How many times had she pretended to be someone else? Even before her father had basically sold her to Fergus, she’dlived the life of a fairy princess, a pirate’s daughter, an ordinary girl in a boring world.
God, that one was still her favorite.
She’d been the ruler of kingdoms, flown on unicorns, sailed the seven seas, and been grounded for forgetting to do her homework.
People would think it weird that the latter was the thing she’d longed for most.
And now she was here, behind an invisible shield that didn’t exist, making a fool of herself in front of two men that didn’t want her anymore.
“Can I go now?” she said quietly.
“Go? Go where?” Jared asked as he sat on his butt.
Shoot. Couldn’t he just arrange a taxi and then leave her alone?
“Leave.”
“You want to leave?” North asked.
“Now?” Jared added.
“Yes.”
They shared a look. Probably one of relief.
“Baby, why do you want to go now? Was it because of what happened? Did it scare you?” Jared asked.
“Why would it scare me?” she asked, puzzled.
“I don’t know,” Jared replied. “But that’s the only reason I can think of for you wanting to leave now.”
“I want to go before you tell me to go. Because leaving on my own terms is easier than dealing with being rejected. I hate being rejected.”
“Why would you think we’re rejecting you?” Jared asked.
This was an odd conversation. Shouldn’t they be jumping at the chance to get rid of her?
“Aren’t you?” she asked. “Don’t you want me to go? Isn’t that what you were discussing in the bathroom?”
“Someone likes to jump to conclusions. And run before she gets the full facts. That’s going to get her into trouble,” North said.
She glared up at him. “It will not.”
“Next time you run, you’re getting your butt warmed,” North told her.
“We actually feel the complete opposite,” Jared added. “See, baby girl, we’re keeping you. I know I said you could leave, but the fact is that I don’t want you to. And I always get what I want. So you now belong to us. You will stay here with us and I don’t want to hear any arguments. Am I clear?”
35
North didn’t know why but when Jared grew all arrogant and bossy it always turned him on.
Or maybe you’re just perpetually turned on at the moment.
That could be it, too.
Angie seemed to have been struck quiet. He wondered if she found Jared’s arrogance a turn-on?
She’d stuck her fingers back into her mouth as Jared spoke, but there was fire in her gaze as she glared up at him.
