Page 35 of Claimed By Ruin

I stood from the table, ignoring the pull in my lower back. “What’s that?”

“You care what people think, especially if they think you look stupid. I, however, know how to use it to my benefit. That’s why I almost never lost a jury trial,” she said.

“Yeah, unless I was opposing counsel,” I said.

She laughed. “Whatever. I’m going to do morning stock.” She paused for a moment. “Now that Jack’s⁠—”

She cut off and looked towards the sound of the screen door, which had just opened.

“You said my name, Caitlin?” Jack said as he strode into the kitchen.

“Eavesdropping, Jack?” She arched a brow.

He nodded. “I was.”

“Whatever. I was just about to tell Asia that it’s her job to keep you in line, although who knows if such a thing is possible?”

“Why don’t you keep me in line yourself?” Jack asked.

“You know what they say, Jack. You wrestle with a pig and you end up dirty and frustrated,” Caitlin said.

“I don’t think that’s exactly the quote,” Jack said.

“But you get the point, right?”

I looked back and forth between Jack and Caitlin as he studied her. “You’re not flirting with me.”

I wasn’t sure where Jack was going, but I was interested in how this would play out.

Caitlin wrinkled her nose with disgust. “God no.”

I couldn’t help but smile.

“You think I’m that bad, huh?” he said.

Caitlin looked at me, then looked at Jack, and shrugged, a wry smile on her face.

“It’s getting late,” she said, even though it was 7:45 in the morning. “Think about the trip, Asia.”

“What trip?” Jack asked, looking surprised.

Caitlin laughed. “Just girl talk, Jack. Nothing to worry your pretty little head about.” She left without another word and I was alone with Jack.

He stared at me. “What’s going on?”

“I’m sending Caitlin to town to get intel. I just need to decide on a day.”

“Do you think that’s⁠—”

I interjected. “We’ve discussed it and made a plan.”

I was mad at him, mad at myself for being mad at him. He never promised me anything. My feelings were my own. But knowing that was one thing. Living it, that was something else. Which was exactly why I wanted to keep my distance from Jack. Distance he was intent on refusing me.

Still, I knew being close to him was dangerous.

Having him in my bed was lethal.

But I hadn’t mustered the strength to push him away.