“Michelle.”
Not tonight.
I turned and my worst nightmare was realized.
“What a surprise.”
I steeled myself, having to keep in mind that I was working for the second or third time that evening.
“Who is this, Gabriel?” the woman next to him asked, and nausea rolled through my belly.
“This is Michelle, Linda. One of the event planners. She’s done some work for the firm. Listen, go on ahead and say hello. I’ll be out shortly,” Gabriel said to his wife, and pressed a kiss to her cheek. More nausea.
“It’s been a long time,” Gabriel stated, turning back to me, dark eyes glittering. He took pleasure in my discomfort, I was sure of it.
“Not long enough.”
His smile dipped. “How is Diego?”
My eyes narrowed. “If you want to know how your son is doing, you should make an effort to see him,” I whispered harshly.
Gabriel’s five-foot-eleven body moved closer, his tanned, olive-toned skin darkening in anger. “If I want to see my son, I’ll come see him. In the meantime, when I ask his mother how he’s doing, I expect an answer,” he growled in my face, and not for the first time I had to resist the urge to punch him.
“He’s fine, Gabriel. I have to get back to work.” I tried to step around him but felt his hand on my arm. “You’re not dating anyone, are you?” The threat in his voice was ominous.
“You’ve pretty much made sure of that, haven’t you, Gabriel?” I snatched my arm away and stormed off toward the door, regretting that time years ago when I swore I was in love with that asshole.
I tried to focus on my work. All I needed to do was get through the evening and get home to my son where thoughts of handsome firefighters and baby daddies couldn’t intervene. At least, that’s what I told myself. The truth was, both would follow me, well past the evening.
****
Carter
I couldn’t wait to get out of that damn monkey suit.
“Looking uncomfortable, bro,” Tyler chuckled, clapping me on the back.
I shrugged him off. “Don’t touch me.”
“Someone’s panties are in a bunch,” came Joshua’s reply.
I grunted. My real brothers were just as bad if not worse than my brothers at the damn fire station. At least there I had fire accelerant to threaten them. Here, I only had my bare hands, which were lethal enough, but considering the number of people around us all, I doubted I’d be able to take both Tyler and Joshua out without being seen. Instead, I retorted with my words.
“You would know all about wearing panties, wouldn’t you, Josh?” I tilted my head, bringing my champagne flute to my lips. I heard Tyler laughing in the background but I was too busy scoping out our surroundings.Where is she?Amidst the sea of ball gowns, tuxedos, coiffed hairstyles, and shiny shoes, I hadn’t laid eyes on the one person who’d had me not regretting the fact that I’d actually shown up that night.
“Looking for someone?”
I pushed out a deep breath before rolling my eyes over to Aaron who’d just joined our group. “Yeah, looking for a fucking sedative for you.”
Aaron’s eyes shot to Tyler and Joshua on either side of him, who were snickering.
“Carter, you know damn well it would take more than a sedative for this guy to calm down,” Josh reminded us all.
He was right; Aaron was the most uptight out of us all.
“Someone has to keep the family business thriving.”
“I do my part,” Joshua spoke.
