Jason frowned.“No.I remember feeding you peach pie.Iwould get you a piece before I came out to the ranch to spend the day with you.Don’t you remember how we would study and sit out on the porch and your mommawould bring us sweet tea?”
Olivia wasn’t falling for his act.“I remember how you toldeveryone I was your meal ticket to an easy life.”
“He said it again tonight.”It was time for him to speak up.“Earlier, when his friends were pretty aggressively hitting on us, he told herto go home and that he would get back with her after he secured you.”
“I never said that,” Jason argued.“I didn’t want Lolaaround because I know how jealous she can get.I was trying to protect you,Liv.”
This was sad.
“I don’t need protection,” Olivia proclaimed, and then sheput a hand on Keane’s arm.“I can handle myself against women like Lola, and ifI need more muscle, I have these two.Don’t worry.I pay them in sex.”
“You should leave,” Keane replied, not looking back at thewoman behind him.His eyes were steady on the threat.
“Who the hell are these people?I’ve never seen them in townbefore.You don’t have one boyfriend, much less two,” Jason said.“That Bobbyguy dumped you, and he was never man enough for a woman like you.”
“He was plenty man enough, but we have different paths.Andthe relationship with Keane and Garrett is none of your business.Jason, Iwould never date you again, and honestly, this is pathetic.Go back to yourex-cheerleader and try to relive your glory days.And don’t bother me again.”Olivia turned and started for the SUV.
Keane sighed and looked Garrett’s way.“You want me to doit?”
Garrett waved him off.“Go catch our girl before she drivesoff or calls Gwen and Muffin.”
Keane nodded and grabbed the keys from him.“We’ll bewaiting.Ladies.”
Gigi stayed right where she was.“No, I need to see what thelawyer is going to do.”
Miranda didn’t move either.“I’m with Gigi.”
Jason stared at where Olivia had walked off.Keane gave hima nasty look and then moved after her.
“I need to explain to you what happens if you take one stepnear her again,” Garrett began.
Gigi took a breath in and whispered, though it was completelyeasy to hear her.“I think he’s going to do sexy Dom stuff now.”
Miranda nodded.“I told Olivia she’s so lucky.”
Jason crossed his arms over his chest.“You think you cantell me what to do.”
“I don’t think I can tell you what to do.I can only explainto you what the consequences will be if you continue to bother Olivia.”Garrettkept his voice calm and cool.“You think I’ll meet you in town square and wecan beat on each other until one of us wins and gets the girl.”
“You’re not going to fight me,” Jason said with a derisivehuff.“I would take you out with one punch, son.”
“I am not your son, asshole, and I wouldn’t let you hit me.I learned how to fight the hard way.But I also learned how to fight a betterway.You see, the first thing you decide when going into a fight is how tomanage the battle so it plays to your strengths.While I’m good in a fight, Ispent too much time in school to not know my brain is way better at punishingidiots than my fists are.So the first thing I’ll do is figure out who you areand what your weak spots are.”
Jason sneered his way.“I don’t have any.You think you canscare me off by threatening to take my business?I ain’t got a business.Why doyou think I need her?”
“You have a family, don’t you?”
That seemed to stop everything.Gigi and Miranda went still.Jason’s jaw went tight.
“Don’t threaten my family.”
“Don’t threaten my woman.”Garrett gave up his calm tone forsomething a bit more savage.“I can and will destroy you, and I won’t need JackBarnes to do it, though you should know he’ll be cheering me on.Olivia is notfor you.She is not a prize.She is not a walking ATM.She is a fuckingtreasure, and I’ll protect that forever.”
“Sure.You want the cash, too, don’t you?You know howdifficult she is?There’s no give in that woman.The money is the trade-off forputting up with her shit,” Jason said in a nasty tone.
Before he could think about it, Garrett’s fist reared backand connected hard with Jason’s face.The other man fell back to the ground,blood pouring from his nose.
“Sorry.I guess my fist wanted in on it, too.”Garrettloomed over him.“Leave her alone or I swear my next punch won’t be so kind.”
