How did Jude know? I doubt Reese offered up the information.

“The bets start now, so give your money to Beast.” Jude bows with a flourish and exits the patio.

“I’ll see you after,” Annabel tells me before disappearing into the crowd, where people are forming a haphazard line.

I find my eyes drawn once again to Reese. Over by the bushes. Alone.

Once again, a flicker of shame and guilt wiggles through me.

I’ve been rude to her since last night. My momma would skin my hide if she knew how I was behaving toward a lady. Or toward anyone.

And with that thought, my feet carry me to the corner of the yard, where she’s watching the revelry with a blank face.

The moment she sees me coming, her whole body goes rigid and she looks down at the ground, like she can will herself invisible if she only concentrates hard enough.

“Hey.” I stop next to her.

She doesn’t respond and we stand in silence while uneasy tension builds a stony wall between us.

I clear my throat. “What do you think we’re gonna have to do?” I ask, for lack of anything else to say.

“If I knew, I wouldn’t tell you.” The words are rude, but her tone is just matter-of-fact.

“Fair enough.”

I should walk away. We barely know each other and what we do know we don’t apparently like, but maybe I should try to get to know something about her. Maybe that will help me defeat her. Find her weak spots. Or something.

The thoughts make me frown. I’ve never been good at scheming.

I watch the crowd with her, wanting to speak but also not wanting to be the first to break the silence.

The yard is full of people milling around the keg, laughing, flirting. The line for the betting dwindles until there are only a couple left.

“Hey!” One of the last people in line, a brunette in a sorority shirt, jumps and pushes at the guy behind her. “Keep your hands to yourself, asshole!”

“I’m just messing around,” the guy says, loud enough to get the attention of half the people in the yard.

Beast reaches out, picks up the guy by the collar of his polo shirt with one meaty paw, and dangles him in the air. “Put me down!” the guy yells, legs kicking. “I didn’t do nothing!”

Jude’s voice booms out over his megaphone, echoing over the crowd. “Now listen here, sir. We live by a code of gentlemanly behavior around these parts. There will be no getting handsy unless it’s agreed upon with enthusiastic, affirmative consent.”

He gives a short nod to Beast, who’s still holding the guy by the scruff. He turns and walks around the corner of the house. The handsy guy keeps yelling even after they disappear, but it’s mostly drowned out by the rest of the crowd’s clapping.

I huff a surprised laugh. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a party quite like this. Reese is pressing her lips together, holding back a smile.