Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
“What the fuck? You’re here?”
Knox stared at his stepbrother. The guy looked like shit. Then again, it wasn’t a surprise after what had gone down on the ice last night.
Feeling protective, Knox drew Jade closer.
“Let’s back up. Did you just say it’s our fault you high-sticked Daniel Cooke into the boards and now have to sit out a four-game suspension during the playoffs?”
“You always have to fuck up my life. Why Jade?” he asked like a sulky child.
“Why Celia?” Knox replied. They’d never had a conversation about what had gone down between them. Not since Theo’s betrayal. If this was going to be it, Knox might as well say what was on his mind. “You were engaged to Jade. You’d recently been traded to New York. You had everything going for you. So what did you do? You slept with my wife, asshole. So maybe you should ask yourself, who fucked up whose life?”
Jade stiffened and pulled herself away. “This sounds like something you two need to figure out.”
Shit. He thought back to what he’d said and realized she might have misinterpreted his reaction. She headed toward the bedroom when Theo reached out and grabbed her arm.
She attempted to jerk free but Theo held tight.
“Let her go,” Knox said, barely maintaining control.
“I just want to talk—”
Knox cut Theo off with a fist to his jaw, sending him stumbling. “You don’t grab a woman. Especially not one who doesn’t want anything to do with you.”
Knox braced for a return blow but it never came.
Jade stared, not at Knox with any kind of horror but at Theo, a scowl on her face. “Theo, go home. Take some time and figure out your life. But leave me out of it.”
She spun around and walked back to the bedroom, apparently leaving Knox to take out the trash. In the end, Theo left of his own accord, the look on his face promising retribution.
After locking up, Knox fixed his towel and returned to the bedroom. Jade was pacing.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“What the fuck was that?” she asked, sounding pissed.
He raised an eyebrow. “The punch? He had it coming. Don’t expect me to let him manhandle you without reacting.”
She blew out a breath. “No. I have four brothers. I knew what was going to happen. I just thought he’d come back at you.”
“When he’s on the ice, adrenaline keeps him going. But off it? I doubt he’s got the balls to hit me back.”
Jade nodded. “Actually, I was talking about him showing up here.” She sat down on the edge of the bed. “I don’t understand. Why does he suddenly want me back?”
“He’s unraveling. Nothing’s going his way and the fact that we’re together is a trigger for him.”
“Should I worry about him?” she asked, shaken that he’d slipped past the doorman.
“He always calms down.” Knox moved closer and placed his hand beneath her chin, tipping her head to meet his gaze. “But his reaction is not our problem.”
“Is him blowing up your marriage a problem?” she asked, looking him in the eyes.
“My marriage was over long before Celia slept with Theo. But if she hadn’t cheated, I probably would have stayed with her and tried to make it work.” He hated admitting that. It made him feel weak.
“Why?” Jade placed her hand on his.
“Because I saw how it killed my father when my mother left. I promised myself I’d never walk out when things got tough. That I’d try to make things work.” He dipped his head. “But I drew the line at cheating.”
“So you aren’t still in love with her.”
He shook his head. “No. That was a wrong choice of words earlier. Theo didn’t fuck up my life. But he did fuck up yours. As a brother, though, he betrayed me.”
“God, why won’t he leave me alone? I’m over him, but dealing with his drama is exhausting.”
They sat in silence, Knox trying to decide where things stood between them now.
“Are you working today?” he finally asked.
“No. I’m still not feeling great from the migraine meds. I could use a day off. I’ll call Lauren. I just need to go back to bed and rest.”
Knox took that as his cue. “I’ll get dressed and head out, then,” he said.
And Jade didn’t ask him to stay.
Chapter Seven
Jade had had a hellishly long week, and she’d worked all weekend, so she was more tired than usual. She attributed it to the migraine she’d had this past Tuesday and the hangover from the headache and meds that had followed. She’d canceled girls’ night with Lauren and slept through dinner and woke up early Sunday morning. But she still felt off.
On top of being wiped out, she still felt sick about that scene with Theo. She hadn’t heard from him since, and though she was relieved, she was also on edge. She hadn’t seen this unstable side of him before, and she didn’t like it. And she really didn’t like the fact that, for some reason, he’d decided to focus on her once more.