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A few guys spot her as she walks in. They track her as she cuts through the room, and I want to gouge their eyes out, even if I don’t blame them. She weaves toward me, and I do the same because she’s a magnet, and there is no way in hell I can deny being around this girl a second longer.

I’ve almost reached her when East slips between us, holding out a shot. “For you, beautiful.”

She takes the shot glass, smiling brightly up at him. “I already warned you compliments will get you nowhere with me.”

“Doesn’t mean I’ll stop trying.” He waggles his eyebrows, and she laughs. “Want an even better time? We’re doing body shots over there.”

He points to where one of the patch bunnies from Santa Fe is laid out on the couch while a guy licks whiskey off her.

I shove East out of the way. “Nice try, but you’re not taking shots off my girl.”

East smiles even wider. The fucker. He got the exact reaction he wanted.

“I’ll let you two catch up.” He winks at Harloe, then slips into the crowd, leaving me alone with her.

I didn’t realize how close I was standing when I shoved East aside, but in this sweltering room, I can still feel the heat from her body. She’s clearly had a long day, but she smells like mint.

Harloe downs the shot East handed her, not taking her eyes off me. So much swims in those blue irises.

With the alcohol drained, I take her glass, setting it aside.

“Your girl?” she teases, her eyes narrowing.

“That’s what I said. Unless you’ve suddenly decided we’re throwing our arrangement out the window.” I’m fully prepared to tell her exactly what I think of that if she so much as considers it, but I keep that to myself for now.

“Nothing’s changed here, Shane. Nothing ever does.” Her eyes glance around. “As far as I’m concerned, the arrangement is still in place. But you’re the one who was gone. You’d have to tell me. Since I heard so little from you, I kind of figured—” Harloe shrugs, not finishing that thought.

On any other day, I might just let it go. But I’m keyed up, and this girl draws out every hard edge. She shifts on her feet, and her arm grazes against mine. Blood pumps straight to my cock, and I can barely think straight with her lips a breath away as she looks up.

I want to kiss her. I want to admit that I missed her. I want to spank her ass and tell her to stop flirting with East. But I don’t say a fucking thing because the second I do, I’m going to snap.

“Did you have fun while you were away?” The sexiest tinge of jealousy hangs in her voice no matter how hard she might try to mask it.

No one is ever jealous over me because I don’t let them get close enough for them to give a shit about what I’m doing. But watching Harloe try to avoid my gaze like she thinks I won’t notice is hot as fuck.

I shove my hands into my pockets so I don’t grab her. “It was fine, but I’m glad to be back here.”

“You don’t have to lie for my sake. I won’t be offended.”

“Because this doesn’t mean anything to you, right?” I chuckle, not the least bit amused.

She shrugs, not answering, so finally, I step into her space and tip her chin up.

“Stop looking anywhere but at me. It was a trip for the club, that’s all. Now I’m home, and I’m glad to be here.”

“This isn’t your home,” she reminds me, and I hate it for some reason. “And I don’t need you to explain yourself. It’s not like this is real anyway.”

“What’s not real, Harloe?”

She waves her hands at her sides. “This. Us. You know what, Shane.”

“I don’t think I do.” I lean in closer, brushing my lips over her temple and breathing her in because I can’t fucking help it. “You can lie to yourself all you want. You can try and push me away. But this stopped being fake the second I sank my fingers into your perfect little cunt before I left, so don’t try to tell me this isn’t real. Us touching was fucking real. You coming on my hand was real. Waking up next to you every damn day is real. The fact that you have me on edge from the moment I open my eyes until I go to sleep is real.”

Her inhale is sharp. “You can’t say those things.”

“Why not? It’s the truth.” My hand slips around her waist. “Let me remind you.”

In one sweep, I bend down and pick her up, throwing her over my shoulder.