a deep breath before he softened his voice and proceeded with caution. “Come on, doll, you know I never lied to you. We were just having a good time. Admit it, it was good for you too.” “Doll”—that’s a good one. You can’t hit a man who just called you “doll.” Then, for good measure, he gave her one of his I’m-not-really-sorry-but-who-wouldn’t-love-this-sweet-face smiles.
Chastity looked up at him through her eyelashes, and Slade could’ve sworn he saw her blush. Maybe even sigh.
Crazy-ass woman!
At that same moment, a red Corvette screeched to a stop on Slade’s lawn. With the engine still running, a tall strawberry blonde in a business suit got out and marched awkwardly toward the house, her spike heels digging into the grass with every step she took. The group all turned their heads.
“Son of a motherfucker!” Slade said as he banged his head against the wall by the front door. He glanced back at Jessica, who looked mystified. The bruising on her face had faded a little, and her hair was still ruffled from sleep. She had yet to say a word.
“Baby, I hope you brought chairs. This is about to get real good,” Jack said, amused. Chrissy once again slapped his chest and shushed him. Slade’s best friend was really enjoying his shitty morning. Prick.
As the woman got closer she yelled, “You cheating son of a bitch!” and once she was within range, she too swung her hand back and slapped Slade across the face. “Who the hell are you, you…tramp?” the woman yelled at Chastity as she looked her up and down.
“I’m his girl. Who the hell are you?”
“I’m Lisa. The one who’s been screwing his brains out for the last four months, bitch.” Then she turned to Slade. “I can’t believe you would cheat on me with this flip-flop-wearing floozy.”
“Hey!” Chastity yelled. “I ain’t no floozy, ho. He’s been screwing me for longer than that, honey. You must’ve gotten my sloppy seconds. Besides, there’s another one.” Chastity pointed over Slade’s shoulder to Jessica.
Jessica put her hands up in surrender and shook her head. “No! Oh, no, I’m just a friend. I haven’t been screwing anything. Don’t involve me in this.”
“Stop!” Slade yelled. “Both of you. Out of here. Lisa, Charlotte—”
“Chastity!” Jack, Chrissy, and Chastity all corrected him.
Slade pinched his nose and groaned. “Whatever the fuck your name is…we never agreed we were exclusive. I have always been very up-front with you two. We were just having fun. Fun’s over. Now please leave, both of you, and don’t call or come by again.” The two women continued to bicker between themselves. “Chrissy, Jack, go away. Walk your dog or something.” Chrissy gave Jessica an apologetic look before being led to the sidewalk by Jack.
“Dumbass.” Jack threw a smirk over his shoulder and flicked him the middle finger.
“Dick,” Slade yelled to his best friend before slamming the door shut on them all.
—
Slade was a man whore. That wasn’t news. What was news was that Jessica felt a pang of…something. Jealousy? Hurt? For the last two weeks she had been living in his house, not to mention the five days she had been in the hospital and he’d refused to leave her side. And before the incident with her shitty ex-boyfriend, Dennis, he’d pursued her for months and months. She knew he was attracted to her, as she was to him. Not one to mince words, he had told her time and time again how much he wanted her. But she also knew that everyone in Tarpon Springs with a vagina (well, except for his sister) had the hots for him. Seriously, the man was gorgeous. Six feet four inches of pure muscle, with beautiful blue eyes that contrasted severely with his long jet-black hair—hell, even men took notice. The only imperfections he had were his crooked nose and a scar that went across his left eyebrow. And he’d been so sweet, tending to her as she recuperated, that she had felt somewhat special. Well, the two bickering women were like a shower of cold water. She considered herself reminded: Slade was a man whore, and that was a fact.
Slade hadn’t moved from the hallway by the front door. He looked at Jessica as he gripped the back of his neck, seemingly concerned and apologetic. When their eyes locked, something bubbled up inside her, and suddenly she found herself trying to hold back a fit of laughter.
“What’s so funny?” he said with a smile.
She held her stomach as she