Page 170 of Summer Heat
“Yes?” Beth answered after a short ring. Her voice was hesitant. Of course she’d be concerned the call wasn’t from Nic’s personal cell.
“Cash and Jacks just met.”
“Oh, bet that was fun.”
“What do I do?”
“Well, how bad did it go?”
“Um, I forgot to mention Jackson to Cash. I’m pretty sure Cash thought Jacks and I were, um, showering together.”
“What I wouldn’t do to shower with that man. I bet he’s totally hung. Is he hung? He’s totally—”
“Focus, Beth.”
“Fine. Focused.”
“Cash knocked him out.”
“Oh my God! Well, you know Jacks wouldn’t put up a fight with those precious bomb tech hands. It’s like he’s a freaking brain surgeon or something.”
“Yeah, I’m thinking it went something like, “hi,” punch.”
“You have to talk to Cash. Explain everything.”
“I don’t know.”
“What?”
“I could walk away and survive without him.”
“What!” Beth yelled into the phone.
“I did it once, though it about killed me.” And now, could she do it again? No. She couldn’t…
“Why the hell would you do that?”
“I’m better alone. Bad things happen when I’m involved with others.”
“Nic, you can’t blame Cash. He shouldn’t have knocked Jacks out, but shit. You didn’t tell him. He had no idea. Guys like that, they go all ape shit whenever they think some man checks out their girls. Jackson’s lucky to be alive.”
“First, I’m not his girl. I’m a girl he has an attachment to, and the sex happens to be… volcanic. He feels protective and possessive. Give it a few weeks, and I’d bet he wants to get back to his bangin’ ways. Until then, there’s carnage. First, Roman was hurt. Now, Jackson.”
“You need to call him.”
“That’s what Jackson said too.”
“But you called me instead.”
“Yup.” Nic nodded into the phone. Such a bad habit.
“Call him and say, ‘Cash Garrison, this is Nicola Garrison, and I love you.’”
“What! I don’t love him.” She scoffed and scowled. “What are you talking about?”
Beth laughed into her ear. “Yeah. And I’m not on a Mojave dry spell right now, wondering if your ex is hung.”
“You can have him.”
