Page 38 of Whiskey Promises

"You are so full of it. You were not a Boy Scout!"

"I was. All the way up until I was fifteen."

I gape at him, shocked. He's serious. "I was a Girl Scout for five minutes."

"Five minutes, huh?" He chuckles, hoisting himself up onto the table beside me. "You get booted out?"

"I ran off to play with a dog." I laugh at the memory. "Our troop leader was not happy when she found me rolling around in the mud with a stray Rottweiler instead of picking flowers with the other girls."

Jareth laughs, his thigh bumping mine. "Why am I not surprised?"

"I liked the dog more than the flowers," I say, shrugging. "My parents decided volunteering at the animal shelter would probably be more my speed than Girl Scouts."

"Were they right?"

"Yeah," I whisper, smiling. "They were right. I want to open my own rescue someday." I sneak a glance up at him. "What were the three of you talking about?"

"Innessa."

I blink at him.

"Your Dad was trying to convince me that she needs a good man."

"He did not!"

"He did."

"Oh my god," I groan, shooting a look at my parents. My mom has her head resting on his shoulder while he plays with the ends of her hair. They look so happy. "He is shameless."

And that isn't jealousy seething through me. Nope, not at all.

"He just wants the best for his daughters."

"Innessa is in love with Maddox."

"Jealous?" Jareth teases.

"Of Innessa and Maddox?" I ask, intentionally playing dumb as I hop up from the bench. "Not at all. I already have a boyfriend."

A soft growl rumbles from deep in Jareth's chest, his eyes narrowing on me. "You locked your door last night."

"Yes, because I have a boyfriend."

He growls again, his eyes flashing holy fire. "Who are you trying to convince, Zoya? Me or yourself?"

"I don't need to convince anyone," I lie. "You can think whatever you want."

"Leave your door unlocked tonight."

"Don't tell me what to do, Jareth."

"Leave the door unlocked, princess."

"No."

"Fine." He smirks at me. "Then I'll find another way to get you alone." He pauses, his expression taunting. "Or maybe I won't even wait until you're alone to put my hands all over you next time."

"I…you…" I snap my mouth closed, scowling at him before I turn and stomp away, my heart pounding. There's no way he'll follow through on that threat…right?