Page 52 of Cold As Ice

“I have nowhere else to be.” I shrugged. “And looks like the entertainment is just about to start.”

A single spotlight had fallen over the stage, illuminating a chair.

“Shit,” Madison muttered under her breath.

“Problem?” My brow arched, and she pursed her lips.

“It’s Jada. She’s… a favorite with the crowd.” Something passed over her face. It looked a lot like jealousy, but that couldn’t be right.

Madison was drop-dead gorgeous. And from her displeasure at seeing me again, I couldn’t imagine she cared much whether or not I watched some stripper do her thing.

Unless…

“I’ll have a beer, please.”

“You’re really staying.”

“I am.”

“And you’re going to watch Jada’s performance?”

“Seems like it.” I hopped up onto a stool and got comfortable.

“Fine. Whatever. I’m sure you’ll love it.”

Oh, she was jealous.

Interesting.

Madison stormed off to get my beer, and I fought the urge to track her every move.

I’d never felt possessive over anyone before. It was unnerving, to say the least. Especially given that Julian, or whatever the smug asshole was called, was watching her. He was at least twenty years her senior with a head full of salt and pepper hair. But he had that Eric Dane in his McSteamy era thing working for him.

I only knew because sometimes Fallon liked to watch Grey’s Anatomy re-runs, and I usually didn’t have the energy to tell her to change the channel.

A group of guys poured into the bar, taking up the tables nearest to the stage. Madison grabbed a notepad and headed over to them. I didn’t like it, watching them leer at her, letting their hungry gazes trail all over her soft curves.

Thankfully, the uniform wasn’t anything too revealing, but it didn’t stop the flood of jealousy saturating my veins.

As if she felt my heavy gaze, Madison glanced over at me. I quickly ducked my head, dragging a hand over my face.

Jesus. This was going to be a fucking shitshow.

I probably should have stayed away. But I never claimed to be smart, and until I’d exorcised whatever spell she’d cast over me, I knew I couldn’t walk away.

“Austin, was it?” McSteamy stepped up to me.

“That’s right.”

“So, how do you know Madison?”

“Like she said, I’m a friend.”

Who the fuck did this asshole think he was?

“She’s a good girl,” he said, glancing in her direction. She was busy taking the table’s order still, paying us no attention. “After everything she’s been through, she doesn’t need—”

“I’m sorry, who are you again?”

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