Page 43 of My Undead Heart

He beams. “Of course I was. Remind me about what this time?”

“Me and Matt.”

His eyebrows shoot up and he bugs his eyes. “Oh, my God! You little vixen!” He practically dances with glee but when I shoot him another glare he stops, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Please tell me it was good. It was really good, wasn’t it? God! Of course he was. The man must be hung like a horse—”

“Jared!” I pop up out of my chair but he’s not even sorry.

“What? It’s not illogical. He’s a big guy and so—” Jared’s eyes widen again.

I hold my hands out because as entertaining as this is, there’s a more pressing matter at hand. “Jared, please! Pull yourself away from his dick. I’ve got bigger problems.”

“Burn.” One of the programmer’s from across the open hallway snickers as he passes by with his coffee in hand.

“Stop eavesdropping like a little girl, Larry!” Jared shouts before turning back to me with eager eyes. “Tell me what you did ...”

“I didn’t sleep with him, if that’s what you’re thinking.”Of course that’s what he’s thinking.

Jared pats my shoulder and squeezes me to his side. “Aww, Kitten. Don’t feel bad. Not every guy goes for the ... black heart and stay-the-fuck-away vibe.”

I pull out of his reach, my hands on my hips. “No! Would you shut up and listen. That’s not my problem. I don’t know exactly how it happened, but we were having dinner. Discussing his website. Then,bam!I bet him he couldn’t last four dates with me and he took the bet.”

Jared’s smile doesn’t dim, if anything it only transforms into a know-it-all smirk. “Well, yeah, he’d be a fool not to.”

He’s missing the point.I shake my head and throw up my hands. “I didn’t want him to take the bet! I was saying ridiculous things because he told me henevermakes bets.”

“Never say never. Good God, Biebs was onto something.” Jared sighs.

“Jared! This is no laughing matter. What do I do?”

He tilts his head and takes in my harried state with actual concern before he grips both of my shoulders and gives me a little shake. “You go on those damn dates, Kitten. You go on those dates and get yourself some meathead lovin’.”

“He wasn’t supposed to say yes!” I’ve already covered it, yes, but that’s where I’m stuck.

Jared doesn’t seem to share the same outrage because once again his lips upturn with that sly smile. “He tricked you.”

I shake my head; that’s not it. “No. He didn’t. If anything, I tricked him and that’s what makes this entire ordeal more annoying. If I hadn’t been so adamant about the stupid bet, I wouldn’t be going on four dates.”Why am I so damn stubborn? Probably goes back to when my mother made me eat vegetables before anything else on my plate. I went three days without eating before she caved.

“He tricked you,” Jared says again.

“That’s impossible! How could he?”

“I don’t know, Kitten, it’s pretty obvious to me. You were training with him all week, I’m sure he noticed how ... obstinate you are.” Again with the damn smile, and that’s when it hits me. Jared’s so fucking right.

“Damn it! He tricked me!” I fall back into my chair, my hands covering my face from the reality of it all.

“That’s what I’ve ... never mind. This is good, Mia! You can finally break your dry spell!” Jared claps as if I’ve won a Grammy.

I stare at him until it probably begins to burn.

“What?” He shuffles a few inches away.

“Matt is not breaking my dry spell. We’re going on four dates. That’s it. I already informed him sex was off the table.”

“And he agreed?” Jared’s eyes widen and his jaw drops.

“What? It’s too unbelievable he’d want to spend time with me for my stunning personality and exceptional wit?” At this I want to giggle, but it’s kinda fun to watch Jared squirm so I hold my bitchy glare in place.

“No. Yes. Whatever.” He shoos me with one hand. “I love hanging out with you and never once wanted to get freaky in the sheets.”