“Good plan.” Ronni inched forward just as a massive vampire jumped over the car and landed in the road. She pushed the car into park. Jared stood there in the snow, legs braced, leather jacket over his bare chest. Boots covered his feet, and fury blanketed his rugged face. “Oh, crap.”
He stomped forward and yanked open her door. He moved to sit down. “Scoot.”
She scrambled to the center, pressing against Olivia. “Um…”
He turned, his eyes glittering black coal as he slammed the door. The spit dried up in her mouth. Then he jerked the gearshift into reverse.
Olivia leaned around Ronni, her blue eyes twinkling. “Jared, how kind of you to drive us back to the house. Ronni was just turning the car around.”
Jared hit the gas pedal, and the car careened backward up the icy driveway.
Olivia cleared her throat. “I don’t suppose we can keep Chalton out of this little adventure? What do you say, Jared?”
Jared turned and flashed her a smile that held absolutely no amusement. “I won’t say a word.”
Olivia breathed out, the sound relieved. “Good. That’s good.” She patted Ronni’s leg as if in reassurance. Then she stiffened, craned her neck to look out the back window, and groaned. “He’s at the back door.”
Jared slid the vehicle under the carport and shut off the car.
Quiet ticked for the tiniest of seconds. Olivia’s door was wrenched open.
Jared grabbed Ronni’s arm and pulled her from the vehicle, rushing them both through the snowstorm and into the side entry.
She jerked free. “Enough.”
He turned on her and slowly, way too deliberately, removed his leather jacket. “Where’s your coat?”
She blinked. Her coat? “I forgot it.”
“You forgot it. Again.” He glowered over her, making her feel way too small and fragile.
“Yep.” Forcing bravado, she ignored her racing heart and tried to brush past him.
He stopped her with a finger against her heart. “Did you or did you not get shot at last night?” His voice was a low rumble of mangled rebar mingled with shards of glass.
Her lungs seized. Okay. So he was really mad. “I have my gun.”
“Your gun.” He breathed out, tension pouring off him in waves. “You have your little shooter to handle another hit team with automatic weapons. Well shit, Veronica. I didn’t know that.”
She grimaced at the furious sarcasm. “You’re overreacting.”
Wrong thing to say. She knew it the second the last word left her mouth, but it was too late to grab it back.
Red flushed high and dark across Jared’s sharp cheekbones. His nostrils flared. The atmosphere in the small room swelled with the force of his anger. “Is that a fact?” he growled.
Her legs trembled a second before her temper caught up. Thank God. She reared up, meeting his glittering gaze head on. “Yes. Plus, I didn’t want to bother you. It seemed you and Ginny were deep into a cozy conversation, and you weren’t even wearing a fucking shirt.” Yeah, she sounded jealous. Who the hell cared? He had no right to be so furious at her.
His chin lowered.
Her stomach rolled.
“Listen,mate.”
She held up a hand. “No. I’m done listening. You want that wallflower? That weak chick who needs you to tie her shoelaces? You can have her. I’m tired of it. Tired of you acting like we’re all so breakable. Fuck off, Jared.” Her words started to roll together so quickly she wasn’t even sure what she said.
He stared at her.
Why the hell did he do that? It was as if he weighed every option, every decision…even in a temper. Finally, he seemed to reach a decision. “All right.”
