Page 118 of Never Sleep with the Enemy

“What are you doing back already?” Jordan asks, giving Jonah a hug after Knox. “You weren’t due for another four days.”

“Well...” Jonah sighs. “Turns out, no matter where you go in the world,Gossipais everywhere.”

“Reporters followed you, huh?” Addison asks.

“Private resort, so they never got past the gates. But...” He glances past them. At me. “When last night’s story broke, Marla and I decided to come home early.”

I drop my gaze to the floor.

“You didn’t have to do that, Jo,” Jordan says.

“It’s okay. Got our whole lives to vacation together.”

“Great!” Knox says. “Now that you’re here, will youpleasetalk some sense into my wayward little sister? Maybe she’ll listen to you.”

I close my eyes, wishing I could disappear. Just turn and bolt out of this damn guest house and never look back. My chest tightens, heart splintering at the thought of standing beneath Jonah’s gaze and seeing his disappointment.

“Maybe she’d listen to you if you didn’t talk down to her like a child,” Jonah says.

I look up, startled. His eyes are soft, steady.

Knox pulls back as if he’s just been slapped. The others freeze.

“Dude,” Knox says. “Do you have any idea what she’s?—”

“Shut up, Knox.” Jonah cuts him off with a glare. “I overheard enough outside. Don’t make it worse.”

Knox closes his mouth.

Jonah steps between them and stops in front of me. The room holds its breath as he takes me in, scanning me like he’s searching for bruises no one else can see.

“Hey,” he says gently. “You okay?”

I shake my head, too overwhelmed to speak.

“She’s just peachy, Jo!” Knox calls from behind. “Got herself a new douche-bag boyfriend.”

“You’re the last person in the world who should lecture anyone for dating the wrong person, Knox,” Jonah replies, his eyes never leaving mine. “Back off.”

The room falls into silence again, the air heavy. Smothering.

“Logan, huh?” Jonah asks me.

“Uh…” I swallow hard. “Yeah.”

“Is he good to you?”

I blink, caught off guard by the question—by the genuine care behind it. “Yes,” I say. “He’s, uh... he’s actually really sweet.”

“Good.” Jonah nods. “That changes, you say the word. I’ve been arrested for kicking his ass once. I can do it again.”

I let out a short laugh. “I don’t think that’ll be necessary, but… thanks.”

“I caught the video of you two singing together at The Sin and Sand.”

“You did?”

He grins. “Marla won’t stop talking about it. She ships you guys pretty hard now.”

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