Page 41 of Playing Pretend

I pull her closer, needing to protect her.

She pushes me away. “I have to go.”

“Wait.” I grab for her wrist.

She eludes my grasp with a side-step and strides toward the pool.

Fucking son of a bitch.

I return my attention to her ex, my knuckles throbbing with the demand for retaliation, my pulse thunderous.

“The shitty sex isn’t worth it, man,” he drawls. “She’s sleeping around.”

I lunge, grasp the front of his shirt, and yank him toward me.

A nearby woman gasps as he stumbles, his eyes bugging.

“If this wasn’t a business function, and Piper wouldn’t be affected by my actions, I’d fucking kill you.” But I won’t do that to her. She values professionalism, and I have to do the same despite wanting to slam my fist through this asshole’s throat.

“Jesus, man.” He shoves at my shoulders. “Get off me.”

“You need to learn some fucking manners. How you’ve treated her is—”

“And what about how she’s treated you?” he counters. “Come on. Us guys have to stick together, right?”

“You think we’re buddies? That I give a single fuck about you? You’re a worthless piece of shit who never deserved her. And if I didn’t respect the hell out of that woman, I’d show you exactly what I think of you. Instead, I’m going to make sure you never work in this industry again.”

He grabs my wrist, fighting my hold. “Calm down. I’m doing you a favor.”

“The only thing you’re doing is making a goddamn fool of yourself.” I shove him backward, making him stumble into an empty table. “I suggest you leave the resort and stop announcing to the world that you can’t pleasure a woman. Because the only reason someone is cold between the sheets is when their partner doesn’t know how the fuck to fire them up.”

I slam Piper’s chair under the table and stalk after her as she rounds the far corner of the pool.

“I don’t know why you’re defending her,” Julian shouts behind me. “Don’t you care that she’s cheating on you? That’s she’s already got another guy on the side.”

I stop. Stiffen.

Piper said she never told anyone about her recent date. So how did this fucker get the details?

I clench my fists and swing back to face him. “You think she’s seeing someone else?”

“I don’t think. Iknow. I saw it with my own eyes.”

“So you’re not only harassing her, you’re stalking her now, too?”

He squares his shoulders. Raises his chin.

Son of a bitch.

I step forward, succumbing to the testosterone surge. I clench a fist. Cock my arm.

“Rome,” Piper’s yell carries across the outdoor area. “Come on.”

Every one of my muscles is rigid. Every heartbeat like thunder. I want to break his jaw. Wrap my hands around his throat. “You’re lucky I love her as much as I do. But if we ever meet again, you’re going to need a restraining order for what I have planned for you.”

I turn on my heel and stalk after my girl. Apart from the slightest pause to make sure I follow, she doesn’t wait for me.

“Piper, stop.”

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