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Chapter Thirty

IZZIE

I wasn’t planning on spending the night at Chad and Jane’s, but Jane was adamant. In truth, it would have cost an arm and a leg to get an Uber that late—if I could even find a ride. Because Caroline had already claimed the guest bedroom, I had to sleep on the couch in Chad’s home office. But as tired as I was, I couldn’t fall asleep with the guys making a ruckus outside. Plus, my mind was spinning like a top, replaying my hot hookup with Jackson in this very room. It was almost easy to believe it never happened.

I kept tossing and turning, and I fell asleep only after the house got quiet. I guess that’s when the guys left, but it happened at the break of dawn.

I’m not sure how long I’ve been sleeping when Jane comes into the office and shakes me awake.

“What?” I asked groggily.

“I need to get Chad and Jackson.”

I rub my eyes. “Get them from where? And what time is it?”

“It’s eleven. They’re at a bar in Miami Beach. Come on. I don’t want to go alone.”

I toss my legs off the side of the couch and sit up. A yawn escapes my lips. “Can we stop somewhere first to get coffee?”

“I can make you some. Chad has a badass espresso machine.”

“All right.” I get up, and wince. “Do I have time to shower?”

“Yeah, if you’re quick. I want to leave before Caroline wakes up.”

I grimace. “I forgot about her.”

I should probably tell Jane that I hooked up with Jackson last night. I don’t believe for a second that Chad’s sister will keep her mouth shut. But I can’t deal with Jane’s reaction before I have caffeine in my veins.

“I don’t need to shower. I’ll just wash my face.” I trudge to the bathroom down the hall.

“There’s a new toothbrush in the drawer, and toothpaste.”

“Thank you.”

God knows I need it, especially if I’m going to see Jackson again. The butterflies in my stomach finally awaken. Shit. I’m going to see him again, and I’m not sure how to act. Last night, it hurt when Jackson joined the party outside with Caroline glued to his side. She didn’t stay latched to him for long, but their few minutes of proximity made me jealous.

I stare into the mirror, glad I don’t look terrible. I wash my face, then brush my teeth and tongue vigorously. I know I’m about to have coffee, but I need to wash away the dragon’s breath.

There’s a knock on the door, then Jane says, “I got you a pair of shorts and a T-shirt.”

I open the door and take the offering. “Thank you.”

“Sorry it’s not something nicer. I didn’t bring a lot of clothes here yet.”

“It’s okay. Do you have a pair of flip flops I can borrow? I’d rather not put on the boots I was wearing last night.”

“Sure thing. Your coffee is ready.”

“I’ll be out in a minute.”

I change out of the PJs I borrowed from Jane in a flash. Last night, I was wearing warm clothes and boots, but I’d melt if I had to walk around Miami in them during the day.

When I meet Jane in the kitchen, she has my coffee in a travel mug. “I figured you could drink on the way to the bar.”

“Good call. I can’t believe Caroline is still asleep.”

“Let’s not push our luck.”

I shiver. “Right.”

The last thing I want is to hang out with Caroline, especially when we’re about to pick up Jackson. I don’t think she’s given up on him. If anything, catching me with Jackson last night might motivate her to ramp up her flirtation.

My heart tightens again. Ugh. I can’t believe I’m getting all possessive of Jackson. It was only a hookup, a culmination of the sexual tension that had been building between us for a while. It doesn’t mean I want to date him.

“What’s up, Izzie?” Jane asks after a while.

“Uh? Nothing. Just tired.”

“Drink your coffee, then.”

“Oh… I totally spaced out.” I take a sip.

“So… did something happen between you and Jackson last night?”

I choke on the coffee, and that gives me a coughing fit. “What?” I croak.

“It took him a while to join the party, and it so happened that you were also absent.”

My face is on fire. “Damn, when did you become so observant?”

“Don’t change the subject. Did you guys kiss? Hookup? Tell me!”

I rest my head against the car seat. “We hooked up.”

Jane hits the steering with an open palm. “Shut up!”

I rub my forehead. “Not so loud, please.”

“I knew there were sparks between you two. How was it?”

“It was… hot .”

“The broody ones are always a surprise in the sack, aren’t they?” She smirks.

“Yeah, he was a nice surprise.” I can’t help the smile that blossoms on my face.

“What’s going to happen next? Are you going to start dating…”

“I don’t know. We didn’t talk after. Caroline caught us.”

“Oh no. I bet she was looking for Jackson. She has such a huge crush on him.”

Heart clench again. “I know. I’m pretty sure she thinks he’s her endgame.” I can’t keep the bitterness from my tone.

“She’ll be disappointed, then. Jackson sees her as a little sister. Chad told me as much.”

Relief washes over me. “Really?”

“You sound cheerful. Oh my God, you do want to date Jackson!”

“I don’t!” I blurt out, then grimace at the sound of my own loud voice. “I mean… I don’t know what I want.”

“You probably need to sleep with him again to see if you’re truly compatible,” Jane says with a straight face.

I narrow my eyes. “You’re enjoying this far too much.”

She laughs. “Of course I am. You never date. Besides, I think you and Jackson would be good for each other.”

I shake my head. “Don’t try to rub off your romantic notions on me.”

“Whatever. I bet you have butterflies in your stomach right now.”

“If I’m queasy it’s because of this conversation. It has nothing to do with my feelings toward Jackson.”

“Sure it doesn’t.”

