Free Dead Man's Bluff by Adriana Law Page B

swallow, his throat suddenly dry.
Ugh oh, this couldn’t be headed in a comfortable direction. “Your point?”
    “Well, why don’t you try doing that? As it stands
you’re right back where you started…being the same ol’ dick to the girl you’re
dying to have. I don’t know why but, I think you believe this is honestly
working for you. Do you? Think it’s working?”
    “Why do I suddenly feel like a small child being
slapped across the wrist with a ruler?”
    “Answer the question?”
    He planted his elbows on the table and glared at
her. “She’s better off without me.”
    “Oh come off of it! I know you Drew Mackenzie, and
you’re not that selfless. Answer please, do you think what you’re doing is
working?”
    “No. My irresistible charm doesn’t seem to be
working its usual magic.”
    “Okay, we’re making progress. At least you’re being
honest with yourself. Do you love her?”
    WTF. “Pushy, Emma, guys don’t find it attractive.”
    Her forehead thumped on the table top as she
collapsed forward in frustration. “I’m beginning to think you’re hopeless.”
    He frowned, spinning the empty can on the table top.
“Gee thanks.”
    She sat back up, pushed the blonde hair from her
eyes. “Break the cycle of destructive behavior. Start fresh! Do you love her?”
    He remembered Jill’s words. “Do you really love this
girl that much?”
    “How screwed up would it be if I said yes,” he
finally muttered.
    “Is it an honest answer?”
    “What do you think?”
    Chair legs squealed over the floor as she pushed
back from the table and came around to his side. She leaned in leveling him
with a serious look. “Well, you better do something about it before you lose
her for good?”
    His gaze met hers and good grief, this new, grown-up
version of Emma was a little bit intimidating. He asked, “Are you suggesting I
buy her flowers? Write her a poem?”
    Laughter filled the kitchen, Emma’s laughter. “God
no, I can’t picture you doing any of those things, just stop trying to convince
everyone that you hate her.”
    “Nice nail polish, princess!” he called as her bare
feet padded out of the room.
    Break
the cycle of destructive behavior.
    Start
fresh.
    How
the hell was he supposed to do that? ♠
     
    Megan grabbed a quick shower, threw on a pair of
sweat pants with a bagging T-shirt and was hugging her dirty towel and clothes
to her chest when she stepped out of the bathroom crashing into Drew. “Sorry,”
she said, little red blotches breaking out along the column of her throat.
    I was just coming to your room,” he said continuing
on in that direction.
    “Why?” With everything she had she attempted to push
past him, to beat him there. “I swear… I’ll stab you in your sleep if you try
to start another fight with him!”
    “Have you thought of doing me bodily harm often,
Filly?” He chuckled beating her to the door of the bedroom. They scuffled, both
reaching for the knob at the same time, but ultimately, since her arms were
full, Drew made it inside first. A sharp pain shot through his chest at the
sight of the guy rising up on an elbow; already settled under the sheets of
what used to be his bed. The guy reached for a pair of glasses on the bedside
table and slid them on.
    Break
the cycle of destructive behavior.
    Start
fresh.
    This
was going to be more difficult than he thought.
    Breathe.
Control your anger.
    He
opened his mouth, but Megan cut him off. “Drew, don’t…”
    So
she didn’t think he could play nice, that was all the nudge he needed to step
closer to the bed and extend his hand. “I was a dick earlier. Can we start
over?”
     
    Conner
eyed the hand with suspicion, but eventually reached out accepting Drew’s offer
of a fresh start. Seeing Megan’s mouth fall open was a sweet victory, which
made a huge smile appear on Drew’s face.
     
    Drew
shoved his hands into his pockets. “Good. I see you two are already settled in.
Do you need anything? Extra