“I don’t think strapping on my heels is in your job description.”
“Sure it is. It falls under whatever it takes to keep the client happy and safe.” His fingers brush my ankle as he positions the shoe, and I stop breathing. “Besides, I have five sisters. I’m an expert in complicated footwear.”
He works the straps easily. When his fingers wrap around my ankle to hold it steady, I feel his touch everywhere.
This is bad. This is very, very bad.
He fastens the tiny buckle and runs his fingers along the strap to make sure it is secure. “Too tight?”
I shake my head, not trusting myself to talk.
He picks up the second shoe, and I let him. My brain has apparently exited the conversation, and my pussy is taking over. His hand on my other ankle is just as gentle, and when he looks up at me through his lashes to ask if it’s comfortable, I have forgotten every reason I wanted him gone.
“Good?” he asks.
“Yep,” I manage to squeak out.
He runs his thumb along the inside of my ankle, and something lingers between us. It definitely violates professional boundaries.
A throat clears from the doorway, and Rhodes jerks back like he has been electrocuted as I look up to find Ace standing there.
“Riley’s here,” he says.
“Great.” I stand and test the heels. They are perfect, damn him. “Let’s go.”
Rhodes stands, too, and I don’t miss the slight flush on his cheeks or the way Ace’s eyes track between us.
Yeah. This is definitely not going to end well. Yet as I grab my clutch and head for the door, I can’t quite bring myself to care.
Chapter Two
Ace
The club comes into view, and I’m already on edge. Maddie and Riley don’t even wait for us to perform a security check; they jump from the SUV and walk straight through the front door.
“Jesus Christ,” I mutter, watching Maddie’s hips sway as she disappears inside.
Rhodes shifts beside me, and I don’t miss the way he looks at her. My relationship with Rhodes won’t impact how I do my job, but picturing those two fucking might.
“She’s something special,” he says, and I want to punch him in the throat. I’m not usually a jealous man.
Rhodes and I have known each other for a couple of years, and things turned sexual between us a year ago. We’re not exclusive, and though he fulfills my needs, we both also like women. It’s just not easy to find one given our jobs. What we have works for us.
Vander’s already moving, following the girls inside without a word. At least someone understands protocol.
“Let’s go,” I grumble. “We need to sweep the building before those two get themselves into trouble.”
Inside, the bass is already pounding out some ridiculous techno version of a song that was perfectly fine before they ruined it. I scan the space, noting the exits, blind spots, and anywhere someone could be waiting.
The girls head straight for the bar, and I watch closely as the bartender lines up two shots before they even order. Maddie throws hers back effortlessly, and I force myself to look away before my thoughts go somewhere they shouldn’t. She makes it almost impossible to be professional. The number of times I have pictured her on her knees should be illegal.
“Vander,” I bark into my comm. “Eyes on them. Don’t let them out of your sight.”
Rhodes heads toward the back hallway, used only by the staff, and I follow. I know the building is clear. I called our visit in before we even left Maddie’s apartment and made sure they had extra security on the roster tonight.
“Left side,” Rhodes says, nodding toward a door.
Before he can reach for the handle, I grab his shirt and slam him against the wall. His eyes go wide, but he doesn’t fight back. He simply stares at me with an infuriating smirk on his lips.
