Page 27 of Pay Dirt

Chapter 13

Nathan rose and extended his hand. “John.”

They shook hands, but the vibes around them were sharp and cold like shards of ice.

I stood and wiped my mouth, holding out my hand to the newcomer. I was on the clock again; my job as a girlfriend was becoming easier. “Hi, I’m Cassie.”

“I’ve heard about you.” John looked at my hand and then dismissed it, meeting Nathan’s gaze again.

Well, alrighty then. I rested my hand on my hip.

“You’re being rude to my girlfriend, John. That’s not okay.”

John glanced at me again, as if seeing me for the first time. “What are you going to do Nathan, arrest me?”

I huffed out a breath and met John’s scowl with my own. “Listen here, you jackass. You’re ruining our dinner, so if you don’t mind…”

“I do mind,” John said and gestured to the door. “Let’s take this outside and settle it like men.”

“You’ve got it.” Nathan pulled out his wallet and dropped a few bills onto the table.

“You can’t really mean to fight in the streets.” My whisper was loud as I grabbed my purse and followed behind them. “You’re an FBI agent for heaven’s sake.”

They pushed through the doors and headed around the corner to the alley. They stared death rays at each other. The air was thick with emotion. The stars in the night sky were hidden beneath clouds as if they, too, didn’t want to witness this disaster. Lightning flashed in the distance. The two men squared off as I held my breath, debating if there was any way I could stop them from this childish act.

Time seemed to move slowly as they glared at each other, as I waited to see who would make the first punch. Neither of them moved.

“You two knock it off,” Monica said as she appeared from behind me. Both men grinned and then laughed as they pulled each other into that manly pat on the back version of a hug.

“You should have told me you were coming to town,” John said, nudging his cowboy hat out of his eyes.

“What, and ruin the show you just put on?”

“Wait, I don’t understand,” I said, holding up my hands in the air.

John took one of my hands and kissed my palm. “Cassie, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Monica came home and told me all about you.”

My brows dipped as I turned to Nathan.

He blushed as he slid his hands into his jeans pockets. “John and I were best friends. We used to compete against each other, and, well, the stands weren’t filling up, so we’d devised a plan to get more people to attend.”

“We staged a dislike for each other, fighting over a girl.”

Monica waved her fingers. “I was the girl.”

“And what started out as fun and games turned into something stronger, didn’t it, honey?” John said, pulling Monica into his arms, bending her over his arm, and kissing her senseless.

“So, let me get this straight. You were best friends with Nathan, and you stole his girlfriend?”

“Well, when you put it like that, I sound like an ass.”

“What other way is there to put it?” I asked, resting my hands on my hips, seeing these two in a different, very manipulative light.

“Nathan and I had already separated before he’d left town,” Monica said, as if explaining.

“And you just stepped in and swept her off her feet?” Cassie growled.

“It’s fine, Cass. They belong together,” Nathan said, wrapping his arms around my waist. He leaned in and kissed my cheek. “Besides, I stole her from him first.”

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