“All set.” My voice is gruff. Shit, I need to tamp down my lust for her.
Tonight is a business event, Wild. It’s not a fucking date.
But, when Mia turns around to look at me, her eyes are wild with need.
“Ready to go?” she says in a calm tone that belies her expression.
She’s a true professional. Like me. Maybe we’re too good at business and don’t give ourselves a break to have any pleasure. But, that’s the deal we struck, and I’m not going to break my promise to her.
I give her a quick nod. “Ready.”
As we step outside the cabin and walk the few steps to my truck, I glance at Mia’s bare legs. “Will you be cold?”
She shakes her head. “I’m a Montana girl, Wild. You’re the Southerner.”
I chuckle and open the passenger door for her. “That’s true. I’ve lived in Colorado and Montana for years, but I don’t know if I’ll ever get fully used to the cold weather.”
Mia steps up into the truck. “Maybe you just need someone to keep you warm.”
My heart lurches, and I close the door behind her before I give my answer to the cold Montana air. “Maybe I do.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Mia
Declan sticks right by my side as we walk through the hotel ballroom. I look around at the large space decorated in Wild Kings swag. The blue and silver Kings banner hanging across the main wall is eye-catching, and the silver and blue balloons scattered throughout exude a sense of celebration.
“Everything looks so beautiful,” I comment as we walk across the floor.
Declan rests his hand lightly on my lower back, and I have to keep reminding myself that this is all for show. Every time his hand shifts and his thumb lightly grazes my back, my thighs clench.
This is so not good. At this rate, I’ll have to excuse myself for the restroom so I can calm my hormones.
“Are you all right?” he whispers into my ear.
“Uh-huh. Fine.”
He runs his thumb over the thin fabric of my dress again, and my stomach goes into knots.
Maybe if he would freaking stop touching me…but he seems incapable of keeping his hands to himself tonight. His hand leaves my back but only so he can take my hand in his.
“I like being here with you,” he murmurs in my ear.
I bite down hard on my lip so the moan threatening at the base of my throat won’t come out.
This is going to be a long night.
* * *
Declan
As soon as we walk toward our dinner table, my teammates swarm Mia.
Jared wants to know how she stands my moodiness.
Max asks her if I hog the remote the way I always do when he visits.
Arch just wants to shake the hand of the woman who can put up with my shit.
