I remind myself how ruthless Alex Hassan is. I may not know Nix well yet, but I do know that if he’s not afraid of Hassan, he’s dangerous, and he’s someone I can’t let my guard down in front of. Charming or not, he’s just a source I’m working for intel.
8
Phoenix
Kennedy triesto keep her cool as we drive, but she’s on edge. She hasn’t stopped stroking the top of her hand since we pulled away from the curb. It’s a small tell, but one nonetheless. Add in her incessant toying with her lip piercing, and I know she’s nervous.
I’m playing with fire. My actions are reckless. Never have I been so careless when it comes to anyone in my life, especially a woman, but Kennedy does that to me. Part of me is working her, but the other part—the same one now growing and needy—wants her for no reason other than pleasure.
“Where are we going?” she asks, brushing the tips of her blond wig behind her shoulders.
“I’m taking you to one of my favorite places to eat.”
“Oh.” Her eyebrows shoot upward out of shock. “I didn’t think we were going to eat. I thought we were going to…”
“Fuck?” I smirk. “I’m not that type of guy, Kennedy. Can you lose the wig? I much prefer you with darker hair.”
I am that type of guy, but not with her. I haven’t stopped thinking about her since running into her at Saks. Especially her mouth. That mouth did wicked shit to my dick. Even now, in the low lighting of the car, every streak of light glints off of it, teasing me with what I can’t have.
She peels off the wig and tosses it onto the seat next to her before flattening her hair with her fingertips. “Every guy is that type of guy, Nix.”
“I’m not saying I don’t want to lay you down across the seat and fuck you right now, but there’s time for that later.”
“Maybe I don’t want to sleep with you.”
I laugh at her lie. I can see it in her eyes. She wants me just as badly as I want her. “I never said anything about sleeping.” She opens her mouth to reply but snaps it shut when I arch an eyebrow, challenging her.
When the car comes to a stop, my driver turns to face us. “Do you want me to stick around, Nix?”
“We’re fine. Head home for the night. I can handle it from here.”
Crane nods, but his eyes slide to Kennedy, and I know what he’s thinking without his saying a word. Kennedy’s peering out the window, crouched down to see the top of the building. He knows I don’t typically bring anyone back to my place, but I feel we need to be alone to discuss whatever it is she’s doing and what she’s hiding.
“We’re fine,” I tell him again to ease his fear since he hasn’t taken his eyes off her.
She moves closer to the window, almost pressing her nose against the glass. “Where’s the restaurant?”
I reach between her and the door, pressing my front to her back, and grab the handle. “Up there.” I push open the door and motion upward with my eyes when she peers up at me. “Ready?”
Her eyes slide back to the building. “Sure,” she says.
She grabs her wig and hops down from the specially designed Escalade.
“Nix,” Crane calls out before I have a chance to close the door. “Are you sure about this?”
Glancing back at Kennedy to find her staring up at the building and jostling between her feet, I say, “I got this, Crane. Swear. I know what I’m doing.”
“Not calling your thinking into question. Just making sure you’re using the right head, boss.”
I know Crane’s concerned, but I already checked Kennedy out before I headed to the club tonight. I let out a small laugh. “Be here tomorrow at ten. I have a meeting.”
What I was able to find out about her did shock me slightly, but nothing threw up red flags. Her dad is an ex-senator, and her brother-in-law is now a senator. It seems that Kennedy was the love child of a long-standing affair and was kept hidden away most of her life. A few years ago, news broke about the affair, and Kennedy’s face was splashed all over the newspapers and television. What the hell she’s doing with Hassan is my biggest question. I don’t know if she’s rebelling and trying to make up for her daddy’s issue, but she’s doing it with the wrong man—one who plays a very dangerous game.
“Yes, sir. Have a good night.”
“I plan on it.” I give him a quick wink before slamming the car door.
Placing my hand on the small of her back, I help nudge her toward the doorway. “I hope you’re hungry.”
