Escape to Ecstasy by Jodi Lynn Copeland

Author:Jodi Lynn Copeland
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2009-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

“Pansy ass,” Nic chided, coming up beside Chris.

Chris fisted his hands at his sides to keep from sticking one in the dick’s face. Claire had disappeared inside the boat’s cabin. Still, she could stick her head out at any moment and the last thing he wanted her to see was violence.

Keeping the same feigned smile on his face for Nic as he had for Claire, he asked, “What the fuck is your deal, man? Do you have nothing better to do with your life than piss with mine?”

“Actually, I do. I put in my notice.”

Chris’s eyebrows rose. “Why would you?”

Nic smirked. “I’m not some pansy ass who’s afraid to be with a woman more than a few weeks at a time.”

Chris wasn’t afraid to be with a woman long term. He couldn’t be with one and retain this job. Between his record and how many other, more qualified people were vying for work these days, it would be inane to think he’d find employment for similar, or even substantially less, pay elsewhere. Letting Claire go, no matter how much the idea of staying addicted to her forever appealed, was his only option.

Apparently, Nic felt he had other options and a woman worth his exploring them. “You’re quitting so you can settle down?”

“I’m already done. The boss man said to consider my notice time served.” Nic looked down at the boats and smiled in a way too replete with meaning to be contrived. “Shelley isn’t any too keen on me sleeping with other women while she’s pregnant with Nic Junior.”

Chris sucked in a breath, feeling like he’d taken a sucker punch. Claire had suggested something was going on between the two of them, but he hadn’t seen this coming. It did explain Shelley’s need for money, and Nic could make anyone’s attitude run hot one second and cold the next. Chris had figured the guy was up to something bad when he’d said he had business to attend to that day he left Dawn at the cabin to visit with Claire. Now, he could guess that business involved spending time with Shelley. “Funny. I always thought she had better taste than you.”

“Are you coming or what?” Shelley shouted from the boat, this time her focus on Nic.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” he called back, affection clear in his voice. “Just give me five seconds, amore.”

Chris’s smile went from forced to real. Despite every bad thought he’d had about Nic—and, all right, the bolt of envy that struck through him—he and Shelley clearly had a promising future. “Treat her right.”

“Don’t worry, cazzo. I’m not about to do anything to get your gun pointed my way.”

Chris’s smile fell flat as the anger only Nic could rile surfaced. He looked over at him with a mouthful of four-letter words, all of which were forgotten the moment he caught the amusement in Nic’s expression. “Whatever. Just be good to her.”

“Be good to yourself. Shelley says you deserve it, and I promised to agree with her on that much at least.

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