Free The Harder You Fall by Gena Showalter

her best to provoke me, right? She’s a dirty, dirty cheater, and I can’t allow her to beat me.”
    How much farther did that blush go? How hot did it burn?
    Need for her, now sharper than razors, scraped at West’s chest. He gripped the arms of his chair in an effort to fight the desire to reach for her.
    Just one touch...
    The waitress arrived a second later, handing out plates piled high with a chicken-fried-steak burger, smothered with cheese and gravy, tater tots on the side. She was a new hire, and he’d interacted with her a grand total of four times, but she smiled at him as if they were the best of friends. Something she hadn’t done during his last three visits. He wondered if she’d looked him up and found out how much he was worth.
    Wouldn’t be the first time.
    â€œThank you,” he muttered.
    â€œYou are so welcome, honey.”
    â€œGet a room,” Jessie Kay said under her breath.
    The waitress pretended not to hear and bent down to whisper into his ear, “You want to put in an order for dessert? We’re about to sell out of our world-famous brownie pie, but I’ll put one aside if you’d like...”
    â€œYes.” His gaze returned to Jessie Kay. “I suddenly have a craving for something sweet.”
    â€œWell, then, maybe you’d like a side of me instead?” With a wink, the waitress sauntered away to help another table.
    Jessie Kay took a bite of her burger. Her eyes closed, and she groaned the most rapturous sound of satisfaction. “Is this the best thing I’ve ever eaten? No.” She scooped up a dollop of gravy with the tip of her finger and sucked it into her mouth. “But try to take it away from me, and I will cold-bloodedly murder you.”
    West had to fight a sudden grin, oddly charmed by her brashness. Unlike the waitress, he’d never had to wonder about her motives. She enjoyed what she enjoyed, disliked what she disliked, and wanted what she wanted. Very little else ever factored into her decisions.
    â€œTry to take it away from her,” Brook Lynn whispered to Jase. “Help me win the bet. Please, please, please.”
    Jase’s brows winged into the locks of hair hanging over his forehead. “Victory is more important than my life?”
    â€œAt this precise moment? Yes!”
    The way they were together, leaning into each other, totally at ease, playful, flirty, assured of the other’s affections, made West envious. Made him miss Tessa more than usual—her laugh, the way she broke into song at random times and danced around the room. He more easily forgot the hard times, when she’d sunk into a deep depression and refused to eat or leave their bed.
    Jessie Kay bumped her shoulder against his. “Hey. You never spoke up at the arena. You are paying for everything, right?”
    â€œRight.”
    She raised her arm, signaling the waitress. “I’m gonna need one of these to go.” She gave her sandwich a little wave. “Oh, and a dessert of my own. The brownie pie, to be exact. And don’t try to tell me you’re sold out. Bad things will happen.”
    â€œBut—”
    She hiked her thumb in West’s direction. “Everything goes on his tab. He insisted .”
    â€œSure thing.” The waitress pursed her lips and hurried off.
    â€œHappy place,” Brook Lynn muttered.
    â€œWhat?” Jessie Kay gazed around the table. “What’d I do this time?”
    Brook Lynn heaved a sigh. “Just because someone else is paying doesn’t mean you should order the lobster.”
    Those bedroom blues brightened. “They have lobster?”
    â€œHappy place. Happy place.”
    Jessie Kay threw a tot at her sister. “Hey! I love you, and my lifelong goal is to show you just how much, but that’s not going to stop me from shaking your brain out of your ear if you don’t tell me whether or not they have