“Oh, shut up.” I look out the window, lest Jane see the fact that she isn’t wrong written all over my face.

* * *

M iami Beach is a tourist destination, and it’s midday on a Saturday, but the crowd surrounding the bar isn’t ordinary. It seems word got out that some of the Lions players were here celebrating their victory.

It took a while for Jane to find parking, and then we had to walk a block. We carve a path through the crowd to get to the door of the bar, only to be denied entrance.

“Sorry, ladies. We’re at full capacity,” the bouncer tells us.

“We’re not staying. I’m here to pick up my fiancé, Chad Bingley.”

The bouncer frowns. “Sure you are, honey.”

“Hey, her name isn’t ‘honey,’ and she’s not lying,” I retort, not in the mood to take shit from a rude man.

“Whatever. You ain’t getting in,” he spits back.

Fucker.

“I’ll call Chad and ask him to come out,” Jane pipes up, already holding her phone against her ear.

No sooner has she said that than the crowd cheers. I look up and see the Kaminski twins standing on the balcony, holding the Cup and pouring beer from it into the crowd below. Then Chad and Jackson come into view.

“Chad! Over here!” Jane shouts and waves, trying to get his attention.

Mercifully, both Chad and Jackson look in our direction.

“Jane! Come up!” Chad yellows back.

“He won’t let me!” She points at the grumpy bouncer.

“Oh, all right. You two can come in,” the guy relents.

I fight the urge to stick out my tongue at him and say I told you so .

Inside the bar, it’s another fight to maneuver through the throng of people and get to the stairs. Not surprisingly, access to the second floor is off-limits, but we bump into Grayson Knight, the Miami Mavericks QB and Jackson’s friend.

“Hello, ladies.” He smiles from ear to ear. His eyes are bloodshot and unfocused.

“Hi Grayson,” Jane replies.

“Glad you decided to join us.”

“Oh, this is more of a search-and-rescue mission,” I chime in.

“No way! You must have one beer with me. I insist.” He gets between us, throwing his arms around our shoulders.

Now that we have an escort, the bouncer blocking the stairs moves out of the way. I wonder what criteria they’re using to allow patrons upstairs if you’re not a famous athlete.

I get my answer when we reach the top of the stairs. Only beautiful women with big breasts and barely any clothes covering their assets have been allowed in the VIP area, and one of them is all over Jackson’s space. My vision tints red in the blink of an eye.

“I don’t see Chad,” Jane mutters.

“He must still be out on the balcony,” Grayson replies.

Jane steps away and walks ahead of us. I’m too distracted by my jealousy to create any distance between me and Jackson’s friend. Or maybe I just want to make him jealous too. It’s so stupid and juvenile.

“Can I get you something to drink?” Grayson asks me.

“Uh… no, that’s okay.”

Jackson finally looks in our direction, and his eyes narrow.

“Uh-oh. I don’t think Darcy is happy that I’m with you.” Grayson chuckles.

God. Does everyone know I hooked up with Jackson last night? Maybe he told his friend.

“Why would he care?” I ask.

“’cause I know Jacks.” Grayson steps away from me, and suddenly, Jackson is there.

“You need to go away, Knight,” he tells his friend.

Grayson looks at me and smirks. “What did I tell you? Later, Izzie.”

The butterflies in my stomach are as giddy as ever, but I can’t let them dictate my mood. I cross my arms and ask, “Why did you scare Grayson away?”

“Why? Do you prefer his company over mine?” Jackson steps into my personal space, making it harder to breathe.

“I don’t have a preference.”

“Hmmm… that’s no good. We have to change that.” He grabs my hand and steers me away from the bar area.

“Where are you taking me?”

He doesn’t answer, but I’m also unsure if he heard me. It’s pretty loud here. He opens a door labeled Private and closes it immediately after we enter some kind of back office.

“We shouldn’t be he?—”

He slants his mouth over mine, silencing me.

I taste beer on his tongue, which would normally turn me off. But my body melts into his. I let him take possession, partially hating how weak and unable I am to resist him.

“God, I missed your taste,” he whispers, then places open kisses down my neck.

Goose bumps break out all over my skin, and my nipples harden and push against my borrowed T-shirt.

“How can you miss it? It’s only been a few hours,” I reply breathlessly.

“I didn’t get enough.” He slides a hand underneath my shirt, then upward until he cups my breast.

Shit. I’m letting things go too far. It’s one thing to hook up in Chad’s home office. Quite a different story to let Jackson sex me up in a dingy room in the back of a bar.

I push him back. “We’re not doing this here.”

He frowns. “You don’t want me?”

“I do, but not when you can barely stand up straight.”

“I can stand up straight. Watch me.” He takes a couple steps back and attempts to make the number four with his leg. He can barely hold the pose before he starts to lean sideways.

“Right. You’re doing fantastic.”

He laughs. “I guess I’m drunker than I thought.”

Witnessing Jackson laughing is strangely extraordinary. Gremlins join the butterflies in my stomach. Hell. I need to get out of here before lust erases my common sense completely.

“Yes, you are. Come on. Let’s find Chad and Jane and get out of here.”

“Yes, gorgeous. Anything you say.” He gives me a lopsided grin, and my heart skips a beat.

He has no idea how close I was to caving in and letting him do all kinds of dirty things to me in this dingy back office. Jackson was already hard to resist before, but when he smiles at me like that, my panties can shimmy down my legs on their own.