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“Right. And Rocco must have spread the word, ‘cause him and two other guys I wanted to partner you with won’t. Hell, they won’t work with you to save their lives.”
“I’m a good agent—”
“It has nothing to do with that. It has to do with Cash. So spill it, woman. What do I need to know?”
“We dated before I left.”
“You loved him?”
Nic rolled her eyes toward the bonfire, taking in Cash’s amazing silhouette. “And how is that your business?”
“Everything’s my business when it comes to my ops. Let’s try this. You love him now?”
“No. Of course not.”
“Can you keep it in your pants?”
She shot her gaze back to him. “Christ, Jared.”
“That wasn’t an answer.” He laughed.
“He and I are fine. We’re not jumping into bed. Not confusing the past and the present. But I’m not working with him.”
“Yeah, you are.” He looked so certain.
“Nope.”
“No choice.” He laughed again, and it was more irritating each time he did the cough-grumble thing he used as laughter. “You don’t partner well, do you?”
“Cash won’t do it either.”
“I have a feeling he would jump at the chance to—”
All right, that strategy went down fast. Try, try, try again. “We’ll distract each other. Not a good idea.”
“So, you’re walking away, princess? Didn’t take you as a quitter.”
“God—”
“That works much better. God. It has a good ring to it. Better than Twinkle Toes.”
“Jared—”
“Okay. Jared or God. Your choice.”
“Would you shut up?”
“I like you, princess.”
“Fine. Cash. I’ll do it. Go away.”
“I knew you’d see it my way. Don’t forget to grab some potato salad. Mia Winters can cook like you wouldn’t believe.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Jealousy. It wasn’t a logical response, but Cash fought back a growl, wanting to physically remove Jared from Nicola’s proximity. She sat on the tailgate to his truck. Her long legs dangled, and the bonfire light danced across her skin. No doubt about it, Cash was jealous. His fists bunched in his jeans pockets, but he knew he wasn’t hiding his reaction from anyone.
He threw a piece of meat to Winters’s dog. The pup had been running around the fire soliciting donations like he was starving to death. Winters swore he fed the mutt. Cash laughed. He knew better than to think that Mia, Winters’s wife, would let the dog go hungry.