Company?He glanced over her shoulder to take in the man watching them. The voices in his head grew louder. What the fuck was she playing at?
“Now, now, don’t sulk.” She leaned close again, her gaze imploring as she whispered, “Please play along,” then her features relaxed, and in a louder, more seductive purr, she said, “I’ll make it up to you later.”
Avery still wasn’t sure what she was doing, but the fact she’d already broken every rule she laid down just yesterday made him curious. “I’ll hold you to that promise…later.”
He spun her around, tucked an arm around her waist, and walked her forward, his gaze locked with the man waiting for them. Reaching around her, he extended a hand. “Avery Preston.”
The guy pushed off the counter and shook his hand. “Chase Murdoch.”
Avery bent to kiss the side of her neck. “Why don’t you go grab your coat. We’ll entertain ourselves.”
She seemed reluctant to leave them alone. He was tempted to send her on her way with a slap to her ass, but that might have been pushing his luck. Besides, he didn’t want to antagonize theguy since he really didn’t know who he was to her. He could be her brother or a friend. Or a boyfriend.
Nah, a boyfriend wouldn’t let his girl go out with another guy. Unless he was expecting part of the payout. But that wasn’t the vibe Avery was getting from either of them. Murdickhad ex written all over him.
Fuck it.
He slapped her ass, garnering a small, “oh,” from her before she hurried down the hall rubbing the offended cheek.
His lips curled upward as he watched said ass sway with each step, but his smile faded as he turned back to Murdick, who was also staring at her ass. Definitely not a brother.
Avery took a step forward. “My apologies for interrupting your visit. I’m sure you’ll understand if we can’t linger.”
“That’s okay.” Murdick slowly turned back to Avery, a sly grin splitting his face. “I got what I came for.”
The fuck? Was he insinuating they’d had sex before he arrived? He shook his head mentally. Legs didn’t look like a woman who’d been fucked into oblivion. Actually, she looked like a woman who hadn’t been satisfied in a long, long time. She looked pissed.
It’s none of your business, anyway.
Still, he had a strong urge to knock that smirk off the fucker’s face. It wasn’t like he was jealous. He just didn’t like the predatory gleam in Murdick’s eyes, like a bobcat ready to pounce on unsuspecting prey.
She returned wearing— What the fuck was that? He squinted to make sure he was seeing it right because the tiny black jacket encased her arms but barely covered her tits.
“I’m ready,” she said, her smile brilliant in the dim light of the apartment as she slipped her hand in his.
“Guess, that’s my cue.” Murdick grabbed his coat. “Anything you want me to tell your dad?”
“Tell Walt…” Her gaze darted to Avery and back to Murdick. “Tell him I’m fine, and that I’ll call him when I know what my plans are.”
As soon as the door closed, she let go of his hand and visibly wilted, eyes closed, shoulders sagging.
Which made Avery seriously reconsider fucking the guy up or taking her into his arms. She wouldn’t like that, though, and he sure didn’t need her reading more into it than there was.
Instead, he curled his fists at his sides. “Are you okay?”
Back stiffening, she opened her eyes and pinned him with a frigid stare. “Let’s just go.”
He started to suggest a heavier coat, but Legs was out the door in a heartbeat, impatiently waiting to lock up.
As they exited the building, bright lights from the monster truck he’d seen in the parking lot earlier blinded them.
“Asshole,” she muttered as she hunched into the cold.
Avery tucked her against his side. “Asshole’s still watching.”
When she didn’t balk, he kissed the top of her head, then hustled her toward his car. He’d forgone his get-around-towntruck for the sleek black Aston Martin Vanquish Coupe he’d splurged on last spring.
“Watch your head,” he said as she folded into the passenger seat.
