Page 119 of Rush the Edge

“Jealousy doesn’t even come close to what I feel when I see you talking to another man, Daisy.”

My legs refuse to move any farther. I stop right where I am and repeat his words silently. I hate that the thought of him being jealous coats me with warmth. He stands too close for comfort, electricity buzzing so hot I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a literal spark between us.

“I know why you’ve been avoiding me,” he says.

I stare at him out of the corner of my eye.

“Barlow!”

We both jerk like we’ve been caught doing something wrong, when, in reality, it didn’t even look like we were talking. Rhodes stands tall beside a boy who clearly wants Kane to join in on their photo.

“This isn’t over,” he says before heading in their direction.

I wait until Kane is far enough away before I say, “Yes, it is.”

Reese comes and stands beside me, shielding herself away from the cameras. “What was that all about?”

“Oh, nothing,” I say, feeling like I’ve won because I’ve gotten the last word in.

Little does Kane know, I’m a master at avoidance. I managed to avoid him for several years. What makes him think I can’t do it again?

Forty

KANE

I trail her every move.My attention to her angelic laughs never wavers, and each time she smiles at a child, I grow even more impatient.

How could I possibly be jealous of a fucking child?

I want her to smile at melike that. Instead, I get hurtful looks covered up by dirty glances and scowls.

Daisy makes a beeline for the exit as soon as the media leaves. She has to know I’m going to follow her, no matter how fast she walks. I openly ignore my teammates calling my name and chase her down.

You can run, little devil, but you can’t hide.

The locker room door latches behind me, and I spot her turning the corner. My chuckle echoes within the narrow space, and she spins to face me in an outrage. “You know that just because we had a small slip in time, you don’t own me, right?”

Own her.Those two little words shoot right below my belt.

Daisy is blazing with anger when I approach her. Heat fans from her body, making me sweat. “A slip in time?” I stand right in front of her, towering above her shorter frame. “Is that what you’re calling it?”

Daisy makes a noise that resembles sarcasm. “No. I’m calling it amistake.”

I sigh with impatience and take a step closer to her. That mighty chin of hers tips so she can keep her scathing glare on me. Before she can escape into her dressing room, I wind one arm around her back and rest my other on the door above her head.

“You’re only saying that because you’re hurt.”

“Hurt?” The word races from her mouth with poison, but it’s a poison I’d gladly take. “I’d have to care to be hurt.”

My chest tightens, my stomach tensing.

“The truth is, I don’t care. You’re free to be whoever you want to be with and do whatever you want. If you want to seduce every woman on the planet, then go for it. Sex meant?—”

“Everything,” I finish for her. “It meant everything.”

Daisy’s pink lips slam shut, but the furrowing of her brow is still there. I can’t expect her to take my word for it, but I wish she would, because now I’m stuck toying with the idea of letting her in again.

“Did it hurt you when I stayed at the club? Were you up all night, wondering what I was doing and who I was with?”

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