Page 72 of Resist

Ainsley couldn’t decide if she should laugh at the irony of his warning or punch the dickhead in the throat for being such a clueless bastard. The one thing she refused to do was point out that he’d hurt her, because she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing just how badly he’d knocked her down.

“I’m a big girl, Monty,” she said instead. “And I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

Montgomery smiled. “That’s one of the things I loved best about you. You are a total badass,” he said. “Unlike Emma, who has a complete meltdown if she breaks a nail.”

Ainsley closed her eyes briefly, praying for patience. So far, she thought she’d been making a good first impression with Coulton’s friends. She’d hate to lose that advantage by kicking Montgomery in the nuts. Though given they were hockey players, they’d probably love it.

“Good to know,” she said sarcastically. “Now if you’ll excuse?—”

“Please, Ainsley. I know I fucked up. You were always so easy to be with and you never made a bunch of demands. I made a mistake, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make it up to you.”

Ainsley shook her head. “No,” she started, more than ready to walk away from him.

As always, he talked over her. “We set the sheets on fire. God. You and me…we were combustible in the bedroom. Surely you must miss that. Why don’t you ditch this crowd? We can go back to my place and?—”

“Hellno,” she said, loudly. “You and I are history, and I have no intention of repeating it.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Coulton on his way from the bar. He tilted his head curiously when he saw her with Montgomery. Dropping the pitchers off at the table, he walked over to her.

“Hey, Ainsley. Everything okay?” Coulton asked as he approached. Then, bless his soul, he looped his arm over her shoulders, tucking her against his side.

She leaned into him, soaking up his strength.

Montgomery, who was just shy of six feet tall, looked like one of the seven dwarfs standing next to Coulton.

Rather than wait for her to make the introductions, her ex took charge, thrusting out his hand. “Montgomery Miles.”

Coulton clearly recognized the name, because the temperature surrounding them dropped at least fifty degrees as he scowled.

“Coulton Moore.” He accepted Montgomery’s hand, and given the slight wince on her ex’s face, she’d say her sexy goalie’s firm grip was a little too on point.

“Ainsley and I were talking about what a great game it was,” Montgomery lied.

Coulton nodded, the smile she was used to seeing on his face uncharacteristically absent.

Montgomery, the idiot, tried to shift closer to her. “Have to admit, I didn’t realize you were a hockey fan, Ains. Always got the impression you didn’t care for the sport.”

Ainsley sucked in a deep breath, ready to eviscerate her ex for being such a douchebag, but Coulton beat her to the punch as he pulled her tighter against him, grinning. “I showed her the errors of her ways,” he said to Montgomery, even though he was looking at her.

She laughed, placing her hand flat against Coulton’s broad chest. “Oh, you think so, do you?” she teased.

Coulton chuckled. “I know so.”

“I don’t know. After spending so much time with Slade this afternoon, I’m starting to think I might prefer baseball.”

“So how did you two meet?” Montgomery interjected, unhappy at being cut out of their conversation.

“At Mick’s Tavern,” Coulton replied coolly.

Montgomery laughed, mistaking Coulton’s reply for a joke. When neither of them joined in, he sobered up. “Seriously?”

Montgomery had only been to Mick’s once, early in their relationship. He’d offered to pick her up for their date. It was the first and last time he made that offer, because he’d been too worried about someone stealing or messing with his precious car. After that, all their time was spent at his place, and she’d had to make her way to and from there by public transportation or rideshare.

Coulton ignored Montgomery’s question. “I’ve got a couple of friends at the bar who’d like to meet you,” he said to Ainsley.

“I’d like that,” she said, accepting his hand as he quickly guided her away from Montgomery.

Once they were out of earshot, she grinned. “That was an aggressive handshake there, hotshot.”

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