"The schedule." Solana hoisted her chin, meeting Bram's glare and playing along with his ploy. She had no desire to get into what he really wanted to talk about—catching Jack exiting her bedroom.

Bram strode closer. "What is he doing here?"

Seemed they were having this conversation here and now. Her stomach tightened as she gripped the material of Bram's shirt and yanked him to her. "Keep your voice down."

A string of silent expletives spilled from his mouth as he pushed away, dark eyes brimming with venom. "You smell of him."

She glanced over her shoulder, half expecting to see Jack there grinning.

Bram huffed and bowed his head. "You slept with that bastard, didn't you?" The force of his words caused her bangs to sway.

Solana released his shirt and cemented her feet to the floor to counterbalance the urge to back away at the poison in his voice. He had no right to act this way. Bram wasn't her father or her boyfriend. He took his responsibilities as her best friend too far sometimes and no matter what they shared, it didn't give him the right to pass judgement on who she did or—in this case—didn't sleep with. "That's my business."

He scowled and crossed his arms. "He screwed you, and you screwed your abuela."

The impulse to slap him made her right hand itch. Instead, she balled it into a fist and glared back at him. Bram had a cruel streak she'd witnessed on multiple occasions, but never had it focused so sharply in her direction. Her teeth ached with the pressure of not screaming at him.

"There won't be any more money from him." Bram paced like a caged animal across the entrance to the living room.

"Jack is not an ATM, dolling out cash to the needy when we hold out our hands. He's a man who..." Solana bit her tongue, the conversation in her bedroom rang in her head. The lonely little boy who thought he was unloved. The man she'd asked to be her friend. She wasn't sure why she'd made the proposal, only knowing she didn't want him to leave her room, walk out of her life, and never see him again. She'd panicked.

"... a man who deserves a little respect." The words popped out of her mouth, surprising even her.

Bram's eyes narrowed to slits. "Respect?" A spray of spit accompanied the insult. "The only thing that man respects is a challenge. Now he's been in your pants, he'll ghost you. Just like Cassius."

The reminder of her failed marriage gouged into her heart. Bram had been right about Cassius, down to the accusation her ex-husband would stray outside of their marriage within a year.

"He won't." There was a conviction in Solana's voice her brain couldn't quite stand behind.

"Wanna bet?"

Ice filled her veins. Bram and his gambling addiction. The man would bet on which way a dog would run across the street if given the chance.

"Ahem."

They both turned to find Jack leaning against the wall wearing her Abuela's good apron. A thumb looped through one strap, he raised an eyebrow. "Can I get in on that bet?"

Bram's palm landed on her shoulder, but his glare pinned Jack. "You just love playing games, don't you?"

"Well, one does have to have some fun in this life." Sky-blue eyes flitted to Solana as Jack smirked.

"Stay away from her." Bram's fingers dug into her skin like a branding iron.

Jack's gaze slid to Bram and hardened, even as his tone stayed teasing. "Not my fault she prefers my company to others."

"Enough with the pissing contest." Solana pried Abraham's fingers from her and inserted herself between the two men. "You both have big dicks."

Jack chuckled. "Why, thank you."

Anger sparked in her. Jack didn't have to be such an ass. He was provoking Bram on purpose with these little jabs, unaware of the potentially explosive consequences. In the restaurant, she'd been able to intervene. If this didn't cool down soon, she might not be able to contain Bram's temper. Using her body as a wedge, she spread her arms wide and pressed a palm against each man's chest to keep them apart. "Jack, let me—"

"He offered me money for a night with you." A red flush bloomed across Bram's shaved head as he jabbed a finger at Jack.

Jack drew to his full height, glaring down at her friend. "That's the pot calling the kettle black."

Heat prickled up Solana's neck. "Excuse me?" Ignoring the steam rolling off Bram, she peered at Jack as she imprinted her palm on him. The warmth of his skin bled through the fine cotton of his shirt and the staccato beating of his heart belied the cool demeanour he projected.

Blue eyes dancing with titillation peered down at her. "It was a joke, sweetheart. Besides, he'd already taken the money."

"Don't go there, man." Abraham growled in her ear.

Jack raised an eyebrow in a silent "Ask him about it."

So Solana did, spinning around to Bram. "What is he talking about?"

Anger fell from Bram's face as his gaze found the floor. A burning betrayal swam in Solana's stomach with every second that ticked by without a word from her friend.

