“Is he okay?” I asked. I hadn’t seen my brother in so long, and information wasn’t freely flowing lately. He worked undercover for the DEA and was in deep with an MC in Florida. I wanted him home, safe and sound.
“He is, and he’s very sorry he couldn’t make it,” he said, looking down at me.
“Don’t mind her,” Suzy said to him, her eyes moving from me to him. “Thomas is her brother.”
“Ah, you’rethatIzzy,” he said, his lips turning up into a smile. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
What the fuck did that mean? I snarled, not entirely liking the shit-eating grin on his face. “And you are?” I asked, holding out my hand for him to take.
“James.” He slid his hand along my palm and stilled. “James Caldo.”
“Never heard of you, Jimmy,” I said, trying to knock him down a peg. I didn’t like that he had heard of me, with his “thatIzzy” comment, and I’d never even heard his name.
He brought my hand to his lips and placed a kiss just below my knuckles. “Perfect.”
His lips scorched my skin. An overwhelming sense of want came over me. I felt the urge to jump into his arms and kiss his very full lips. My toes curled painfully in my shoes as I stared at his mouth against my skin. As he removed his lips from my hand and brought his eyes back to mine, I wiped all evidence of want from my face.
Suzy coughed, ruining my fantasy and bringing me back to reality. “Thanks, James. I’ll give this to Joseph for you. Why don’t you stay and enjoy the wedding?” She smiled at the man.
“What?” I asked, turning toward her. Suzy played dirty. Her angel act was just that—an act.
“We have plenty of food, and I’m sure the Gallos would love to talk with you about their Thomas,” Suzy said, grinning like an idiot.
I gave her the look of death. What in the fuck was wrong with her?
“You can keep James company tonight, Izzy. You didn’t bring a date.”
She did not just say that.If it weren’t her wedding, I swear to shit I would’ve smacked her. I could feel my cheeks turning red as his eyes flickered to mine.
“I’d love to stay. Thank you. Izzy, would you like a drink?” he asked, still holding my hand in his.
“Only because Suzy would want me to be a gracious host,” I said, looking at her out of the corner of my eye.
“I don’t want to put you out or anything. I’m abigboy and can handle myself. I just thought you could use a drink to unwind a bit. You feel a little tense, and that mouth of yours could get you into trouble.”
Obviously, he was full of himself. Trust me when I say I can smell a cocky bastard from a mile away. I grew up with enough of them to sniff them out across a room.
“I don’t need a babysitter, Jimmy, but I’ll take the drink.”
“It’s James,” he said, squeezing my hand.
“You two kids play nice,” Suzy said before she waved and walked away.
“Bitch,” I mumbled under my breath as I turned back toward the bar.
“Excuse me?” he asked, gripping my arm as he pulled me backward.
I stopped and faced him. “Are you going to release me anytime soon?”
“Highly unlikely.” He smirked.
“Jimmy, listen. I don’t know what your deal is or who the fuck you think you are, but no one touches me without permission.”
With that, he released me, but not before squeezing my arm. “You’ll be begging for my touch.”
I glared at him, floored by his cockiness. “Obviously you know nothing about me then.” I left him in the dust.
I leaned against the bar, feeling him behind me as I motioned to the bartender. At this point in the evening, I no longer had to verbalize my order. He knew it.
