Page 111 of Bulletproof

He took a step forward. “I asked Aaron about you today, and he told me I had no chance at all. He said that you barely allowed him to buy you dinner all the time and that you broke up with him right after he asked you to move in. He wanted to own you, and you said no.”

“Nobody owns me,” I said, glaring at him.

“No, I know. It’s just that Aaron said that me dating you was some⁠—”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Jory, I just want us to get to know each other. I don’t want to be your daddy. I don’t want to buy you stuff and dress you up. I really, truly, just want to know you, and I really want to date you and listen to you talk because the rambling soothes me like I don’t know what, and⁠—”

“What’re you talking about? I can’t date anybody.”

He chuckled tiredly. “Baby, come on. This detective crap is so old. What detective, Jory? Where is he? You’re on vacation alone. There’s no one with you at home or here, and aren’t you tired of pretending? Just come on, Jory. Come clean. How long’s it been over with you and Sam whatever? How long ago did you guys break up?”

“There’s the door.” I pointed. “Please use it.”

“Jory”—he tried to make his voice soothing, closing the distance between us, stepping in front of me, hands on my shoulders—“I know you’re scared, but I swear to God, it’s time to take another chance on somebody. Let me take you out, and let’s see what this could be.”

No one was listening to me. I was talking, words were coming out, but nada. Why was nothing I was saying…

“Oh!” I gasped, which startled Hayes.

“Jory, what⁠—”

I stepped away from him so that his hands, which had settled on my hips, had to move.

“You guys are all rich,” I said, like that explained everything. “You’re used to getting whatever the fuck you want, so of course you think that anybody, man or woman, is just ready and panting to get in your life, get in your bed. Jesus, how could I forget that?”

“Jory—”

“The ego that you guys must all have…” I shook my head. “How do you live like that?”

“What? No, that’s⁠—”

“It so is,” I told him as I heard feet outside and walked to the door and waved.

Jaden was back with three other guys, and together, with effort, they lifted Aaron Sutter—mogul, billionaire, and trust-fund baby—up from my bed and out the door.

I shoved Hayes out after them and shut the door in his face.

“This is real mature, Jory,” he yelled at me from outside as I locked the dead bolt.

But it was much better than punching him in the face, so I figured I was actually taking the moral high ground. I did flip him off through the door though and felt better afterward.

FIFTEEN

Iwent for a swim before lunch and was coming out, ready to eat, when I saw everyone else on the veranda. They had all missed breakfast and brunch, and now, around twelve thirty, they had risen, painfully, slowly, with much whimpering and whining, from their coffins. I waved, and Burke was the only one who lifted a hand of greeting.

Walking up the beach from the water, the sand warm but not hot under my feet, I saw Aaron smile at me from behind his oversize sunglasses.

“Hey, princess. How you doin’ this morning?” I teased him.

He flipped me off.

“God, Jory,” Burke sighed at me.

I looked over at him.

“I’d like to wake up to the sight of you coming out of the water every morning.”