So Toxic(Bad Boy Next Door Book 4)(197)
“Whoa, Cowboy. Didn’t you hire him to date her?”
“So? I’ll fire his ass with my fucking fist.”
“Look, I’m all in for a good ass kicking. But you should consider what you’re saying. The guy’s gay. You’re looking at a hate crime charge. That comes with a price tag way more expensive than a few months in juvie.”
“But he’s not gay if he’s fucking Ronnie. Besides, it would be a hate crime. I hate that he’s fucking my girl.”
He shakes his head. “Man, she’s got you wound up like a Jackson-in-the-box, ready to spring into oblivion.”
“Hilarious, Fucker.”
He laughs like a freaking lunatic. “You’re so fucked up, you’re Fitz to be tied.”
“Wow, you’re really enjoying this, aren’t you? Asshole.”
“Sorry. I couldn’t help it. I saw the shot, had to take it.” He wipes the tear he squeezed out of his eye and straightens in his seat. “Seriously, there’s got to be something we can do.”
I plop into the chair across from him, gripping my head in both hands.
Think. Think. What does she need from me?
I drop my hands. “Maybe we should take a look at Ronnie’s book. I mean, if it works to get men to fall for women, why wouldn’t it work the other way around?”
“Didn’t you read it already?”
“Only the chapter headings.”
Bax eyes me like I’m an idiot.
“What? I’m a busy man.” Well, I am.
He asks, “Do you have a copy?”
“Let me check.”
I have to do something. I don’t even care to fuck anyone else. I thought I should. Thought I could. I even took Bax out to find us each a piece of ass, but not one of the ladies I already know or met that night remotely pricked my interest or stirred my senses. No woody—no sex. This shit sucks.
Three hours later, I sit, forehead in one hand, Ronnie’s book in the other.
Bax mirrors my position on the opposite end of the couch. “What chapter are you on? I’m on chapter six. Men want honesty. I’m not so sure I care about honesty. Do you?”
“Honesty? Shit, I don’t know. I’m on chapter ten. I don’t get ninety-five percent of this. I must be a fucking idiot. Or maybe that’s the problem, I’m not a man—like the kind of man a woman should want.”
I could have wined her, dined her, wooed her—I should have let her see that there’s more to me than my cock.
Bax points to the page. “She says women should tell men what they need. Fuck that. I just need her to want me. Men can figure out what their women need. Can’t we?”
My mind races. I’ve never felt so out of my depth. “I’m going to ask her.”
Bax snatches the book out of my hands. “The hell you are.”
“Why not? She wrote it; she can explain it.” I try to take the book.
Bax yanks it out of my reach. “Don’t tip your hand like that, you fucking idiot.”
The phone vibrates. I check the screen.
Jackson.
Do I answer? Of course I answer. Why does he make me act so ridiculous?
Giddiness gathers in my chest, even though I’m still pissed. I dig deep to summon at least a little backbone from the puddle of hormones quivering at my feet and begging me to run to him, fall into those muscular arms, and forget all about the fact that he’s an ass who would do away with our baby—and that he set me up to look like a fool.
I force the small lilt of excitement out of my voice. Deadpan it. That’s all he deserves. “Hello.”
“Hey, Peaches, I miss you.” The soft rasp in his voice goes straight through my heart and right on down to my pussy.
Play it cool. “What’s going on, Jack?”
His long inhale comes through the line. “Since you haven’t called me, I figured I’d call you. Want to get together?”
I close my eyes and rub the little ache between my eyebrows. “I don’t know—”
“Wait. Don’t turn me down. Listen, I was thinking of having a Valentine’s week run up to the big day. You know, bring a little something extra to the viewers. We had some pretty good ratings when you were on, so I thought maybe you’d consider coming on again.”
What the hell? “Shay hasn’t even had a go at Dave yet.”
He chuckles. “Oh, no. Not what I meant. I’m just talking about you. Come on the show and we’ll chat a bit more in-depth about your book.”
“Really? The last time, you all but threw it in the garbage right on stage.”
“Yeah. Shit, I’m sorry for that, Ronnie. I’ve actually been reading a bit of it here and there. You bring up some interesting theories. After the run-in with the guy at the bookstore, I thought maybe you could go through some of the traits women should look for in a man.”