Page 61 of Wild Card

“He couldn’t wait to have her because I pushed him.”

“You?”

“Joss leave that part out? Figures. Little minx would. She wanted my help with him. So I agreed.”

“And you got what out of this exactly?”

“The chance to torture Colt over a woman? Priceless.”

“You would torture that poor innocent soul.”

“Not very innocent when he’s fucking women in my library is he?”

“Oh you’ll live.”

“I won’t. That’s like… worse than fucking her in my bed. The guys know how fucking weird I am about that space.”

“Don’t you dare say anything, or I won’t share gossip with you again. I shouldn’t have in the first place.” She pokes me in the chest, half a smile on her face because she’s amused at how much this is getting under my skin.

Her phone buzzes again, and she looks over and picks it up. Her smile grows brighter at whatever Harper’s saying, and I feel the jealousy claw its way up my throat as she hurriedly types out a response.

“Reschedule your date?”

“It’s just drinks, but maybe. Later this week or after the holiday.” She sets the phone back down and looks at me briefly before she resumes putting dishes in the dishwasher.

Later this week? This guy is on a fucking mission.

“Sure he won’t be an asshole and bring his girlfriend like the other guy?”

“She assures me that particular mistake will not be repeated.”

“Good. Couldn’t rescue you as easily this time.”

“Hmm. Good point. I’ll have to have someone else on speed dial to whiteknight it for me. Will have to talk to Joss about another guy...”

The fuck would another guy replace me there too.

I help by adding some of the glasses to the dishwasher and wiping down the counter. I briefly try to tell myself not to do the thing I do next, before caving the second I see the small smile reappear on her lips just thinking about him while looking at her phone.

“We could fix the library situation.”

She glances up at me, an amused look on her face as her brows knit together. “Fix it?”

She puts the tab in the machine and then shuts it with her hip and turns it on.

“Yeah. Since it’s already defiled… least I can get is the chance to have someone in there myself.”

She gives me a look and then turns to hang the dish towel up.

“I don’t know what that has to do with me. Have one of your women come over one night. Just make sure you Lysol the table I have to work at after though, okay?”

“One of my women?” I ask trying to figure out what she’s talking about.

“I assume you have company at night.”

I frown at her. “The guys once or twice. Xander sometimes. But that’s it.”

“Don’t be obtuse. I helped Ed put away stuff after the shopping trip the other day. I’ve seen the condoms. I don’t care what you do, Tobias, but I’m not stupid. I know you’re not celibate. I appreciate that you’re trying to be discreet given the past, and me having to be here all the time. But we don’t have to play a game over it.”