Page 82 of My Three Billionaire Rockstars

About the fact that she walked out of my date and somehow that only made me want her more.

Instead, I say, “About confusing entertainment with judgment.”

Julian studies me. There’s too much intelligence in his eyes for the loose grin he usually wears. He knows exactly what this is now. Maybe he knew before. Maybe I just confirmed it.

“That’s not what this is,” he says.

I believe him.

That doesn’t make it better.

Because if Julian’s interested, he’s interested for real. He doesn’t always know what to do with real, but he knows when he’s found it.

And Gabe…

I think of the way Gabe looked at her in the kitchen. Too controlled to be innocent. Of the way he asked after her at Bennett’s. Of the tension that settled around him every time she spoke.

A fresh wave of irritation hits me.

Not irritation. Jealousy.

I straighten away from the desk and roll my shoulders once, trying to bleed some of it off before it shows in a way I can’t take back.

Julian stands. “Xander…”

I ignore that, too.

He takes a step closer. “I’m not doing anything to you.”

A bitter laugh almost breaks loose from my chest.

No. He isn’t.

That’s the problem.

He isn’t doing anything wrong. Neither of them is.

And still, every instinct I have is pushing hard against the idea of either of them touching what I haven’t even had the right to claim myself.

The thought’s ugly enough to sober me right through.

I finally look at him fully. “Good.”

He holds my stare. “We’re talking about a woman, not territory.”

A flash of heat moves through me so fast it almost feels like violence.

Because I know he’s right.

And because some brutal, primitive part of me doesn’t care.

I step closer instead of away, not enough to be a threat, just enough to make the point land between us. “I know exactly what we’re talking about.”

Julian doesn’t move.

He’s not reckless the way people think he is. He knows when a room has shifted. Knows when I’m holding too much in my teeth to let it out clean.

“What do you want me to say?” he asks.