“Fred sat there because it wasme,” Mac pointed out.
“That doesn’t comfort me,” Jason growled.
“Maybe I’ll offer to teach her self-defense,” Mac said with a smirk.
“Stay the fuck away from her.”
Mac arched an eyebrow, surprised by the strong reaction. “She’s my goddamn neighbor. That might not be possible.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I don’t think I’ve seen you this worked up over a woman before, Jason,” Mac contemplated out loud. “What sort of pussy does she have? Fucking magical, I’d say.” He had a sudden craving for a beer.
Jason tossed him another icy warning glare.
“Damn,” Mac breathed out. “Careful there; she’s used to getting a ring for that ride.”
“Keep that in mind if you decide to start something with her,” Jason advised.
“I’m not interested in that type of woman; I need someone who knows how to leave. And I’mreallynot interested in your seconds.”
Jason glowered at the lake.
Grady pushed out of the screen door with a cup of coffee in his hands. “Catfight over?” Neither man responded. “Oh, we’re still in our feels.”
“Fuck off,” Jason snapped.
“Must not have gotten morning head,” Mac jibed.
Jason leaped to his feet, turning on him. Grady lunged between them, a restraining hand on Jason’s chest as his own dark eyes sent a warning. Mac chuckled at the reaction, feigning indifference. But the reaction meant he was right. Right?
Calming himself, Jason snapped out, “You’re a bastard, Mac.”
“I can’t believe you caught feelings so fast.” Had she? Not that it mattered.
“Both of you knock it off,” Grady said, checking his coffee to make sure none of it had spilled out. When he looked back up at Mac, his expression spoke volumes, but it was a novel Mac wasn’t interested in reading.
Grady shoved Jason backward. His eyes dropped to the porch. “Hey, she did give us books.”
Jason glared at Mac again before turning his attention to Grady, who’d bent down to retrieve one of the books. “Yeah, she did.”
“Decent of her.” He flipped it to the back, reading the blurb. “Huh, even sounds interesting.”
“He was an interesting guy,” Jason offered.
Mac raised a brow. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask how her dead husband had come up during their pillow talk. But he’d riled Jason enough; even if it was to deflect his own jealousy, he knew when he’d crossed the line. Still, he pointed out, “You’re overly sensitive, Jason.”
“Don’t start up again, Mac.” Jason resettled on the porch step. “I mean it; she doesn’t need your particular brand of bullshit in her life.”
“And you swanning in, banging her, and swanning out again is what she needs?”
Jason didn’t respond. Grady tilted his head. Mac could see gears grinding that shouldn’t be grinding; he gave him afuck offlook before adding, “Question retracted; I couldn’t give a fuck what she needs, what she wants, what her life goals are.”
Grady shook his head. “You can lie to yourself all you want, butweknowyou.We know who you are.”
Mac glared, daring him to say another word.
Jason changed the subject. “What are you going to do when this place falls down around you?”