Page 27 of Puck and Prejudice

He looks down at my hand around his arm, then at me again. I release him and step back, not wanting to appear like I’m about to throttle him.

“What do you want, Darcy?”

“How much of my private conversation did you hear?”

He widens his eyes innocently. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t play dumb with me. I know you were eavesdropping just now.”

“Oh, you mean your conversation aboutChad’s fiancée?” he replies loudly.

“What conversation?” Chad asks from behind me.

Son of a bitch. Wickham saw him coming and wanted him to hear it. I’d punch him if he wasn’t my teammate.

“Don’t know. Ask your buddy.” He smiles spitefully.

I turn around and face Chad. “It’s nothing. We shouldn’t talk about it now.”

He frowns. “Cut the bullshit, Jackson. If it involves Jane, I want to know.”

I rub my face, internally cursing my stupidity. I can’t believe I fell right into Wickham’s trap.

“Fine. But not here. Let’s go outside.” I look at the snake in our midst. “Don’t you dare follow us.”

“Wasn’t gonna.”

Of course not. You’ve done the damage already.

Once Chad and I are outside the restaurant, Chad presses. “Why were you having a call about Jane?”

“I was worried that you were rushing into things, so I hired a PI to look into Jane and her family.”

Chad’s eyes bug out. “You didwhat?”

“You heard me.”

He pulls his hair back. “I can’t believe you did that.”

“I had to. You’re in love and not thinking straight.”

He stares at me as if I’m the vilest person in the world, and it pains me. “Whatever you found out about Jane, I don’t care.”

“You should care!” I blurt out, losing my temper. “She’s not who you think she is.”

He takes a step back, shaking his head. “I don’t want to hear it.”

I should keep my mouth shut, but I’m pissed that Chad is being stubborn about this, and the alcohol in my system isn’t helping. “She used to be a stripper, Chad. Did she tell you that?”

His eyes widen. “You’re lying.”

“I’m not. Did she also forget to mention her father has a huge debt and is about to lose the ranch?”

Chad stares at me like I just killed someone he loved. In a sense, I did. I just shattered the image he had of his fiancée. Without another word, he pivots and walks away from me.

“Where are you going?” I ask.

“Back to the hotel. Don’t follow me.”

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