“He doesn’t want me.”
Cade groaned. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Do you know what he planned for you today? A picnic. It’s going to be too cold next week, so he has a real nice spread laid out in the park.”
She shook her head. “You don’t understand. He doesn’t want me. The real me.”
He crowded her just a little. They were too close. There wasn’t a lot of room. He could feel the heat of her body, smell the citrus shampoo she’d used. She was wearing a white button-up shirt, but it was thin and he could see her nipples, chafing against the cold—or responding to him? “Who’s the real Gemma?”
She swallowed once, her eyes on his chest. “What you said before. I’m a bitch.”
And he was a loser. If he went by what some of his other girlfriends had said. He didn’t want to understand Gemma, but he did. Maybe even better than Jesse. He put a hand out and forced her to look up at him, tugging her chin up. “I think you hide behind that term a whole lot.”
A bitter smile tugged her lips up. “You’re wrong. I really am. I don’t always say the right things. Hell, I almost never think the right things. I liked flipping Cam off. I can’t be this perfect, polite lady Jesse wants, and it’s just going to hurt us both if I try. I have the sweetest mother you can imagine. Always courteous. Always nice. I have no idea where I came from. So please, just leave me alone.”
“Tell me you don’t want him.”
Those eyes slid away from him again. “I don’t want him.”
Top her when she lies. Jesse had been drilling it into him. He’d never had the taste for dominating a woman the way Jesse did, but it roared to life with Gemma. He forced her chin up, looking her straight in the eyes. “I don’t like it when you lie.”
A little fire leapt in those blue orbs. “I don’t like it when you talk.”
“Are you going to like when I spank your ass?”
Her face heated up. “Nate is still watching.”
Damn. Jesse had been right. She was interested. And his cock was hard as a rock, harder than it had been in months. All for her. Gemma Wells was like a weed, wrapping herself around him, strangling out the voices that told him why this was a terrible idea. And he suddenly didn’t give a fuck that the sheriff was watching. The sheriff needed to stay out of this. “Let him watch. He can handle Callie his way, and I’ll handle you in mine. Now tell me again. This time try not to lie.”
“I want him. I just don’t think it can work.”
“Why?” He could give her a thousand reasons, but he was interested in what she thought.
Her hands played at his waist and then she seemed to force them to her sides. “Because I can’t be the woman he wants. It’s not fair of him to try to change me. And I don’t really want anything serious.”
“Because you don’t want to get serious with men like us?”
“Because I’m not good for anyone. Damn it, Cade, I don’t have a job and I don’t have any prospects for one. Brush off whatever fucking chip is sitting on your shoulder. I don’t care what you do for a living. I want someone who wants me, but that’s neither you nor Jesse. You don’t want me at all and he wants some perfectly polite princess.”
“Don’t want you? You think I don’t want you?” He could put that rumor to rest. He pressed her against the wall, grinding his pelvis against hers. His cock swelled, the close heat of her body perfectly torturous.
She was forced to hold on to him now. Her hands clutched at his waist as she tried to stare down at the place where their bodies touched. “Why? You don’t even like me.”
“I don’t have to like a woman to want her. And I don’t hate you, Gemma. I’m a little scared of you. You think you’re not good for anyone? God, baby, you have no idea. Does this whole thing have to be so damn serious?”
She shook her head, licking at her bottom lip like she was staring at some dessert she really wanted a bite of. “No. It doesn’t. It can just be fun, right?”
Keep it light. Don’t fall for her. He might be able to have her, if he followed the rules. He pressed in, enjoying the feel of her against him. She was so much smaller, but her breasts were plump and round. “We can have a lot of fun, you and me and Jesse. You just have to talk to him. Tell him what you want.”
A hard voice broke through the tension. Jesse stood in the doorway, looking in. “I think I can tell what she wants. A little fast sex, Gemma? I hope that’s what you want because it’s all Cade is going to offer. That’s all he offers any woman. I’m the one who takes care of our women. He just fucks.”
Cade rolled his eyes and reluctantly pulled away from Gemma. “Good to know you have a high opinion of me.”
Jesse shook his head. “It’s true and you know it.”
Gemma was right back to her ice-princess self, all that hot and flustery anticipation gone in the wake of Jesse’s judgmental eyes. “I’m going back to work. You’ll both understand if I would prefer to not see you again.”
She started for the door. Cade was about to reach out for her, but Jesse was faster. He pulled Gemma to him, his eyes hard as he looked down at her. Cade glanced back and now both Nate and Cam were watching.
“Careful, she has a couple of protectors,” Cade pointed out.
Jesse just frowned. “They better not come between us. You need to make it plain to those men in there that we’re involved. You haven’t told them, have you, baby?”
“We’re not involved. I think you just made that plain.”
Jesse softened a little. “I was being a jealous asshole. And I’m sorry. You were playing around with Cam. I took it the wrong way. Then I walked back in to apologize and you were close to Cade and you told him you just wanted sex. I could give you more, Gemma. Give me a chance. I am sorry about walking out. It was a dumb thing to do. I got mad and I had to step away. Forgive me.”
He put his forehead against hers, and she calmed down. “It just won’t work.”
But her hands came up to cup his face. Cade felt a brutal jealousy take root in his gut. She’d rubbed against him, gotten all hot, but she showed Jesse real tenderness.
Probably because you’ve never been anything but an asshole to her. You’re lucky she talks to you. You can get your shit together and figure this thing out or those two are going to leave you in the dust.
“Give it a chance.” Jesse hugged her close. “We’ll be at Trio tonight. If you want to make a date of it, I’ll be waiting.”
Cade couldn’t stand it. He hated being on the outside. He fucking hated the fact that she wasn’t looking at him. Damn it all, he’d fought it for a week, but he did want her. “I’ll be there, too.”
She finally looked his way, a half smile on her face. “Will you?”
Jesse nodded, never taking his eyes off her. “He will. He’ll screw up again, but you’ll see, he’s going to come around. We can give you what you need. Think about it. I hope I’ll see you tonight. If you want to make the first move, come to me. If you want me to handle it, stand by the jukebox and I’ll know you’re ready.”
“I don’t know if I should.”
Cade watched them. They looked good together. Gemma softened around Jesse. Jesse lit up around her. What was he doing?
“Don’t think. Just show up.” Jesse turned to Cade. “I’m going to go clean up. I’ll see you at home.”
Gemma looked miserable as she turned and walked back in.