“Careful what you say next, cowgirl,” Jack warned. “You’d be wise not to tick off your landlord.”
She snorted. “You’re kicking me out anyway, so what do I have to lose?”
“I haven’t decided if I’m kicking you out.”
Keely’s razor-sharp gaze pierced him. “Now are you going to tease me and claim you’re not passing on the project?”
He shrugged, knowing his non-response would drive her crazy.
She waited.
So did he.
“Answer me. Why are you dicking with my head, Jack?”
“Because I can. Because I get off on it.”
“I’ll tell you where to get off, bucko.”
“Big talk. I suspect you’re all talk.”
“I am not all talk,” she huffed.
“Then take your best shot.” Jack grinned nastily. “But you’d better make it count, because what goes around, comes around.”
Her eyes flicked over him from head to toe. “Such macho trash talk from coming from a guy who’s dressed like he just stepped off the cover of GQ. ”
“Says the woman who’s a candidate for What Not To Wear,” he volleyed back.
“Ooh.” Keely snapped her fingers in a Z shape. “You told me, girlfriend. Will your boyfriend be jealous we’re tossing bitchy banter back and forth?”
Jack laughed. “That’s your best shot? Accusing me of being gay?”
Keely snorted again. “Accusing? Dude. My gaydar goes haywire around you.”
“And you’re an expert in all things gay because you live in Buttfuck, Wyoming?” he said with amusement.
“Why, Jack-off… You actually have a sense of humor! You should share that playful side more often.
Guys really go for it.”
He laughed again. “Name one thing about me that sets off your finely honed gaydar sensors.”
Her gaze dropped to the floor. “Your shoes. Straight men don’t wear tasseled loafers.”
14
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All Jacked Up
“Bullshit.”
“Okay. Straight men in Wyoming don’t wear tasseled loafers. But since you’re from South Dakota, maybe you missed the memo.” Keely studied him helpfully. “I’ll even impart a bonus reason why my gaydar goes off.”
Fascinated by her twisted logic, Jack murmured, “This ought to be stellar.”
“Remember what happened at Colt and India’s wedding reception? Or should I say what didn’t happen? That proves you’re not attracted to—”
“It only proved I’m not attracted to you, cowgirl.” He was such a liar. And a sucker. The immediate hurt look in Keely’s eyes almost weakened him into apologizing for being a jerk now and being an idiot back then.
But Keely rallied. “If you are so hetero, why haven’t I ever seen you with a woman?”
“Because we don’t exactly run in the same social circles.”
“Justin let it slip you’ve never brought a woman home. So I’m just saying…”
Jack hadn’t brought his girlfriends home due to his never-ending embarrassment about being raised on a farm. “Unlike my little brother, I don’t drag every skank home to meet Mom.”
Keely’s jaw dropped. “Are you calling me a skank?”
“Are you denying you had a threesome with my brother and his best friend?”
“No, but if that makes me a skank then you’re one too! I overheard Carter bragging to Colt about you guys having threesomes all the damn time in college!”
The woman had balls. Keely didn’t apologize, justify or explain her past sexual behavior. Strange to think he would’ve thought less of her if she had.
Several brutal moments passed.
Finally, something clicked with her and she backed up. Way up. A look of mortification entered her eyes. “I’m sorry. God. I don’t know what it is about you that pushes all my wrong buttons, Jack. Insulting you… Lord. I’m usually way more professional than that and I apologize. Profusely.”
The sincerity of her regret surprised him.
She sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s not your fault everything is so screwed up. It’s also not your problem that I naively pinned all my hopes on Full Circle Consulting to get me back on track.
I know better. I-I just wish there was something…” Her voice dropped and she bit her lip.
Oh fuck no. Was tough as nails Keely McKay about to burst into tears?
Don’t fall for it.
But he found himself drawn to her anyway. “Hey. Cowgirl. Don’t cry.”
“I’m not.” She expelled a watery laugh. “Although, you should know I was prepared to throw myself at your feet and promise I’ll do anything if you’ll help me.”