Page 111 of Pretty Little Threats

She pulls a face and looks at me. “You don’t like them?”

“Crue is fine. His date, I’m not so sure about. But Crue is a player, and I don’t want him anywhere near you.”

Her features smooth until all that’s left is a smug little smirk. “Dare Richardson, you are so jealous.”

“I am.” No point in denying it. “And if he so much as looks at your tits again, I’m going to punch him.”

Rose bites her lip to stifle her chuckle.

“Who’s your friend?” Crue calls just to taunt me. His head would’ve had to be stuck in the sand to not hear about my marriage to Rose. Crue is irresponsible, but the guy loves gossip.

Stiffening, I take a breath and turn around, dropping my arm around Rose’s shoulder and tucking her against my side. “Crue, meet Rose,mywife.”

“Rose?” Lottie-Lauren narrows her eyes and gives Rose another once-over. “Oh my GOD.You’reRosalynn Miller? Didn’t you open, like, an art studio?” The woman wrinkles her nose as she judges Rose’s latest project.

Rose stiffens, and there’s a slight change in her smile. Lottie-Lauren won’t recognize it, but there are shields and walls between her and the woman at my side.

“I’m sorry, who are you?”

“Tara Scott,” the woman says, grinning like she expects us to recognize the name.

Rose and I exchange a look. She arches an eyebrow and Ishrug. Nodding, Rose looks at Tara. “Hm. I don’t remember ever hearing your name.” Rose titters in that savage way high-society women do, but this time, it doesn’t annoy me. Tara shouldn’t have insulted Futurum. “Regardless, it’ssolovely to meet you.”

The woman’s face falls, but Crue shoves his hand at Rose before Tara can respond. “Lovely to meet you,” he purrs.

When Rose reaches for his hand, I smack Crue’s arm and he recoils with a chuckle.

“Oh, okay. I see how it is.” Crue studies Rose with renewed interest. “You’rehiswife.”

“Mmm, I guess I am.” Rose runs her hand down my stomach, stopping at the band of my shorts. “Who are you?”

I never thought someone insulting Crue would get me hard, but as Rose bruises his ego, my dick stiffens.

Crue flips his hair off his forehead in annoyance. “I’m Crue Rollins. You might’ve heard of me?”

Rose makes a show of humming. “I’m sorry.” Her smile is sweet, but I know she’s fucking with him. “I don’t think I have.”

Crue narrows his eyes at her. “Bluestar Entertainment? The biggest entertainment conglomerate in the US?”

“And he’s like, really rich,” Tara adds.

“Hm. No,” Rose murmurs. “Sorry, I’ve never heard of you.” She glances at me and bats her eyelashes.

It’s a fight to keep from laughing.

I swear Crue has an aneurysm, because he’s so used to women throwing themselves at him, and I’m half ready to toss Rose over my shoulder and take her inside, so I can show her how much I appreciate her. Nothing puts Crue inhis place quite like a woman who doesn’t give a fuck how much money he has.

The corners of Rose’s lips twitch as she suppresses a laugh, but Crue catches it, his eyes flashing with annoyance when he realizes she’s fucking with him.

“Oh, that’s messed up,” he says, turning on me. “She’s perfect for you.”

“I know,” I tell him, eyeing Tara. “Enjoy your trip.”

“Do you guys want to hang out later?” he asks, hints of desperation in his tone.

“Nope.” I squeeze Rose’s shoulder and turn us toward the house.

“Oh, come on, Dare. Don’t be boring, let’s party!”

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