Now Jack's voice lilted in her ear, steady and strong, filling the silence. "Your friend Abraham came to me with a business arrangement." Bram shifted on his feet, studying his hands, but didn't deny the allegations. She stared at her best friend imploring him to speak up, counteract the story Jack was weaving, change the course of the narrative from the impending disaster. Fingers curled into fists at her sides, her nails digging into the soft skin of her palm as she steeled herself against Bram's deception. "A way to clear your conscience over the debt you think you owe me. A simple transaction. I give him some money. He passes it along to you to return to me. And everyone is happy."

She wanted to refute Jack's charges, yet, despite all his bluster, she could now tell his truths from his games. His words weren't a lie, and they implicated him in the crime as well.

"Tell me, did Bram here happen to come into a windfall lately?" Warm breath caressed her neck as Jack continued. "Say at the racetrack? Share his winnings with you?"

The knife sank into her heart. She'd been afraid Bram would try to take advantage of Jack's wealth, had asked him to stay away. Bram promised he would. She'd trusted him and he'd done it anyhow. Worse, he'd used her in his scheme. "You lied to me."

Her best friend avoided her, his anger aimed at Jack as his arm shot out, grabbing a fist full of Jack's shirt. "You sack of shit. How could you hurt her like this?"

"Me?" Jack's eyes turned to slits and all traces of nonchalance leaked away. "I was only trying to help a sweet woman stay alive." His gaze locked on Solana's. Her breath caught in her throat at the flash of conviction. "I never wanted the money." Jack's glare returned to Bram. "You set the rules of the game."

"I don't play—"

"How much?" Both men turned to Solana. She swiveled between sky-blue and earth brown irises, finally landing on the one man she wanted to trust. "What was I worth?"

Abraham's face crumbled, and Solana's lungs contracted. "It's not like that."

"Five Thousand." Jack answered. Solana let his words sink in. He always answered her honestly. Even with the hard stuff. Her brain couldn't process that fact at the moment, but it registered the concept. Jack was truthful with her.

Unlike her best friend. He'd placed money over their friendship. Betrayal mixed with anger and she backed away when she realized the full extent of what he'd done. "You gave me two thousand. What happened to the rest?"

"Well, I couldn't give it to you all at once. You'd be suspicious." His hand reached for hers. She sidestepped the gesture.

"So, where is the rest of the money?"

Bram stuffed his hands in his pocket and bounced on the balls of his feet. "It's invested in our future."

Solana's nails dug into her palm again. "What does that mean?"

"Does he have a good financial advisor?" Jack snickered.

She held a finger up to Jack without looking at him. "You stay out of this." He had the smarts to keep silent. The full weight of her anger focused on Abraham as she slowly repeated her words. "Where... is... the... money?"

"I... I gave it to Cassius's brother."

The weight of deception dragged her down further. Her ex-husband's brother led the pack when it came to shady deals so hot anyone in a ten-mile radius got proximity burns. Jack's money was as good as gone. It would have taken months to pay back Jack two thousand dollars. Now she owed him three thousand. The debt rolled over her and fury jolted through her limbs.

Bram stood before her, pleading or cajoling. She wasn't sure, unable to hear him over the pounding in her ears. The urge to flee, to jump on her motorcycle and drive until she didn't recognize any street names, overwhelmed her. Except she'd sold her bike three years ago to buy a plane ticket to Las Vegas. There was no way out.

Unable to stand the sight of him, she pointed to the door. "Get out."

Bram pressed his lips together and tried to take her hand again. "Solly, hear me out. We could make—"

The pet name he pulled out only when he needed something grated across her. "Get out." She despised the shake in her voice, how it betrayed her weakness.

Bram shifted, not toward the door but closer to her. Broad shoulders blocked her view. "The lady asked you to leave." Jack's voice was low, yet still sent a shiver up her spine. "If you have any respect for her or her grandmother's house, you'll do as she requests."

The creases on the back of Jack's stark white shirt contrasted with the crisp tie of the apron he still wore as he blocked her view of Bram. She focused on the pattern as silence again surrounded them. Unable to see either man's expression, Solana readied herself for action. The living room and hallway didn't offer any solutions. Perhaps she should run into the kitchen and grab a frying pan to stop the impending fist fight?

That would take too long. He'd be hurt by then. She inhaled and prepared to step around Jack when Bram's footsteps pounded against the hardwood. The front door squeaked, then slammed, and she exhaled. He was gone.

The form blocking her view twisted around, a look of pity in his eyes.

She hated it.

