Play Fair (The Devil's Share Book 3)(41)

If I wasn’t so damn pissed off thinking about Bryan and Shep together “after hours” I would have laughed at Dylan’s hilarious save. As it were I crossed my arms over my chest and ground my molars together.

“I’m not really sure what that has to do with anything, but yes, we hung out after hours.” Bryan sent her sister a snotty look.

Lexi choked down another bite, wincing. “Was he a bad hangout?”

Ah, Lexi, the little sister I never wanted. She was doing this for her own amusement and my discomfort. “Really, Lex? Do you think this is the best topic of conversation right now?” I nodded my head toward Landry. I wasn’t above using my kid to stop this discussion. I didn’t want to think about Bryan with anyone but me. I knew it was stupid, I knew I’d slept with so many other chicks it wasn’t even funny. But still.

Lexi smiled, sweet as pie. “What? It’s a simple, very coded, question. Why can’t she answer it?”

“He was an incredibly average hangout. Not great, not horrible, just average.” She shot daggers at Lexi, which only made her chuckle.

Dylan nodded, pointing at B with her spoon. “See? Things get physical, get serious, and you bolt.”

Bryan rolled her eyes. “I broke up with him because there was no future, because I wasn’t in love with him. I didn’t look at him the way you look at Smith or the way Lexi looks at Dash.”

Landry put her book down. “Or the way you look at Jacks?”

My face broke out into the biggest smile at her words. Did Bryan look at me like that? Did she feel the same way I did? Was she falling for me too? “How does B look at me, Buttercup?”

Landry looked at Bryan, not sure if she should say anything else. But when Bryan winked at her, she brightened. “Like you’re all her favorite things.”

My throat swelled with emotion. What was it about having a kid in your life that turned you into a sap? I crossed the room and placed a kiss on Bryan’s upturned face. I didn’t care who saw; in that moment I wanted to kiss her, so I did. I held my hand out to Landry. “Come on, Buttercup, let’s take Dagger to the beach for a walk.”





Chapter Twenty


Bryan


So Jacks kissed me in front of my sister and then left the house? If he thought he was still getting his third base tonight, he was sadly mistaken. I refused to look up. I knew Dylan’s eyes would be trained on me, demanding an explanation. She was my big sister; she was protective and smart and honest. But damn, I did not want to deal with her questions and, no doubt, opinions.

“You’re going to have to talk at some point, Baby Dil.” Lexi sat her half-finished yogurt on the coffee table.

“So, Baby Dil is going to stick?” I looked across the room, smiling.

Lexi nodded. “I think it’s perfect. You’re Dylan’s little sister and Jacks calls you baby doll. Baby. Dil.” She did a mock bow from her seat on the couch. “I’m a genius.”

“Start explaining.” Dylan’s tone was harsh, and she wasn’t smiling.

I let out a long sigh. “A couple nights ago, Jacks and I—”

“A couple nights? Like after the bar?” Dylan narrowed her eyes. Typical.

I ignored her and kept talking, “—decided to take our friendship to the next level.” That statement sounded boring. “I want him. He makes me laugh; he turns me on; he’s sweet and romantic. He’s a good dad. He’s the best friend I’ve ever had.” There, that was better.

Dylan sighed. “With Landry’s mom showing up, he has to be the picture-perfect dad. Part of that is stability. That means long term; that means permanent, Bryan. Do you understand that?”

Lexi held her hand up. “Wait, back up. Jacks is romantic?” She was trying to break the tension and lighten the mood, and I was more than willing to let her.

“He is.” I shook my head. “He says the sweetest things to me all the time.”

Dylan scoffed. “Yeah, he’s perfected his pick-up lines over the years, I’m sure.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You really think Jacks needs to spit lines to get girls to sleep with him?” When she didn’t answer, I continued. “Here’s the problem with you guys: you don’t give Jacks enough credit. In anything he does.” I started ticking off a list on my fingers. “Jacks may like to have a good time, but has his good time ever gotten anyone hurt? Or in the press? Or landed anyone in jail? Nope. Did you know that Jacks sponsored a wing in the new children’s hospital in Dallas? Bet not. Did Jacks freak out when a social worker showed up with his nine-year-old daughter? Not once.” I stood up. “Jacks is the most amazing man I’ve ever met. And I’m NOT going anywhere.”

***

After my tiny little outburst toward my sister I went for a run around the neighborhood. I needed to clear my head, and I needed to get out of the house. I’d texted Jacks to let him know, and he said he was going to take Landry and Dagger to the park after the beach. See? Quality time with his daughter. Dylan was so far off base with everything that had to do with Jacks and me it was ridiculous. My feet pounded the pavement up the driveway. I was dripping with sweat by this point and needed hydration. I ran in the front door and straight to the kitchen, throwing open the refrigerator and downing a bottle of water.