None of this made sense. Unless… “You don’t need to use apps. I’ll take you on dates.”
ChapterTwenty
Elise
What wasup Jack’s butt tonight? He was acting like a lunatic. “Why would you take me on dates? I’m not a charity case, Jackson.”
“Not charity, just going out together,” he said casually, when the notion wasn’t the least bit casual.
I must have misunderstood. “Definedatesandgoing out.”
He shrugged. “We’d hang.”
“Thanks for the clarity.” I rolled my eyes and studied him for a moment. His green gaze showed no signs of scheming, though I suspected there was, in fact, scheming going on. But what would he get out of it? Unless… “Are you expecting sex?”
His eyes widened, a tinge of anger behind them. “Is that what you were doing with the delivery guy when you went on dates?”
I snorted. “He didn’t get past first base, but you’re acting crazy, so I’m trying to figure out what’s going on inside your head.”
He seemed relieved by my answer, which was stupid. Why did he care who I hooked up with? “No sex required,” he said. “Unless you want to. You might not be able to control yourself.”
My face heated. “Are you throwing that night in my face?”
The corner of his mouth tipped up. “Would I do that?”
“Yes!”
“I’m just saying,” he said, unfolding his arms and walking toward the living room as though we were discussing the laundry and not negotiating a most disastrous arrangement, “you’ve got the goods within easy reach, so you might want a piece of this.”
My gaze darted down his body. His back was to me, but his ass looked firm in his jeans, and the button-down shirt he was wearing hugged his broad shoulders. I loathed that I noticed. “No, I will not date you, you arrogant jerk.”
“Just sex, then?” He sank into one of the barstools, his face expressionless.
I stormed into the kitchen and spun in a circle, forgetting why I’d entered. When I glanced back, he was watching me with a smirk. He knew I was flustered, dammit.
I opened the fridge, pulled out a block of cheese, and took a giant bite.
“No plate?” he said, amused.
“Don’t goad me, Jackson, or you won’t like the results.” I didn’t know where this conversation was coming from or what he had up his sleeve, but I was on edge, and I wouldn’t be held responsible for my actions if he continued down this path. Between my sister and me, I was the hothead, and Jack knew that. Yet here he was, intentionally riling me.
“Hear me out,” he said. “I have a proposition.”
“I’m still surviving the last one,” I said dryly.
Living with Jack and not thinking about him romantically wasn’t easy. Which was why I was determined to go out as much as possible. I’d be curled up killing time on Soph’s couch if she wasn’t so madly in love with Max and if they weren’t so nauseating with their flirtations. More important, I was on a mission to not depend on my sister.
And I didn’t want to depend on Jack either. The living situation couldn’t be avoided, but I could stay away whenever possible. And here he was, suggesting the opposite.
“You want companionship, and so do I,” he said. “Just not with my CEO. Why don’t we…” He quirked his brow in a very suggestive, sexy manner I didn’t think he meant to look suggestive. Or maybe he did?
My heart fluttered. I took a deep breath, trying to cool the hormone jets. “Jackson, this is another one of your terrible ideas.”
“It was good the last time, wasn’t it?” The athletic build and posture were all confidence, but the tiniest hint of uncertainty revealed itself in his tone.
I stared in disbelief. “I thought this wouldn’t be about sex. And you’re choosing now to admit you liked that night?”
He glanced away. “It can be whatever we want it to be. And of course I liked that night, but you ran out on me. What did you expect me to say?”
