She was in the tucked-close position.
This meant when she turned, she had her shoulder under hisarm, her hand was on his thigh, and her face was close to his.
“You can cool it,” he said quietly.
“Mm?”She pretended not to know what he was talking about.
“All you had to do was walk in, and you had her,” heinformed her.
“Had her?”
“Babe,” he said on a chuckle.
His chuckle didn’t last long.
Because her expression didn’t change.
He stared at her.
Christ.
This wasn’t about Carolyn.
She was being that way because she was that way.
And she was being that way with him because that was who hewas to her.
Christ.
While he had these thoughts, she was examining his face.
So before he could react to what he’d just learned, shespoke.
“It goes without saying, no one fucks with you, Jagger, andno one fucks you over.And should it become necessary I communicate thatinformation, I won’t hesitate to do it.But I wasn’t here then.That was themessage you sent and you’re still sending it.That’s not on me to communicate.”
Even though she seemed pretty laidback about that, there wasan edge there he felt he needed to address.
“You should know, I’m not hurting money-wise, I never have.And I wasn’t in deep with her emotionally.It wasn’t cool what she did, but italso wasn’t that big of a deal.”
She nodded.“I hear you.But letting you in on the girl sideof things… that dress is for you, Jagger.You said you’re not going back there.I believe that.But you and I are exploring things, so straight up, a bitchneeds to know where shit stands.”
And there it was.
“Right then, so you know, when I thought you were VengeanceArchie, it was hot.”
She smiled.
“Staking Her Claim Archie might be hotter,” he continued.“Ihaven’t decided.I’ll be sure to let you know when I do.”
She started laughing.
He cupped her jaw and bent his face to hers.
“Now that you made your point, and since I already made mypoint, I think we both need to cut her some slack.She’s miserable.”
“I noticed that, baby,” she murmured.“But honest to God, Idon’t know how to make it better.It is what it is.Her bed, she’s lying in it.But I’ll try to come up with something.”
Her eyes that close, her mouth that close…
