Debauched (Undone Book 3) Read Free Page A

might have for us. I want to give her the work excuse, but based off her history, that won’t cut it.
    I rub my hand over her arm and smile. “I’m not an option for you, Ashley. I’m sorry about that, but you deserve a guy that is going to give you the time and energy you deserve, and I’m not that guy.”
    She jerks a little under my touch. Her face twists for a moment before it surges with hope.
    I repress my sigh.
    She puts her hand on my waist and I immediately drop my hand from her. She shakes her head and laughs a little. “That’s cute. But you’ve misunderstood; I’m not looking for anything serious. I’m not looking for commitment. I’m looking for fun. That’s all.”
    All bullshit, but I’m more than happy to let her save face. She’s looking for the loophole most guys would fall into, but I’m not that easily manipulated. Most women confuse good guy with push over, thinking that I am not wise to their games, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I shrug. “I apologize if I misunderstood. But I’m not available.”
    Her attention drops to my mouth, turning hungry. Annoyed, I glance over her head and see Ruby talking to Jillian Banks and Leo Santoro, she laughs at something they say and then her gaze catches mine.
    She frowns, and then it disappears almost as though she’s caught herself. Which she probably has. I’ve noticed that about her. She filters everything. Reveals a glimpse of her true emotions before covering it up with what she believes she should feel.
    “What about for fucking? Are you available for that?” Ashley’s words rip me back to her. She’s wearing a seductive expression and her hand has curled into the waistband of my pants. “We could go upstairs right now and I could blow your mind.”
    I resist the urge to express my exasperation with her. In her defense, this approach would work on ninety-eight percent of guys, so it’s her misfortune I fall into the two percent. I contemplate my options. I could go stern, but she’d probably like that. I could continue being nice but assertive, but that doesn’t seem to be working. I run through a couple other choices but decide on the truth.
    I wrap my fingers around her wrist and forcibly pull her off me. Then I look deep into her eyes and say with complete sincerity. “I am not an option for you. We are friends and that’s where you and I will stay.”
    Her expression falls again and her chin quivers the tiniest bit.
    While I’m sympathetic, I don’t relent. I release her hand and reach up to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “You’ve been hurt, Ashley. I’m sorry about that. But as a friend, let me tell you, this isn’t the way to mend your broken heart. A man won’t fix what’s broken inside you. You have to do that all on your own.”
    Over her head I see Ruby climb the steps leading to the second floor.
    I smile at Ashley. “I wish you luck. You deserve to be happy and I hope you find it. But I’m not your guy.”
    Her eyes brighten. “Okay.”
    I chuck Ashley under the chin. “You okay?”
    She nods and points to a group of girls hovering around the kitchen island. “I should get back to my friends.”
    I smile at her. “Sounds like a good plan.”
    Ashley walks away, leaving me alone. I drain the rest of my drink and narrow my eyes on the stairs.
    The last thing I should do is go upstairs.
    I put my drink down on a small bar table.
    But I’m going anyway.

 
     
     

    Ruby
     
    I am not jealous.
    I stare at my reflection in the mirror in the upstairs bathroom of Michael’s parents’ house and repeat the words out loud. “I am not jealous.”
    I don’t believe me.
    There’s a knot in the pit of my stomach that’s been there ever since Chad’s hand gripped Ashley’s arm. A knot that grew when Ashley clung to the waistband of his pants and stared up at him in that way she had.
    I was across the room, I couldn’t hear what transpired, but I know Ashley. She’s been using the same