JASON and KEANNE(24)

Jason waited for the fury to hit him. For such a long time, he had witnessed how Karla Niall ran circles around his twin, playing the cruelest games in an effort to keep Nick jealous and perpetually interested in her.

Watching Karla and Nick together had been painful, and he had once vowed to himself that he would never leave himself vulnerable to a woman who played games.

Wasn’t it the same now?

He looked at Keanne again, who seemed as if she was about to make herself sick with fear. She looked like she was about to throw up any second as she stared at him with misery in her eyes. It was clear that she would never do it again, not even if she herself was eaten alive by jealousy…

Ah.

His face marginally softened.

Silly girl.

Keanne had wanted to know if he would be jealous over her – if there was enough space in his heart for him to be jealous when they both knew that most of his feelings were still tied up with Lilac.

Christien had reached them now, but he didn’t care. He didn’t want her suffering because of him. He said quietly, “I will always get jealous over you, Keanne.”

He watched her try to speak several times, and his heart did a little twist at the way his normally feisty and talkative little doe was unable to say a word after what he had revealed.

Finally, she seemed to give up and touched her heart. Three times. I love you.

He inclined his head in understanding because he really was beginning to accept it. Maybe, maybe Keanne really was in love with him. He shouldn’t be fucking happy about it, but he was.

Christien asked dryly, “Are you two done looking at each other like lovesick fools?”

Keanne gave Jason’s friend her best lovesick expression as she once again fluttered her lashes.

Christien laughed.

Jason wondered if Keanne knew how rare that sound was. Although he was the most charming among them, the most urbane and civilized, Christien was probably the coldest among them, too. It was very rare for him to warm to a person so easily, and the thought had a thunderbolt of jealousy striking his heart and making his chest ache.

Well, fuck me, Jason thought. Keanne really didn’t have anything to worry about. As it was, it seemed like he was fated to be jealous about every little thing that had to do with her and another man – and it didn’t seem to matter even if the other man was one of his closest and most trusted friends.

“Do not thump me just for laughing at your girl’s joke,” Christien said in the same dry tone.

He was about to answer when he saw Keanne’s smile falter.

And then she said lightly, “You forget. I’m not yet his girl. But I will be soon, right?” She looked up at him and fluttered her lashes once more.

With all his heart, he wished he could tell her that he wanted her to be his girl.

But he couldn’t.

Not just yet.

If he was to give himself to Keanne, she deserved to have him completely, with his heart intact and beating only for her instead of halved between her and another girl.

And so all he could say was, “Soon.” But he touched his heart, too, reminding her of their bond – something that he and Lilac never had.

Her smile slowly came back in full force. “Soon,” she agreed softly.

“That’s all well and good, but I’m afraid you won’t be his girl tonight.” Christien’s gaze moved down, where poor Archie was only starting to regain consciousness. “We need to fix this first, and that means a ride to the police station in case this gentleman decides to file charges.”

“I won’t,” Archie said from below.

Keanne started to kneel down again, only to be stopped by Jason, who pointedly looked at her legs.

Oh, right. She didn’t have panties on. Merde. Having no panties was such a pain. No wonder actresses and pop stars often found themselves subjected to humiliating snapshots of their private parts.

Jason and Christien helped Archie up. “I apologize for hitting you,” he said gravely. “It is my fault and I understand if you do change your mind about pressing charges.”

“Nah, it’s all good. Your girl here explained to me about her wanting to see if you had the green-eyed monster in you.”

Jason said sardonically, “I’m afraid you can personally answer that now.” He took out his wallet and gave Archie his business card. “I am in your debt.”

Archie grinned. “I know who you are, of course, so this card is worth getting knocked out cold.” He frowned. “Although my jaw still aches like hell.”

Jason winced.

“I’m really sorry.” Keanne moved to hug Archie, but Jason swiftly pulled her back to his side, his arm going around her waist. Archie might be gay, but he still had a man’s body and no way was Jason allowing Keanne to hug any other man but him.