“You do love to write about us, so we can’t be all bad.”
“Yeah, well, keep annoying me and see how I write you guys into my next book.”
It’s pathetic how much that threat keeps us in line.
“It’s not like Ry to act without cause. Did you get another gift?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Her tone turns sharp, and I hold my hands up in surrender.
Pissing Maddey off is not the objective of the night. Getting Melody to fall for me is. Time to turn this bad boy around.
Chapter Eleven
My mind flashes an alert that declares Not enough storage space as I try to process everything. I’ve heard countless stories of the harem of women Jase keeps, but at every turn, all he’s ever done is disprove the rumors.
There was Skye, who I assumed was sleeping in his bed when I heard her talk about staying over. Wrong. She’s his sister’s best friend and stayed in the guest room here.
Then there were the twins he talked about when we texted. I thought he was bragging about bedding two girls at once, but, wrong again; they were his nieces.
And when Maddey showed up, I assumed she was his girlfriend because she had the code to his apartment.
Serves you right, Mels. You know what they say happens when you assume.
All the stories I heard about how Jase would spend the day with his girlfriend and hit on bunnies at night makes me wonder if the girlfriend was actually just one of his close friends. Plus, I never really understood why I was even told them in the first place. Who am I to judge when people need to vent?
I know better than to listen to what other people say. I guess it’s a good thing I went with my gut and finally let Jase talk me into a date, because every day he’s done something to prove he is not only a good guy, he’s exceptional.
I haven’t said much since our unexpected guest showed up, but I’m learning so much sitting here listening.
The tension has grown thick enough to cut with a knife. There’s obviously something more going on with Maddey’s arrival than what’s being said, but it’s not my place to pry. Instead, I ask, “You’re an author?”
The dark expression lifts from her face. “Yup. I write romance.”
As a lover of all things happily ever after, I indulge in the occasional romance novel.
“Ooo, I wonder if I’ve read anything you’ve written.”
“You mean Trip hasn’t told you about his career moonlighting as one of my cover models?”
I whip around, the hand that was on my shoulder falling to my hip.
“You’ve been holding out on me, Donnelly?”
“I can’t give away all my secrets at once, baby. Gotta keep giving you little breadcrumbs, leave you wanting more so you keep coming back to me.”
Ba-bum. Ba-bum.
My damn heart is a traitor, tap-dancing for Jase.
Why’s he got to go around saying things like that? How’s a girl supposed to stay away?
That’s the problem—I can’t. Consequences be damned.
“I always knew you had hero inspiration potential, Jason Donnelly,” Maddey declares.
“Geez, not you too with the legal name, Madison.”
Maddey sucks in a breath through her teeth. “Don’t make me start calling you Jay.”
“You don’t like being called Jay?” Oh the possibilities.
“Don’t get any ideas, baby.”
But I am. So many ideas—ones that can never come to fruition.
“Jase has all my books on the top shelf.” Maddey points to a glass and chrome bookcase near the windows.
I jump from my seat instantly, Jase chuckling behind me.
It’s not just the top shelf—all of them are filled with neatly organized romance novels.
Warmth envelopes my back as Jase comes up behind me. All night he’s been in contact with me, but this? This is him surrounding me. His legs along my calves, the bump of his knees above where mine bend, the backs of my thighs lined up with the fronts of his, the hard muscles of his stomach pressed against my back. All of him covers all of me.
He curls around my shoulders, and I watch the flex of his forearm as he reaches to pluck two books from the middle of the Belle Willis section.
“These are mine.” One of his arms snakes around my middle, bringing me tighter against him, if that’s even possible.
I look down, and holy shit these are total one-click-worthy covers. He really is too attractive for his own good.
Time loses all meaning as I get lost in being enveloped by all things Jase. Maddey’s clap has me jumping like it’s the loud noise in the deathly-silent scene of a horror movie.
“Oh-kay then.” I look over the bulge of Jase’s biceps to see her bending down to pick up her bag. “Since the only action I’m getting lately is the scenes I write, I’m going to get out of here before the pheromones coming off you two get me pregnant.”
“Madz,” Jase growls, and I bury my face in the hollow of his armpit. It’s not my preferred place to stick my nose, but he’s so damn tall it’s how we fit together.
“Lighten up, Trip.” She pauses as she passes the kitchen table cluttered with the remnants of our meal. “You had Gem’s pot pie for dinner? So jelly.”
I tilt my head back over his arm and look up to see an adorable blush staining his cheeks. “I thought you said you made dinner?”
He cups the back of his neck as the color of his cheeks darkens to magenta. “I made the potatoes.”
“Oh, well”—I push up onto my toes, kissing the underside of his jaw—“seeing as that was the majority of the meal, I’ll give you a pass.”
“Oooo, busted.” Maddey laughs evilly. “Can’t wait for tonight’s Coven Conversation. Night,” she calls over her shoulder as she walks down the hall.
“Shit.”
I hear the barely audible curse slip past those lips that were so close to touching mine before his head drops, his forehead resting on the crown of mine.
“Coven Conversations?”
“It’s what we call the girls’ group chat.” He takes the books from me, returning them to the shelf. “Nothing good ever comes from them.”
Damn, Mels—breathe. Don’t jump to conclusions this time.
“And who’s Gem?”
“Another Covenette and my part-time personal chef. And yes she made the pot pies we had for dinner.”
I reach up to cup his warm cheeks. “You know…” My thumbs stroke across the thin layer of stubble he’s sporting. “You’re kinda cute when you’re embarrassed.”
“And you’re just beautiful all the time.”
Ba-bum. Ba-bum.
I’m so, so screwed.
What is it they say? It’s better to ask for forgiveness?
“I should probably go.” I don’t want to, but I need to. If I stay here any longer, I’ll end up acting out every one of Zoey and Ella’s suggestions.
No sex on the first date, Mels.
I shore up my resolve while trying my hardest not to whine like a toddler throwing a tantrum.
“If you must.” He sounds like the petulant child my subconscious is being.
“You do have a game tomorrow,” I remind him.