The Hotter You Burn (The Original Heartbreakers 2)

Romantic words. Sweet words. Hated words. “You’re sure this is what you want?”

He inhaled deeply, exhaled slowly. “No, but I’m sure it’s what I need.”

Another baby step, but not enough. Not nearly enough. “All right.” They would soon find out just how much he liked what he thought he needed. “I’ll pick someone.”

He turned away from her, balled his fist and even raised it to the wall as if he longed to punch. “Good,” he said, arm falling to his side without inflicting any damage. “Let’s do this.”

He led her out of the hall and into the masses.

* * *

HARLOW STOLE THE SHOW.

Beck enjoyed this peek at the confident girl she’d become. Enjoyed it as much as he hated it.

At some point during the party, after he’d introduced her to eleven different single men, feeling a bit like a pimp, she’d stopped leaning on him, stopped clutching his hand. Eventually she’d let go of him altogether and even stopped glancing his way. Several guys had made her laugh.

Now she held court. Unable to look away, Beck leaned a shoulder against a corner wall. She graced the center of the living room, men circling her, enchanted as she told a story about beating up the neighbor boy for stealing apples from her orchard. Her mother had sent her to her room, and when she came back to check on her sweet little princess to make sure a lesson had been learned, she found Harlow building a Lego Death Star “to destroy the entire farm.”

Never told that story to me. But oh, he could well imagine what a terror Harlow had been. Might have even given him a run for his money. Or joined him, so they could conquer the world together.

“I’m ready for this to be over.” Jase sidled up to his side. “She found the right one yet?”

“No.” Though Harlow could have any—or all—of them.

Some of them might be planning to take her away from me even now.

He downed the rest of his beer.

West came up behind him. “I’m going to politely disagree, Beck, my man. I think she’s most into Cooper.”

Cooper Hayes. No. Hell, no. Harlow would not become Harlow Hayes. “Alliteration?” Not on my watch. “I’ll die first.”

“I’ll pretend you’re not coming up with creative objections out of desperation if you’ll tell me why the hell you invited him,” Jase said.

“A moment of insanity.”

“One that hasn’t let up, I see,” West muttered.

Coop took Harlow’s hand, kissed her knuckles and led her away from the crowd. He stopped in a private corner and said something to make her laugh. Beck claimed Jase’s whiskey and drained it, then focused on his breathing. In. Out. Good.

“I’m going to ask this only once,” West said. “Are you sure this is what you want? What you need? Her with another man. Do you really believe your feelings for her will fade? Think before you answer,” he said as Beck opened his mouth. “Because I’m going to take you at your word, and if that word is yes, I am going to lay claim to her. Because honestly? I would marry her if it meant easing you of this torment.”

West and Harlow? Never!

Coop reached for her, and she backed up. She caught herself and stood still while Coop sifted strands of her silken hair between his unworthy fingers.

She’d no longer backed away from Beck, now only ever leaned into him. But for how much longer? When would she begin to seek comfort from another man?

He watched, mesmerized, as she twirled the strands of hair to remove them from Coop’s grip. Despite the little hiccup—the guy had moved too fast for her—her smile was genuine and as sweet as sunshine as she spoke to him.

Was she falling for him?

She can’t. She’s mine.

The words echoed in his mind, and for once, he didn’t try to fight them, just let them fill his awareness, testing their truth. She’s mine. Mine. Miii-nnne.

Was she?

He hated the thought of her with another man and really hated himself for pushing her in that direction. He was happiest when they were together. He suffered when they were apart—and it wasn’t ever going to stop, was it?

He expected panic, a frantic need to flee, to get the hell away from the woman threatening to destroy life as he knew it, but as he drank her in, the eyes he loved to drown in, the skin he would sell his soul to touch, all he felt was gut-wrenching desire.

Change? Bring it on.

He’d been a coward, just as she said. He’d denied the truth, too afraid of the possibilities. But he never would have allowed her to pick another man, he realized. As hard as he’d been pushing her in that direction, he’d been creating obstacles. Even today, he’d warned each and every guy. Pain awaited anyone who hurt her, even in the smallest way.

Mine. And it was time he took what belonged to him.

“Out,” he bellowed.

All eyes darted to him.

“Out. Now.”

“Finally.” West grinned before pasting on his scariest scowl. “You heard the man. Out!”

“Don’t make me tell you to go.” Jase acted as a bulldozer and began herding the guys toward the door.

Frowning with dismay, Harlow followed after Coop.

“Not you, baby,” Beck said, striding across the room.

Her eyes widened at his approach, and damn, she was lovely. Innately sensual. And all mine.

Without a pause in his step, he took her hand and led her into the hall. For her, he would willingly put himself into the barbed, gilded cage known as a relationship. He just couldn’t let her go.