Jason barked a laugh. “Yeah. That’s it. Keep the hordes away.”
“Well, Hot Goss might say you’re off the market, Isner, but that doesn’t usually stop the fan girls or boys. Though I guess they could be after Nazarov.”
There was no mistaking the challenge in her voice. It was almost as if she wanted him to know.
“They would be wasting their time.”
Jason’s mouth gaped. “I didn’t even realize! You’re not single, Naz?”
“No. I am not.”
“You mean, you’ve gone the past ten miles without telling me you’re dating someone?”
I sneaked a look at Lauren. “It is at a delicate stage. I don’t wish to spook her.”
“Oh, yeah? Well, you’ll have to bring her over to dinner with your dad.” He leveled his gaze at Lauren. “It seems everyone’s pairing off and keeping quiet about it.”
Her cheeks flushed prettily. Now, that was interesting. He knew something but not everything.
I looked forward to interrogating her later.
“I would prefer you did not interfere,” I said. “At least until I have locked her down.”
Jason stared at me, his eyes glinting with suspicion. “She’s giving you trouble? What’s wrong with her?”
“Sounds like a smart woman,” Lauren said. “She’s seen how you jocks behave and wants nothing to do with it.”
Jason opened his mouth, but I got there first. “Or perhaps she has spent too much time around them and thinks she knows everything except what exists deep down. In here.” I touched my chest, right over my heart.
Her eyes might have been hidden behind her shades, but I had no doubt she was rolling them.
“Mansplaining the lady’s feelings, Nazarov?” She tutted. “How enlightened.”
I turned to Jason, making a point of ignoring my wife. “Lauren is still so opinionated.”
That made her chuckle softly, and my heart rejoiced at the sound.
Jason divided a look between us, confused by our dynamic. I had promised to keep our secret, so I wouldn’t be the one to reveal it.
“Okay then,” he finally said. “We’re heading for coffee, Lo. Want to join us?”
“No, thanks. I have a few more miles to put in. Later, boys.”
Off she went, and I had to practically strain not to look after her and fill my eyeballs with that heart-shaped ass.
“That was weird,” Jason said.
“What was?”
“All that shade about jocks. Lauren loves the jock species. She’s one of us.” He tilted his head. “You do something to piss her off?”
“Why would you think that?”
“She was kind of testy, but not with me.”
“It might have been with you,” I countered. “You probably annoyed her, but she doesn’t want to get into it in front of me.”
“Maybe. More likely she’s just in a mood because she misses Thad.”
