Page 160 of Burning Daylight

Paxton’s always been a grumpy asshole, but ever since I came back from school, it’s been on steroids.

“He’s not good enough for you,” he says.

“No shit,” I agree. “Take it up with Mommy Dearest.”

Paxton looks at me from the corner of his eye and harrumphs but doesn’t say anything else.

Alex has also grown quiet.

“Anyway, I’m tired of talking about my failed date,” I say. “Thanks for saving me, even if you’re being a prick while doing it.”

Paxton nods, a muscle in his jaw ticking.

“Tiffany didn’t mind you coming to get me?” I press, because I feel like getting under his skin. Paxtonneverspeaks about his wife.

He side-eyes me. “Tiffany doesn’t get to tell me where to go or what to do.”

Alex whistles from the back seat. “Trouble in paradise?”

“Things are fine.”

I smirk. “Convincing, Pax.”

Alex’s phone goes off from the back, and the screen lights up his face almost as much as the giant grin I see when I turn around to look at him.

“Who’s got you smiling like that?”

He wiggles his brows and looks at me. “Who do you think?”

“No. Felicity?”

He slips his phone back into his pocket and leans back with a lazy grin. “I don’t kiss and tell, Jules.”

Yeah, me neither.

“Felicity does, though, and she definitely would have told me if she was making out with you.”

“I’ll have you know, she’sthisclose to agreeing to date me,” he continues. “So, please go on with your theory about how she doesn’t like me.”

I’m not sure whether I believe him. If she decided to date my brother and not even tell me, I’ll be pissed.

“Too bad you blew it with Preston,” he jokes. “We could have had double dates.”

“I didn’tblowanything.”

My face heats and I stumble over the words because technically, that’s not true. I clear my throat and push Roman from my mind.

“Besides, you can double date with Pax and Tiffany.” I give a wide grin to Paxton.

“Absolutelynot,” Paxton chimes in, his fingers tight on the steering wheel. “I don’t want anything to do with that girl.”

“Good God, Pax. Dial down the animosity, she didn’t run over your puppy.”

We pull into the front of the estate, and the quiet overwhelms the car as Paxton kills the engine.

“Well, kids, it’s been fun, but I’ve got agirlto text.” Alex smirks and waves his phone in the air before slipping out the back and disappearing inside.

“Thanks for the ride.” I reach to open the car door but am stopped by Paxton’s hand on my arm.