Luscious (Topped #1)(38)

“Ian, she’s eight weeks old,” Serena pointed out. “Tristan recently turned one. I hardly think they’re planning to date.”

“Yeah, well, it’s never too early to start. I know what your boy’s going to think. He’s going to think Mom didn’t have to pick, why should I, and then suddenly my sweet baby girls are in some weirdo relationship where they have to worship the boy.”

Jake flipped him off but smiled down at Kenzie. “Don’t listen to your father. Tristan’s going to be a gentleman. Ooo, what do you think she said?”

Macon’s hands were in fists on the table, his back ramrod straight.

Finally he was showing a little anger. She could deal with anger.

“It’s all right,” Serena said, giving her a half hug as they watched the table. “He’s going to tell her to go any minute now and then everything will be right back to normal.”

“I have to be reasonable.” Ally said the words as though saying them would calm her. They didn’t really.

“Oh, what’s the fun in that?” Big Tag asked.

“Ignore him. He lives for this kind of thing,” Serena said, glaring at the big guy. “There’s absolutely no reason to get upset. He didn’t invite her here.”

“But he knew she was probably on her way,” Jake said.

“What?” That was completely news to her.

Jake winced, like he knew he’d screwed up. “Sorry. Uhm, Adam told him on Sunday that it was a distinct possibility, but I don’t think Macon really gave a damn.”

He’d known for days that his ex-wife might show up and he hadn’t mentioned it? Was he happy to see her? Was the whole angry thing only for show? Maybe he wanted to have the upper hand. Elise was right. They had been together for most of their adult life, though Macon had been in combat for a good portion of their marriage. Did he want to give it another shot?

“He certainly doesn’t care about her anymore,” Jake said quickly. “I’m sure of that.”

“Well, it sure looks like she cares about him,” Big Tag said. He bounced his daughter gently as she gurgled up at him and tugged on his shirt. “That, baby girl, is what we guys call manipulation. You see when a woman wants a man to do something, sometimes she strokes his hand like she’s stroking another part of his anatomy he really wants stroked. She often doesn’t really go through with this, but some guys are dumbasses.”

Sure enough, Elise had a hand on Macon’s arms, stroking from his elbow down to the wrist. She held his hand in hers and the free hand kept stroking as she spoke. Even from where Ally stood she could see the crocodile tears clinging beautifully to Elise’s high cheekbones.

“Still, reason and rationality will win the day,” Serena said.

Her hands were shaking with anger. What right did that woman have to come in here and try to take her man? Macon was hers. He damn straight better be because she was the one he humped like fifteen times a day. She’d been worried she was going to walk funny after his crazy “try it” play session the night before. Had Elise been the one who let him play with a butt plug? Nope. That had been her. Had Elise let him tie her up and torture her with his tongue for what had to be an hour? Definitely not.

But Serena was right. She had to be calm. “I will talk to him about it after she leaves. Then we can sit down and have a good chat about why she came here.”

“Oh, I think she came here to try to sleep with your man, Jones,” Big Tag said.

“Stop,” Jake nagged.

“Come on. Tell me you don’t want to see what happens when her inner redneck makes an appearance. Ain’t no redneck like a Georgia redneck. Her accent’s already gotten deeper. Look at the way her hands have that slight shake to them. She’s thinking about killing Miss New York,” Taggart explained. “I’m going to lay a hundred on Georgia there.”

Jake shook his head. “I’d be stupid to take that bet. Ally could take that plastic Barbie doll down in a heartbeat.”

“She’s not going to because she doesn’t have to,” Serena insisted. “She’s the lady in this scenario and she’s very secure in her relationship.”

Nope. She really wasn’t. Macon was gorgeous and well educated and he’d come from money. Oh, he might not have a lot of it now, but a man like Macon wouldn’t be down for too long. Wouldn’t he want a sophisticated wife like Elise by his side?

Elise moved her chair to be closer to him. It didn’t take a lip reader to see she was telling him she was sorry and she thought she deserved a second chance. No. They deserved a second chance. That was the way a woman like Elise would play it.

Elise reached up and brushed back his hair.

And Ally was done.

“Thank god. Go for it, Georgia,” Big Tag said as she strode back over to the table.

She wasn’t going for anything, but she deserved some respect. “Hi, I’m assuming Macon hasn’t explained things, but I would really appreciate it if you would not touch my boyfriend in such an intimate way.”

There. That was polite. That wasn’t slamming a fist in her face. It was good. She was a Southern Belle. Not a crazed redneck.

Macon had turned and one brow arched over his face. “I did mention you, baby. You need to stay calm. You have nothing to be jealous over.”