“You’re too fucked up—”
“War!” I snarled.
A growl rumbled free as he glared in irritation, then muttered, “You’re a goddamn bastard, Griffin. She’s meeting Cal at the BlackRock.”
At the mention of her hooking up in our hotel, my teeth ground down. “Give me your keys.” I tossed him the ones to my Porsche.
Minutes later, the bike vibrating between my thighs, I cut through the thick traffic and headed for the BlackRock downtown. Parking at the front of the hotel in what felt like hours later, I leaped off the machine, flung the keys to the valet, who nodded when he saw me, and took the stairs three at a time. I sprinted into the foyer and headed for the busy bar. They’d better be here, or Calum Moore would be scrapings on the floor, and Ray would wish—
There she stood, near the low-lit counter, talking to the smirking asshole.
What was it with her and blonds? Biting back my irritation at the shit this girl so carelessly stepped into, I strode across the room, grasped Ray around the waist, and dragged her to me. “Sorry, bud, a misunderstanding with my girl here,” I flung a hard smile at Cal.
Ray’s gaze snapped to me. Her mouth fell open, snapped shut, then opened again. Before she created a scene, I hauled her away, wanting to get out of this place.
“What the hell are you doing?” She yanked at my hold, halting me. “Let me go!”
Guests turned. Shit. Lowering my voice, I bit out, “Create a scene, and I’ll give the guests something to talk about. My way, or yours?” I released her wrist.
Her eyes spitting fire, she pressed her lips together and crossed her arms. With one hand at the small of her back, I propelled her to the reception desk. It was best to talk to her in a quiet place and make her see the foolishness of her actions.
Ignoring the curious stares from the personnel behind the desk, I got the keys for the penthouse, then headed for the private elevator and steered her inside.
“What the heck are you doing?” She jerked away from me as the metal door rolled shut.
“We’re going to talk—”
“Go to hell!”
I gritted my teeth and remained silent, watching her as the elevator whooshed up. The moment it halted, and the door slid open, Ray folded her arms again and skewered me with a death-glare, refusing to move.
My patience flat-lining, I swept her up and dropped her over my shoulder. Her breath escaped in a rush, and the blissful moment of silence shattered. She slapped my back, finally finding her voice. “Put me down!”
I let her spend her fury, then she pinched my back, and she didn’t let go. It might only be a tiny little nip, but the thing stung like hell. I slapped her ass. Hard.
“Oww—” An outraged gasp. She rubbed her backside. “I’m going to kill you, Griffin, I swear. I’ll call the cops and charge you with abduction and assault!”
“Go ahead.” I stepped out of the elevator and headed for the penthouse. Using the key card, I flung open the door and then slammed it shut, walking into the suite of rooms. At least she’d stopped with the hitting and pinching. I strode through the living room into the bedroom and tossed her unceremoniously on the bed. She bounced once and then shot to her feet, her hazel eyes sparking a furious green—a stunning contrast to her light, honey-hued face.
“Take me back this minute!” She shoved back her inky hair falling in a striking, wavy mess to her shoulders. The fact she’d undone the silly pigtails she usually wore at the bar and that she’d dressed up for the dumbass jock of a hockey player irked me more than it should.
“Not until you listen.”
“To you? Never!” Her chest rose and fell in fury. “Why are you doing this?”
“Saving you? Because you have no sense of self-preservation. You just throw yourself at the sluttiest of men—”
“Iwantslutty,” she spat.
For some reason, that set me off.
“You want slutty? Do you? Very well.” I undid a few buttons of the gray dress shirt I’d worn to the office, grabbed the back collar, and dragged it off.
Her mouth formed a shocked O, eyes rounded like saucers. Then the words rushed out. “Wait-wait—Jack, what are you doing?”
“Oh, so you do know my name.”
Those lush lips thinned into a mutinous line.
