Page 12 of Loved By You

Shaking his head. "Not really," he smirks and drops his gaze to my lips and I can't help but do the same to him, drawn like a magnet as he leans closer, overwhelming my senses with his spicy scent. I have to grip the table to stop the dizziness that being so close to him has caused. "He's a fool if he lets you go, Ria."

I think I'm going to combust, my heart racing from his proximity.Is he flirting with me? Or am I that sexually frustrated?I even thought the mailman was trying to flirt when he said he had a big package waiting for me to unwrap in theback of his van. Turns out he had an actual package for me, which was my new vacuum. Who am I kidding? No one is going to want an unemployed single mother of two.

I’m destined to spend my days alone with Nugget and maybe with one of those battery operated boyfriends Ali raves about.

Get a grip of yourself, Ria

I am dragged away from my pitiful thoughts by Tara, Nancy’s chief bridesmaid, who glides over, looking like a Victoria's Secret model. Her gaze rakes over at Jack like he's going to be her next meal and I can’t help but frown at her blatant perusal.

“Games are starting, Ria,” she tells me before she turns towards Jack and purrs, “And I'm coming back for you later.”

My pulse races and irritation prickles my skin at the thought of Tara getting her perfectly manicured claws into him. But then I remember that he’s my friend and I don’t have any claim on him.

I stand and place my hand on his shoulder, shuddering as I feel his muscles beneath my palm. “If I have to do something gross that involves a man, then I’m coming to you, Harry or Brad. I’ve seen some of the men in here and not a chance in hell am I askingMr. Burnsover there for his boxers.”

We both turn our attention to a creepy little man who looks the type who is going home to get off with his hand and a bottle of lotion to the photos he's clearly taking on his phone of the girls in here. I shudder at the thought.

Jack stands, closing the space between us until his hand wraps around my forearm, holding me in place. His head dips to my ear, his words dusting my skin. "Pick me."

“W-what?” I stutter, confused, my brows furrowing.

"Pick me for your games, use me... in any way you need tonight."

Holy shit.My pulse spikes, and my knees almost buckle.

“Well, that’s an offer a girl can't refuse. Just don’t leave, okay?” I straighten up and do my best to walk away with some sort of grace. Please, don't let me fall down these stairs.

“I wouldn't dream of it, sweetheart,” he calls after me.

I can feel his eyes on me as I head toward the girls, and I can’t stop the grin that spreads across my face.What am I doing? He doesn’t want me. He’s just entertaining me. Don’t read too much into it, Ria, but God, does it feel good.Even if it's just a bit of harmless fun for one night, I'm going with it.

The dares have started by the time I reach the group. “My turn,” Tara squeals as she pulls a card from the pack one of the other girls is holding. “Remove your bra without getting undressed and swing above your head in victory,” she reads out loud.

Giggling like a schoolgirl and biting her bottom lip, she confesses, “Sorry ladies, I’m not wearing a bra so I pass my dare too…” Scanning the group, she points to Ali.

Letting out a disgruntled moan, Ali stands and climbs up on her chair. She fiddles under her crop top for a few seconds before pulling her bra free effortlessly and whipping it around above her head.

The crowd cheers and Ali dances in victory. “Yes, girl. Get it off,” Harry bellows from across the VIP area where him, Jack and their friends are sitting. Ali, like the classy bitch she is, launches her bra across the room at him before giving him the middle finger. Keeping his eyes locked on Ali, he stands and saunters toward it. Then he picks it up and sniffs it, making us all groan as he shoves it into his back pocket, his stare telling us all what he wants to do to her later.

“Ria, it's your turn, pick a card,” Tara announces, fanning out the pack of hot pink cards. I choose one from the middle and turn it over.

Do a tequila shot off a man's body.

Oh, shit.

“Girls, can one of you do this?” My voice is shaky. “I am a mother, for Christ's sake, and still legally married,” I whisper to my friends, hoping they’ll understand.

“No,” Ali says sternly. “You are separated, and being a mom is irrelevant. You’re allowed to have fun. That doesn’t stop when you have kids.”

“Come on, Ri, have some fun. You deserve it and what happens on the bachelorette stays on the bachelorette,” Gabby reassures me, putting her arm around my waist.

I let out a big huff. “Okay, fine, let's do it.”

“Atta, girl,” Ali cries, slapping me on the back. “Oh, Jaaaaccckkkk Your body is required.”

I turn and glare at her while I panic about whether I can do this. With Jack.

“Oh, come on, the man hasn't stopped looking at you all night. He's game,” Ali says, reading my mind.

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