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Over a toast, he said, "You’re right This place is great"

"I’hed, and I enjoyed the sound It was a bit wild, a lot free Very much like the man hi like the explosion of body and mind I’d felt from the very first second I’d laid eyes on Jax, but then no one elicited that reaction but Jackson Rutledge

"Sertip around the lip of his wineglass I suspected he’d prefer beer, but he didn’t ask for it "Making ot the business in your blood, too It’s not just a job"

"My family just opened our second Rossi’s in Upper Saddle River"

"Where’s that?"

"New Jersey Posh as hell My brother Nico is spearheading it Just passed the three-month mark"

"So why not hook your fao?"

"It’s not what they want They want this--" I gestured around the restaurant with a sweep ofwas never their dream"

He studied me "You make it sound like your dreams are different"

I sat back "I suppose they are I want to help the different"

"Like what?"

"I haven’t found it yet" Although I thought I had Once upon a tiure I’ll knohen I see it"

"Maybe I could help you pass the tiested boldly

I smiled "It’s an idea, isn’t it?"

Maybe he hat I needed It’d been too long sincelittle ti I would ot laid, but it wouldn’t hurt It would certainly take the edge off life in the interi His life and as split between DC and northern Virginia, and soon enough, another Rutledge would need hi He was the fa myself to the possibilities

Chad’s htly triu to score He reached foroverin a scowl "Fuck"

I kneho he was looking at before I turned around

Chapter 4

AN ALL-TOO-FAMILIAR CHARGE swept over ive Jax the satisfaction of seeing my face, which probably showed my surprise, frustration and irritation

He had cast-iron balls to come into Rossi’s after the way he’d broken ht we’d all spent together We’d been in New York on a quick weekend trip to introduce hi after the restaurant closed, eating and drinking and laughing with my brothers and my parents They’d fallen in love with hiht I’d co haul

I hadn’t seen hiain until he’d walked into the bar at the Four Seasons

Chad looked at me "You invited Stacy, too?"

"No" Confused, I finally looked overStacy out of her jean jacket , but Jax had guessed

And sure enough, he ot in their way, her smile wide as ever but proverbial feathers ruffled in full mother-hen mode

I looked at Chad "We could sneak out the back"

He laughed, but his eyes were hard

Angelo ca his head toward Jax

"No" I looked at Chad "They don’t have to sit with us"

"Good" He sat back, glaring "Talk about keeping the wrong coo ahead with Ian’s deal, if she wants I’ht" Angelo looked at me "I’ll make sure they’re seated soulp of my wine as my brother walked away

Chad studied me for a moment "He has your back"

"That’s the Rossi way"

"Stace and I used to be like that Before Ian showed up"

"Really?" I tried to ignore the sensation of Jax’s gaze I could feel hied "Hell if I know It all went to her head I don’t even know if she thinks about the food any to be rich and fa her hand on entle press of her beautifully manicured nails and heard the silent question: Are you okay?

I setI wasn’t okay, but what I could say? I wouldn’t give Jax the satisfaction of refusing hiet excellent food, our best server and complimentary wine of his choice

They’d pull out all the stops Kill him with kindness Show him that eren’t petty and small But oh, what it would cost us All of us My safe place felt invaded, his potent energy perled with awareness

Lori, one of the waitstaff, came over to take our order Chad and I decided to split the pasta for two All through the appetizer and salad courses, I was expecting Jax to coive Chad the attention I’d been able to before He was subdued, too, his gaze staying fir looking at other patrons

Ina wonderful ti Stacy out when she was Ian’s latest fling? Or was she freely available to both of them? After all, she’d showed no hesitation and a lot of pleasure in kissing Jax’s cheek when he first showed up

Just before the o to the bathroom, and I checked my smartphone I’d missed a call from Lei When Chad caht back"

I headed toward the bathroo out the noise when I shut the door behind me I speed-dialed Lei and set the phone to my ear

"Gianna," she answered "I have to applaud you for your choice in men"

"Can I pick ’em or what?" I walked over to the far here a fa I’d been around twelve years old in the picture with braces on elo had been varying degrees of gangly My dad was ied little since "How’d it go?"

"As expected You guessed right, by the way Jackson said he’s stepped in as a favor for so for more details, I’m sorry--I’ve been with Chad since I left--but it’s probably a Rutledge When Jackson’s not ga up after fa beautiful women "As for Chad, he’s on board, but I think we’d be wise to get a new contract drawn up ASAP before soracefully He crashed the dinner hour at Rossi’s, bringing Stacy along for the show"

Lei laughed "I’m sorry, but I like him"

My mouth quirked ruefully "Happens"

"Ian called"

"Oh? How’d that go?"

"He asked if I’d see hiht"