opportunity for me.”
He felt somewhat sheepish, but mostly pleased. “I think you’re doing just fine on your own, but thank you.”
“I’ve worked with all kinds of people in this business, but you’re hard to connect with. Everyone says you prefer to be the lone wolf. Except when it comes to Jolene, that is.”
She was giving him a look that he didn’t quite understand. Was it a challenge? Or was it mockery? Did she find him amusing, thinking that he’d fallen for a woman and compromised his career integrity?
“Everybody needs inspiration now and again,” he said, making sure his tone was casual. He stayed way back in his chair, his body loose, and studied her. Now he was sure there was an angle there. He just didn’t know if it was anything more than Tennyson wanting to ride his coattails a little.
“Are you talking about liquor?” Jolene said, suddenly appearing behind him in the kitchen doorway.
She looked cranky and beautiful. Her hair was damp and she had clearly showered. She was wearing a pair of his boxer shorts and her tight tank top, which made him raise his eyebrows a little. That was an odd outfit choice, but then he remembered she had zero clothing with her. He’d been meaning to pop over to the cabin and clean out the fridge and gather up their luggage, but that had seemed like a lot of work. After years of doing nothing but work, he had been enjoying hiding out with Jolene, living on nothing but sex and takeout.
“No, of course not. I’m talking about you.” He held his hand out to her. “Come here, darlin’.”
He meant for her to join them at the table, but she plopped herself right down on his lap. Now that was new. He was fairly certain Jolene had never sat on his lap, ever. Which meant she was staking a claim on him so Tennyson would know what was what. And that made him hard. He shifted a little, clearing his throat, his erection pressing into her backside.
Jolene’s eyes flew to his. She shook her head slightly, like she couldn’t believe how disgusting he was. He just shrugged, amused and put his hand on her waist to hold her steady.
“Good lord,” she murmured under her breath. But she was also fighting the urge to smile.
“Well, this is going to be interesting,” Tennyson said. “The first threesome of my career.”
Oh, hell, no, she did not just say that. Jolene made a sound in the back of her throat. Ginny, who had also returned to the kitchen, chuckled like it was all so cute and amusing. Tennyson just laughed, her voice husky and confident.
Chance appreciated confidence, but damn, this woman was really confident. He suddenly had the feeling that he was going to have to watch her like a fucking hawk. Time to snap out of his love haze and guard the gates. The lion was circling.
For a heartbeat, he didn’t say anything, to give Jolene the opportunity to take the lead on this one. But she didn’t speak, so he did.
“I’m willing to give this a shot, Tennyson. But fair warning. I don’t play well with others.”
Jolene leaned back against him. “And I don’t share.”
Good. They were a united front for once.
He made eye contact with Tennyson.
She didn’t look even remotely intimidated. She just smiled.
A promising day had gone complicated. He sighed and went for the whiskey. He needed just a splash in his coffee.
Ginny gave him a look heavy with judgment.
He poured even more in and raised his mug. “Let’s do this.”
Fourteen
Jolene opened the front door of Chance’s house and greeted her sister. “Thank God you’re here. I need to vent and I need makeup pronto.”
Elle eyed her up and down. “Why in the hell do you look like you’ve spent two days in a frat house having a train run on you?”
That was a disturbing enough comparison that she paused pre-rant, flustered. “What? I’m just wearing boxer shorts, not a T-shirt that says “Take a Number.” What are you talking about?”
“Exactly. Plus you have the look of a woman who has had a lot of dick in the last few days.”
“I have. But it was all the same one.” She couldn’t bring herself to say dick out loud. It sounded wrong when she was in love with the man behind the package. “Neither one of us went to college, so I’m not sure where you get the idea that there are just dorm orgies going on.”
“Of