Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 68066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Even if I embarrassed her.
Even if I tried to make her cry.
Even if I hurt her.
Even if...
Even if...
Even if...
She stayed strong.
She was a little shit like that.
But I was undeterred. I’d keep trying to make her fall apart, in hopes it would keep me together.
“You were talking up a storm before I walked in. Chatting a mile a minute, and now what? You got nothing to say? Easier to talk behind my back than to my face?” I arched an eyebrow at her, mocking her fruity tooty comment, “Right, Toots?”
“Whatever I say when you’re not around, I’ll say to your face,” she sassed, stepping toward me. Exactly how I knew she would. “I know the truth now.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, that’s so. I know you like me. The secret is outta the bag. Memaw explained it to Shiloh and me. You don’t gotta hide it or pretend anymore.”
“I don’t?”
“Nope, but I’d love to tell ya, Jackson Pierce, that I, Harley Jameson, don’t love you back. At all. Never. Ever. Ever. Ever, will I love you back.”
I put my hand over my chest. “Way to crush a guy’s heart, baby girl.”
“I said don’t call me that.”
“What am I supposed to do now that you know the truth, Harley? You know I like you. I’ve always liked you.” I leaned in close to her face. “But what if I even love you?”
“Jackson, stop messin’ around,” Cash interrupted, making my eyes snap to his.
“Mind your business, boy toy.”
“Don’t talk to him that way.”
“Harley! Don’t need ya to defend me against this tool. He’s just playin’ wit’ ya.”
“You jealous, Cash? That I got what you want?”
“What?” Harley blurted out. “Cash don’t want me. We’re just best friends.”
“Keep telling yourself that. He’s your little bitch for a reason.”
“The only bitch I see in front of me is you, Pierce,” he challenged, his hands fisting at his sides.
“What, Cash? You going to hit me?”
He shook his head no. “I don’t gotta.” Nodding to Harley, he added, “Cuz she will.”
And she did just that. She shoved me, but I didn’t budge.
“Back off! Cash is right, you are messin’ with me.”
“I’ll just have to prove it to you then.”
Shiloh coaxed, “Jackson, that’s enough. You’re getting everyone’s feathers ruffled up over nothing.”
“I thought Harley was my lobster? Isn’t that what you said?”
“You weren’t supposed to hear that.”
“Isn’t this what every girl wants? To be seen? To be heard? Noticed by me? Well, I’m standing right in front of you, Toots, telling you that I see you. You’ve got my attention now, Harley. What are you going to do with it?”
“I don’t love you. I don’t even like you. Especially right now. You’re actin’ weird.”
“Guys are weird, right?” I parroted her earlier comment.
“Holy crap! How long were you listenin’? What game are you playin’, Jackson?”
“The game we’ve always played. Get Harley to pay attention to me. I dare you to scar you. That’s all I want. You, forever. I pick on you, I bully you, I tease you cuz I want you. Well, guess what, baby girl? You want me too.”
“You’re takin’ this too far, dickweed! Stop!”
I didn’t hesitate, jolting my stare to Cash. “Make me, pussy boy!”
He stepped forward, stopped by Shiloh’s grip on his arm. “You said it earlier, Cash. He ain’t worth it.”
“I been wantin’ to give him an ass whoopin’ since preschool.”
“I’m standing right here, boy toy. Let’s see what ya got.”
“Stop!” Harley ordered, putting her hands on my chest. “This is between you and me, so leave him out of it.”
“Fine.” I got right in her face, our noses almost touching. “I’ll just show you how much I love you then.”
Snapping, “Let me kiss you, Harley. That’s what you want, right? Since I love you so much.”
Chapter 10
<>Jackson<>
“You can kiss my grits, Jackson.”
“Baby girl, I just want to show you how much I’ve always loved you. I don’t care if your friends see...”
She stepped back as I went forward four steps. Backing her into the wall, I caged her in with my arms.
She held her head up higher, not folding. Always too stubborn for her own damn good. I could see it in her eyes, no one knew Harley like I did.
Bottom line, I was getting to her.
Which was why I spoke the magic words, “I dare you to let me kiss you.”
She jerked back, caught off guard again. Suddenly realizing she had nowhere to go.
All mine.
“The Harley I know and love never backs down from a dare.” My eyes shifted to her lips, baiting, “I promise you’ll like it.”
Her stare landed on her friends, who were both about to blow a gasket in the corner. Watching us.
Especially Cash McGraw.
Two birds with one stone.
My lucky day.
“Come on, Harley. I. Dare. You.”
She sucked in a breath before biting her bottom lip.
“You ready?” I taunted.
“No.”
“Good. I like taking things from you anyway.”