Page 72 of Not That Complicated

“Don’t count on it.” I broke into their glare-off. “What if you say something to your lovely lad Jasper, part-time personal trainer and, apparently, part-time intrepid reporter? He might twist it up to sell more copies, then next thing you know, the townsfolk will be coming for me with pitchforks and torches.”

Adam caught my arm, turning me to face him. “Ray, we’ve been through this. There’s nothing between me and Jas.”

“I know, I—”

“Eh,” Liam said.

We both looked at him.

“What does that mean?” I said.

“They’ve been on and off for years,” Liam said. “If you’re in the picture, they must be off again.”

“Liam,” Adam said warningly. “That’s bullshit. We were never in a relationship. Just FWBs.”

“Right. On-again off-again friends with benefits.”

“No on, no off. Just occasional hook ups.”

“Semi-regularly. For the last nine years. Sure.”

“You lost your virginity at fourteen?” I said. Like that was the important thing right now. “You had a friend-with-benefits arrangement at fourteen?”

I knew Adam was more mature than me, but that felt ridiculous.

“Okay, this has been great,” Adam said brightly. “Liam, thanks for shit-stirring. Nice try, but it won’t work. Ray?”

“Hmm—oh.”

When I glanced up at him, he laid one on me. A deep, wet, possessive kiss that left me staring stupidly after him as he strode down the street in the direction of the hotel, tossing a casual, “Tell me all about it tonight, babe,” over his shoulder.

“Ugh,” I muttered. “I hate that.”

“Yeah.” Liam’s voice was arid. “You look utterly disgusted.”

I brushed a hand over my damp mouth then discreetly adjusted myself. “Being called babe,” I informed him loftily.

“Again. Clearly a real turn-off.”

I glared at him. “Did you actually want something, or...?”

He grunted. “Yeah. We’re going to need to look for more bodies.”

“Is that why you’re here? To ask permission? And can I say no?”

“I’m here because Adam called.”

I frowned up at him while I sipped my coffee.

His eyes tracked down to my mouth and back up.

“Why’d Adam call? Oh my god. He called you down here to show everyone I wasn’t arrested, didn’t he?”

“Yup. Jasper called Adam, Adam called me.”

I knew Adam hadn’t asked me to get him a coffee. “I’m hardly going to complain. I think I had it under control, though.”

Liam snorted.

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