alone," Jake clarified. "But she kissed me on the dance floor, where everyone could see. I would like to make it clear that I didnotkiss her back. I also gave her a ride home, but she did her best to strip in front of me. Getting undressed, I mean. For bed!" he hurried to add.
"How drunk?" I asked, pulling J.D. behind me.
Jake stayed where he was, keeping plenty of space between us. "At least four shots of whiskey, a glass of it, a margarita, and I'm sure there was more. Every bull rider there tonight was buying her a drink as a bribe to dance with him, and she wasn't taking her time about downing them."
"That's my girl," J.D. purred proudly.
Which made Jake chuckle once. "Yeah. She also said something on the way home - er, here - about how their acceptance made her so happy."
"She deserves it," I agreed. "But yeah, she's been ready for everyone to hate her, not befriend her."
"But they did see her kiss me," Jake said again. "Jackson told me to tell you, Tanner, before someone else did, because I had a better chance of surviving."
"Shit," J.D. said, dragging the word out.
But I waved him down. "And?"
"And what?" Jake asked.
"Cody kissed you," I said. "So far you've explained how it was an accident, and didn't mean anything, and wasn't like that. The one thing you haven't said is whatyouthink about it."
He slung his head to the side, then scrubbed at the back of his neck. "Um..." He swallowed visibly, then lowered his hand and looked right at me. "That woman is amazing, Tanner. She's brilliant, and driven, and yes, she's beautiful. She's also someone I consider a friend, and she's a whole hell of a lot more than a piece of ass. Is that what you want to hear?"
"Closer," J.D. said, caressing my shoulder before heading into the living room.
"Just a friend?" I asked.
