“Gotcha.”
“So what do you do for fun, Serena?”
“I like to run, though I’ve not had time to do much of that here yet. I keep being distracted by men who are filthy rich and playboys.” The edge of her mouth curled up into a smirk.
I rolled my eyes. “God, that name. Just because we pissed off a couple of women by dumping them.”
She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “There’s got to be more to it than that. It’s like the name makes you belong to some elite club, the four of you.”
I sighed.
“Sorry.” She said. “I didn’t mean to make you pissed.”
I scrubbed a hand through my hair. “It’s not you. It’s just everyone thinks they know us, is all. And they don’t. Not in the slightest. Yeah, we’ve played around, but we all want to settle down really.”
I pick my coffee up and take a good mouthful. I’m sick of being accused of being a playboy.
Serena’s brows drew together. “But I saw you last night, you and Smith, hooking up with that woman. That just made me think you were exactly what I’d heard, playboys.”
“You don’t understand what we are.” I wanted to throw my cup across the room, watch it hit the wall and explode everywhere. Vampire strength had to be carefully controlled but I could feel my blood fizzing in my veins as I became frustrated.
Serena shrugged her shoulders.
“So tell me. Explain. Because you looked like a party boy to me.”
I realized my foot was tapping against the ground and stilled it. “We want one woman. Me and Smith were trying to see if Madelyn could be the one.” It was out of my mouth before I could stop it. Serena had pushed my buttons.
“Oh.”
I met her gaze. She seemed genuinely taken aback.
“We’re not using women. We’re trying to find love.”
“I’m not following, Jayden. Why do you want to share?”
“It’s complicated and I’ve said too much already.” I stared at her. “Why am I telling you all this? We only just met, yet I’m spilling my guts like a hooked fish.”
She shrugged again. “Must be my kind face or something. Anyway, I won’t say anything. Your personal life is your business. I wouldn’t want people hearing mine and sharing it all over town. Some women might talk, but I’m not one of them.”
“You’re something special then, Serena Ripley. A woman who can keep her mouth closed.”
“Unless it needs to be open.” She winked.
“Why do I get the feeling that underneath that cool exterior you’re actually a firecracker?”
“Like you said. You don’t know me.” She sat up and pushed her chair back. “Right, I really must get back to work now.”
“Would you like to have dinner sometime, Serena?”
She paused for a moment and sucked on her bottom lip. “Yeah, yeah, I would.” She passed me a business card with her cell number on it, turned her back on me and walked away.
Sass, and that ass. I was definitely hooked.
Chapter Thirteen
Serena
That was it! I was sure. Jayden had given me the missing piece of the puzzle. All the exploits with Leonie suddenly made sense. They