Jacked Up by Erin McCarthy Read Free Book Online Page B

my cheerleader?” He gave her what he hoped was a charming smile. He’d never quite had Rhett’s skill with the ladies, but he did alright.
    “I’d kind of rather swallow glass than be the chick standing on the sidelines cheering on a man, but I’ll make an exception this one time.”
    Be still his heart. There was something every guy wanted to hear. “Oh, yeah? Thanks. How did I happen to earn this exception?”
    “Because if you were a total douche bag like half the men I know, you’d have let me stroll around with my bra showing yesterday and you didn’t. Plus you can’t dance for shit, but you were willing to make an ass out of yourself with me, which I appreciate. So the least I can do is stand there while you go macho man.”
    She really needed to hold back on the flattery there. “Your generosity knows no bounds.”
    “That’s sarcasm.”
    “Yep.”
    “Why?” She frowned, like she really didn’t get it.
    “Because you just insulted me about three different ways,” he told her mildly. It didn’t bother him so much as it puzzled him. There was more to Eve than met the eye. Something had happened to her to make her so quick to lash out, and he was more determined than ever to figure out what it was.
    “I did? I didn’t mean to.” There was a pause when she seemed to be rewinding her words and replaying them. “Okay, so maybe telling you that you can’t dance could be taken as an insult, but you have to know it’s true.”
    Nolan raised an eyebrow at her. “Babe, you’re not doing any better.”
    “The truth is the truth.” Now she was just being stubborn, a quality she didn’t seem to lack.
    “Sure. Nothing wrong with the truth. Honesty is definitely a good policy, but it’s your delivery. Gotta sprinkle a little sugar on that sour.”
    This was why she had the reputation of a battle-ax. But Nolan would swear she didn’t really realize that she was potentially hurting people’s feelings. She was just cocooned in her own discontent.
    If she tore his face off right now, well, then maybe he’d be forced to admit he might be wrong. But she didn’t, which satisfied him tremendously.
    She looked troubled, a little sad. “A lot of days it seems my sugar canister is empty by about ten A.M . If I knew how to fix that I would.” Her hand came up as if to stop him. “And don’t go suggesting I need Xanax like Evan always does. I think antidepressants can be very helpful to some people, but I don’t think I can call myself depressed. I’m just . . . bitchy. I was born this way.”
    That was a cop-out and they both knew it. It was in her eyes. “You’re not bitchy. You’re just stubborn. You’ve decided you’re miserable and you’ll be damned if anyone is going to talk you out of it.”
    He’d hit a nerve, that was clear.
    Her eyes narrowed. “You’re a jerk.”
    “Who speaks the truth.”
    “Your sugar seems to be missing, too.”
    “I said you’re not bitchy. Sounds like a compliment to me.”
    “Go enter your damn strongman contest.”
    Nolan wanted to laugh, but he figured that wouldn’t go over well with her. “I’ll do that. You could enter too, you know. It’s open to women.”
    “I’m a runner. My arms aren’t my strongest asset.”
    Nolan pondered her assets, clearing his throat at the thought of her naked, long muscular legs wrapped around his waist. “No? What is?” Without thought, his gaze dropped to her breasts, filling out her clingy tank top.
    She seemed to realize that he wasn’t asking from an athletic standpoint because she made a sound and rolled her eyes. “Not my arms!”
    Now he did laugh. “I can think of a thing . . . or two.”
    Eve turned on her heel and marched over to the entry tent. Nolan had no choice but to follow her. Five minutes later, the contest was under way and he was standing with three other guys holding his beer stein straight out. It wasn’t hard. It didn’t strain his biceps. But he had to admit it was awkward and a