Free Loving Lies by Lora Leigh Page B

the large, comfortable chair that sat several feet from the front door.
    The room wasn’t large. It held a comfortable couch, chair, coffee table and the entertainment center that housed her small TV. But the rent was cheap and the location close to school and work.
    Jazz pulled a chair from the small dining-room table, setting it across from her as he straddled it and stared at her with midnight-blue eyes. Zack sat back on the couch, one foot propped on his knee as they both watched her silently.
    She hated it when these two went silent and just watched. It usually meant they were seeing much more than anyone wanted them to know.
    â€œI’m not ready.” She knew what they were after, there was no sense in playing games, but she had learned she wasn’t nearly as adept at reading men as she once thought she was. “Just go away for now.”
    She lifted the beer, taking a long, slow drink, needing the false courage she gained from it.
    Jazz glanced at his partner before staring back at her. Neither said anything as her stomach began to cramp with tension and her throat thickened with tears that were only shed in the darkness of night when she awakened in her cold, lonely bed.
    â€œGet your bathing suit.” Zack’s voice brooked no refusal. “You don’t have school tomorrow and you’re off for the weekend—”
    â€œWrong.” She flashed him an enraged look. She would not be forced into something she couldn’t face. “I signed up for weekend classes and I had my work schedule changed—”
    â€œAnd I called your fucking boss an hour ago, right after you got off work. Get changed, dammit, you’re coming to the clearing if I have to carry you there.”
    â€œWhy?” She slammed the bottle to the table, furious. “And who gave you leave to fuck with my schedule or my life, Zack? You’re not my father or my fucking husband, so get off.”
    He rose to his feet.
    â€œI don’t have a problem carrying you in, girl.” He smirked. “You’re not going to hide like this. Everyone will figure out why—hell, they’re already wondering. You’re getting your butt out there and you’re going to party and laugh. You and Slade both missing on the weekends is causing tongues to wag.”
    Her breath stopped at his name. She forced herself to breathe again, to work past the agony clenching her heart.
    â€œWhat does he have to do with anything?”
    â€œDon’t play games with me, Jessie,” he snarled. “He’s a big boy, he wants to fuck his life up, I’m all for it. But I’ll be damned if you’re going to let wagging tongues hurt you. Now get that goddamned suit and let’s go.”
    â€œI don’t have one.”
    â€œSure you do.” Zack picked up the small bag he had carried in with him. “Here it is. We don’t want excuses, you’re tougher than this, Jessie—”
    â€œDon’t tell me to buck up,” she snapped, pushing her fingers through her hair as she paced across the room, unable to stare them in the eye, to see the knowledge there. “I can’t do it. I’m not ready.”
    â€œI don’t give a damn what you think you’re ready for,” Jazz growled. “Get dressed and let’s go.”
    She shook her head, tears filling her eyes. “I can’t face him.”
    â€œIf he’s there, you won’t have a choice,” he snarled. “He hasn’t been in three weeks, and talk is starting. I won’t have you on the tip of wagging tongues, Jessie. Not like this.”
    She wrapped her arms around her chest, swallowing convulsively.
    â€œIt will kill me to see him…”
    â€œIt will hurt. It will rip your heart apart, but you’ll smile and laugh and pretend he doesn’t exist, or so help me I’m going to end up beating the hell out of him for it. So it’s your choice, play the game