Chapter 38 What a Jerk!
Ryan looked up when Chloe emerged from the tent.
She wore a white eyelet top that left her shoulders bare, her burgundy hair tied into a neat ponytail. The fresh outfit made him notice her all over again.
She changed her look more often than Grace, but she always carried the same effortless allure.
Coming up behind him, she rested her hands on his shoulders.
“What would you like for breakfast?”
The gesture felt natural. Domestic, almost.
“Noodles?”
“That sounds good. I’ll have some, too.”
He turned his head. She smiled back.
They waited.
“Are you making them?” he finally asked.
“I don’t know how.”
“Then why ask?”
“To see whether I wanted the same thing. You can make enough for both of us.”
He laughed and stood.
“You sound like the perfect wife until it turns out you only want someone to cook for you.”
“It’s one extra bowl. You don’t mind.”
“Am I allowed to?”
“No.”
He shook his head and went to put water on the stove.
Chloe watched him with a softness she no longer bothered to hide.
Nothing dramatic had happened in the tent. Still, something between them had changed.
They were more than casual friends now, even if she couldn’t call them lovers.
His restraint had pleased her. He hadn’t treated her reaching for him as permission to do whatever he wanted. She didn’t know exactly what he felt, but she liked the uncertainty and anticipation of being close to him.
It felt like the beginning of something.
Across the camp, Jason lowered his head so no one would see his expression.
He wanted Ryan dead.
Marcus noticed his clenched jaw and sighed inwardly. Jason wasn’t going to let this go.
Should he warn Ryan?
Soon, the smell of seasoned noodles drifted through the camp. Chloe accepted her bowl with a sweet smile.
“Thank you.”
Ryan filled his own and sat on a folding stool. Hot noodles, then the broth. After the night he’d had, it was exactly what he wanted.
When everyone had eaten, they packed up and started down the mountain.
As soon as they reached the cars, Jason drove off. He didn’t say goodbye or offer to help Marcus, whose injured leg had made the walk difficult.
Apparently, a fighter who could no longer guarantee victory had lost his value.
Connor shook his head.
“Come with me, Marcus. I’ll take you to the hospital.”
“Thanks.”
On his way to the car, Marcus stopped beside Ryan.
“Be careful. He won’t let this go.”
He spoke quietly enough that only Ryan heard.
Ryan raised an eyebrow, then nodded.
In the SUV, Chloe asked what Marcus had said.
“Just thanked me.”
There was no point worrying her. If Jason tried something else, Ryan would deal with it.
They reached the city around noon.
“Let me buy you lunch,” Chloe offered.
“I’m not hungry yet. And I have something to do.”
Disappointment crossed her face before she could hide it.
“All right. Talk later?”
“Sure.”
He got out downtown, hailed a cab, and left without apparent reluctance.
Chloe watched it disappear.
Just like that?
After she’d practically thrown herself into his arms, he was going to behave as though nothing had happened?
He wouldn’t make a move, wouldn’t turn her down, and wouldn’t explain what he wanted.
What a jerk.
Despite herself, she was still in a remarkably good mood.
Jason, meanwhile, arrived home, gave his mother a few distracted answers, and shut himself in his room.
Then he made a call.
“Vince. I need someone taken out.”
A rough voice chuckled.
“Who upset you this time?”
“An outsider. Former military. He can fight.”
“How well?”
Jason forced himself to answer honestly. Bad information could cause the job to fail, and Vince would hold him responsible.
“He killed several wolves with a pair of grilling forks. At least five or six on his own.”
Vince paused.
“That’ll cost extra.”
“How much?”
“Seven hundred and fifty thousand.”
Jason winced. Then he remembered the laughter, Chloe’s face when she looked at Ryan, and the wet patch on his pants.
“Done. One condition.”
His voice hardened.
“Don’t make it quick.”