Page 28 of The Wife Situation

“Oh, Ineversaid that.” He breaks eye contact. “I can tell you were blindsided, and I apologize for that. I’ll take care of him first thing on Monday morning. It will never happen again.”

I don’t know what wrath Easton will throw his way.

“It’s fine. He meant well, and he’s not hard to be around.”

“I know,” he says.

I realize how different they are. Easton is all business, the mastermind.

Calculative. Intelligent.Dangerous.

“I called you,” I say, not sure if he knew it was me or not. I never gave him my number.

“I don’t like to talk on the phone,” he mutters. “Toanyone.”

I nod, making a mental note of that. “That’s too bad. I was reaching out to thank you and was extending an invite for you to hang out with me and my best friend tonight.”

“Really?”

“She kinda bet me I wouldn’t ask you. I explained you wouldn’t have joined us anyway.”

“You’d have lost,” he mumbles.

My heart rate upticks. “Oh?”

“You intrigue me, Alexis,” he admits.

“Like a toy?”

Easton shakes his head and gives me his undivided attention. “Like an inferno.”

His words catch me off guard, and I smile. “Iloveplaying with fire.”

He narrows his eyes before licking his lips. “You are the fire.”

8

EASTON

Same day

She orders another drink, and I can’t believe Weston convinced her to joinhim.

How?

I can only imagine what he did, what he made me do. When I gave her my number, I decided she’d have to cross the line first. I’m not desperate for attention. I chaseno one.

But here she is, one week later, having a drink with me at a bar. I don’t give a fuck how she got here. I only care that she hasn’t left. Lexi wants to stay because she’s intrigued by me.

It’s a dangerous game to play, but when I meet her green eyes, it’s like the entire world melts away. It’s like the rules don’t apply to us, and I’d heavily consider rewriting them if it meant getting to know her.

“Earlier, after you called, I texted you back,” I admit. “You didn’t reply.”

She unlocks her phone. My text is there, as I said, and she smiles.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t see it. Your brother kinda had me occupied.”

“Did you have fun with him?” I ask, knowing he probably picked her up after I texted him that she’d called me. Bastard.

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