Page 25 of The Moment They Can't Forget

“You’re not just going to throw it down the bank?”

“No.”

“How come?”

“If I just say go away, Zoe, will you?” He looked at her for the first time. She wore cutoffs, a long-sleeved, fitted navy top, and a ball cap. She was young and sweet, and he’d explored every inch of that body with his hands and mouth, and the hell of it was he wanted to again. In fact, he wanted to again right now.

“Birdie made a slashing motion with her hand across her throat when I arrived and mouthed your name, which told me that all was not good in your world,” Zoe said. “While we’re not what I’d call friends, I’m thinking, unlike the other people in there who could lose their jobs and friendships, I don’t have any problem confronting you.”

JD dropped the rat into the hole he’d dug. “The sex was good, though, right?”

“It was okay. Now focus, JD.”

“Just okay?”

She made a small hissing sound as he finished filling in the hole.

“Fine. It was great, okay? Now why are you pissy?”

“Pissy?” He shot her a look. The woman had flawless skin and a really nice mouth that was made for kissing… him. “Not sure I’ve ever been called that.”

“I’m glad I was the first then,” she gritted out.

JD closed his eyes and said a few words in his head.

“What are you doing?”

“What?”

“Your eyes are closed, and you look like you’re paying your respects to the rat.”

“Even rats deserve respect,” JD muttered, picking up the dustpan and brush.

She didn’t speak, so he looked at her again.

“Tell me you’re not actually a nice guy, because that’s going to really piss me off if you are.”

“No, I’m an asshole. You got that much right.”

Chapter9

Zoe looked down at the newly dug rat grave and then back to the man glaring at her. The jeans that sat low on his hips were worn. One had a rip above the knee, and Zoe knew that unlike her brothers, JD’s jeans came that way. He wore expensive clothes and shoes. His aftershave cost more than her entire wardrobe, and the plain black T-shirt would be something he’d had brought in from somewhere with a label boasting an expensive name.

They’d always annoyed each other, but now there was a lot more to Zoe’s reaction to this man. The sex, and now he was giving a rat a burial and had definitely spoken a few words with his eyes closed for the rodent.

She really didn’t need another reason to like him.

“Are you an animal lover, JD?” Zoe followed him back to the Gnat.

“No comment.” He disappeared back inside. She followed.

“Answer the question, JD.”

He stopped suddenly and turned. His big body was close enough now that if she’d taken a few more steps, she could reach out and touch that hard, muscled chest should she want to. She didn’t, of course. Sniffing, she got a whiff of his aftershave. The word “forbidden” slid into her head.

“Did you just sniff me?”

“No.”

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