Irritation scared away the apprehension rampant in her. She didn't need to be saved. Not by any man. Not Bram, and certainly not by Jack. Again.

"Don't think you're getting off easy here." Even after rising to her full height, she still had to look up to meet his eye. To hide her trembling hands, she tucked them under her armpits as she crossed her arms. "How could you fall for his tricks? I thought you were a savvy businessman, clever enough to take down your competition. Blackhorne & Caldwell should start looking for a new CEO."

He's jaw tightened and Solana had the impression he was holding back. She didn't want him to. If he shouted at her, made a fuss, it would give her the perfect excuse to kick him out too. Give her time to come up with a plan for paying him back.

Foot tapping in frustration, she pushed further. "I'll pay you back. All of it."

His hands flew to his face, where he pressed his palms into his eye sockets. "I don't want the money," he growled as his fingers dove into his ink-black hair.

"I'm not for sale."

Jack's chest rose and fell rapidly. She watched as his hands dragged along his face and fell to his sides. Shoulders drooping, his chin plummeted, and he swayed his head back and forth. He took a long slow breath and met her eyes, the ice blue freezing her thumping foot in place.

Like a firefighter trying not to scare off a cat caught up in a tree, he inched forward, holding her gaze with his. "I'm not trying to purchase you."

The closer he got, the more she had to crane her neck to look up, yet somehow she couldn't tear her eyes away from his.

The bravado he wore like a suit at the club, on the plane, even in the lobby of his office that day, was nowhere to be seen. With his crumbled shirt and mussed hair, the man before her didn't hide what she suspected was the real Jack. Anticipation at what he would say, what he would do, fizzled through her, diffusing the anger and frustration boiling inside.

He stopped close enough that his torso offered a warmth and with little effort he could dip forward and kiss her. Her eyes dropped to his lips as if they might swing her way. But he didn't, instead standing here tall and as solid as an oak tree. He waited for her eyes to return to his and she found herself lost in the calm, cloudless sky reminiscent of a bright, sunny day. A world of possibilities swallowed her, and she saw a future unlike her past. The simmering in her chest heated at the assurance in the depths of his eyes regulating her heart rate to an even pounding with the tranquility the world before her offered.

The urge to run was nowhere in sight. Rather, she wanted to stay.

When he finally spoke, his tone was gentle, the words only for her. "My only intention was to help in the only way I know how. Money..." His finger traced down her arm, causing hot tingles to sprint across her skin. If he was trying to keep her with him, it worked. Rooted to the spot, she let the ripples of pleasure ease the tension. "is my only means. I have the ability to make it happen. What's so wrong with me helping?"

There was no attempt to cajole her or appease her. Just the truth. Her brain told her mouth to speak up, but there was a delay. When the words came out, they lacked force. "It's not your place?"

Jack's face inclined a fraction. "Why not?"

"Because..." She faltered, not knowing what to say.

"Can't a friend help another friend?" His finger traced the outside of her pinkie, his touch scorching her skin. "You'll take your friend Abraham's help. Why not mine?"

"We're not friends."

The blaze receded as Jack stepped back and placed his hands over his heart. "You wound me." The cocky attitude roared to life. Yet he couldn't seem to maintain the illusion as his expression softened. "Can't we be friends?"

Her words from before offered back. Solana looked at the handsome man, standing in her living room wearing the silly apron her abuela must have given him. The man who turned to her when he was hurting last night. The man who'd kissed her with such tenderness this morning her lips still craved a repeat. The man who admitted he didn't have friends.

The man she might not be able to resist.

"Fine." She rolled her eyes. "We're friends. Happy?"

"Very." Jack grinned like Luc after opening the wireless headphones he received for his last birthday. The boy had been hinting about them for weeks, offering to take on extra chores around the house to increase his allowance so he could save faster for a pair. One night, instead of paying his bar bill, a patron offered her a pair, and she didn't hesitate. Or question their origins.

Jack's mouth fell. "To be clear. This means no more talk about owing me money, right?"

She rammed a thumb into her sternum. "I don't owe you money. Bram does."

Electric white teeth flashed as the grin returned to Jack's face. "That's more like it."

Hey DL here.  There was a request last time I continue my ramblings so...I'm back.

Did Jack surprise you? He was calm in the face of Solana's rampage. 

Can these two really be friends?

I have a suspicion its not as easy as just saying the words. As we might find out soon...

Can't make up my mind. Next chapter from Jack's perspective or Solana's???