Half of her wanted to laugh, and half of her… was all twisted up in ways she didn’t like atall.
So, Sam only nodded and locked the front door, then followed Nate out back to his truck.She didn’t broach the topic at first.In fact, she thought about ignoring it completely.None of her business, but…
Well, guys could be kind of dense.Maybe Nate wouldn’t be quite sopissed offif he knew that Mrs.Hyatt—Jules—was being difficult for his attention, not just to be difficult.
“You do realize what she’s doing, don’t you?”she asked him as he navigated off the highway and onto the road that would lead them up to the Bennet Ranch.
He didn’t answer right away, so she glanced at his profile.She couldn’tquiteread it in the dim light of the truck cab.But she noticed he shifted in his seat just a fraction, which was as much of an answer as anything.
“I guess I do,” he said carefully,notlooking over at her.
“And that’s why you wanted to switch cases with me.”
He slid her a glance before turning his attention to the road.“Maybe.”
Samhatedthe prick of jealousy.Because Nate was going to end up working with women—beautiful,builtwomen at that—on occasion, and what was the point of loving him if she didn’t trust him?
But that didn’t mean she could just… get rid of jealousy.It also didn’t mean she had toacton it.She could be calm and rational andnormal.“You think avoiding it and her is going to work?”
“I think it’s the only thing that might get through to her.Look, this isn’t about me.I’m… a symbol.She wants to get back at her scumbag husband.”He lifted a shoulder.“Can’t blame her on that score, but me being very clear and very firm hasn’t worked.So unless you’ve got any great ideas on how to get through to her, she’s all yours.Because she’s certainly not going to paw all over me while I’m trying to take pictures of her husband cozied up with his coworker.”
*
Nate couldn’t lookover at Sam again while he drove up the narrow road.But something about her reaction to this whole thing… bothered him.
He really didn’t want to analyze why.
Everythingabout Jules Hyatt bothered him.Particularly the lack of subtlety and then pretending like he was insane when he called her on it.
He didn’t want to take her case.He didn’t want to deal with her.
And part of him thought that was why hehadto.
He wasn’t a coward.She was just awoman.Everything she was doing wasn’t abouthim.
But he didn’t know what karmic debt he was paying to be the onedealingwith it.
Nate had no doubt Mrs.Hyatt’s husband was cheating on her—Nate worked those cases more than any other.There was a certain kind of man he could almost guarantee thought more with his dick than even an eighth of his brain.
The problem was, he didn’t think Jules was a full-on victim here—at least when it came to the way she dealt with him.She hadsomekind of angle, and she wanted to usehimon the way.
He parked his truck in front of his childhood home, started getting out, but Sam grumbled something that sounded a lot like…
“You could tell her not to paw at you.”
He could have pretended he didn’t hear her, but he was intrigued she’d finally saidsomethingthat acknowledgedpawing.“Thank you.Hadn’t thought of that,” he returned mildly as he met her in front of the truck.
She stood on the long two-by-four that acted as the end of the driveway.It didn’t even put her up to his chin.
The sun had set, but the sky to the west still glowed enough to cast a light on her features.She was looking up at him, studying him.She had a way of studying him that he never could quite read.There was something wary in it, but not altogetherbad.More… considering.
He couldn’t deny that he likedallof her looks, especially when they were geared at him.He reached out, tucked a strand of hair behind her ears.“Jealous?”
She lifted her chin.“Never.”A little temper flashed in her dark eyes, and yeah, jealousy.
It soothed that little wriggle of something unpleasant.
He didn’twanther to be jealous, per se, but in this case… well, he supposed he kind of did.Just a little proof that she felt what he did.
