My lip curls, and even Elizabeth’s normally unflappable expression grows tight.
Finn comes to a dead stop. Even though he’s like an annoying brother, I can admit that he’s attractive. His fitted black T-shirt shows his lean, muscled build, and with his tousled hair, tattoos, and black-frame glasses, he looks like a nerdy bad boy. But it’s not Finn Keke is staring at.
Something ugly twists in my stomach, and I clench my teeth to keep from saying something rude.
Liev has rolled the sleeves of his white dress shirt, exposing the tattoos on his powerful forearms, and when I see Keke lickher lips, her expression almost predatory, I want to punch her in the face.
Her lazy smile grows as she paces forward. Finn stiffens, but Liev’s body remains relaxed. He looks… amused.
Stopping in front of him, Keke does another appraisal, her attention lingering on his torso, before she trails a red fingernail down his forearm.
“Uh uh uhhh.” Liev shakes his head with a flirtatious smile. “No touching.”
My chest clenches. I don’t want to watch this, but the scene unfolding holds my gaze like a magnet.
“Keke, these men are professionals, and you need to treat them that way.” I’m grateful that Elizabeth sounds as annoyed as I am.
“Relax. I’m just enjoying the view.” She smiles at Liev. With her height and the heeled boots, she’s almost eye level with him. Her voice pitches low, but I can still easily make out the words. “I’ve had alotof bodyguards, but unfortunately, they aren’t always a good fit. They can’t all keep up with my… needs.”
“Keke,” her manager snaps.
The sudden short-notice need for security is becoming clear. I’ve heard too many stories from Callum and Rhodes about their female clients who think sex on demand is part of the job description.
Her gaze goes to Finn, and she sighs happily. “I’ll take both.”
“No,” Finn says in a flat voice before walking away.
He brushes past me just as Keke giggles. “That’s okay. I’m sure this one will be enough.”
Liev’s gaze lands briefly to me, and his smile drops.
It’s nothing anyone else would notice, but I do. He doesn’t owe me anything. We kissed. Like he said, it was an experiment. It didn’t mean anything.
Biting my tongue, I turn back into the room before I can give myself away. I’m such an idiot. I told him a sob story, and he felt bad for me. He’s not interested. If he were, he would have taken it farther. Instead, he left.
Of course, he’d be interested in Keke. She’s perfect. Two ridiculously undamaged, hot people. It’s a no-brainer.
The lump in my throat is thick, and I’m grateful when Finn doesn’t say anything, just continues to click away at his computer.
I’m still staring blankly at the monitor a few minutes later when Vincent sticks his head in the door.
“Sera, we need you upstairs.”
The tensionin the conference room is thick when Vincent and I enter. As we climbed the stairs, all Vincent would say was that no matter what was said, I needed to just smile and nod.
“No outbursts, Sera.” I open my mouth to retort, and he gives me a hard look, so I settle for a nod.
Brady sits on one side of the table, with Liev to his right. Elizabeth and Keke’s manager flank her on the other side.
One glance at my brother’s posture tells me he’s furious.
What could possibly have happened in the few minutes they’ve been up here that has him so mad?
Liev glances at me, his mouth curving into a slow, welcoming smile that sends a confusing rush through my chest. It’s not until I’ve taken the seat next to Liev that I realize Keke is glaring at me.
She doesn’t even try to conceal it.
Vincent clears his throat. “Sera, thanks for joining us.”
