Page 72 of Resisting Isaac

Because I amjealous.

Unreasonably. Irrationally. Inconveniently.

And worse?

I’mhurt.

I didn’t expect this. Didn’t realize how deep I’d sunk into this until now. Until the absence of him felt sharper than any rejection ever has. Until the idea of him with someone else makes me want to scream.

I’m jealous. I accept that.

But it’s more than that.

I’m territorial. Something I’ve never been when it came to any other man. My philosophy was always if another woman could get him, then she could have him.

I’m halfway to safely hiding out in my cabin when I run smack into a wall of muscle in a black T-shirt.

“Shit—sorry,” I mumble, stumbling back a step.

Then I look up.

And my heart does a stupid traitorous flutter.

Isaac’s returned apparently. Back from Wild Canyon. Looking sun-worn and a little rough around the edges in the most maddeningly attractive way possible. Hat tipped low, jaw shadowed with scruff, eyes impossibly green.

“Hey,” he says, slow and steady.

The word rolls through me.

“Hey,” I return, sounding more breathless than I’d like.

I force myself to stay still. To not show how rattled I am. Not just because he’s standing so close, but because I still haven’t recovered from Mikayla’s comments.

“You okay?” he asks, eyes narrowing slightly.

“Yep. Totally fine.” My voice is two octaves too high. I nod like a bobble head.

“You sure?” he presses.

I clear my throat. “Yeah.”

He lifts a brow. “Something happen?”

I cross my arms and look anywhere but at him. “I overheard something. But it was nothing.”

His brow dips inward. “Was it something or nothing?”

“It was nothing. I hear Mikayla talking about hooking up with you. Or someone. But it’s none of my business so it’s whatever.”

“First it was something, then it was nothing. Now it’s whatever?” His lips quirk. “I see. And her talking about hooking up with me was a problem for you because…” He drags out the last word then waits with raised brows.

“Exactly,” I say quickly, then curse under my breathbecause I’m doingnothingto help my case. “Right? I mean, it’s not. At all. You’re free to hook up with whomever.”

Isaac studies me for a long moment. Not moving. Just watching. Like he can see right through me.

“Why do you look like you’re about to burst into flames?”

“It’s really warm out,” I lie.