“That’s all I can ask for. The trip shouldn’t take more than ten, twelve hours tops and Koby’s sitting this one out.”
Dante cocks an eyebrow, the unvoiced question clear as day.
“Everything she knows about you came from Vaughn,” I explain. “She’ll feel more comfortable if Koby’s with her.”
My eyes swing to the screens, zeroing in on Hailey and Koby at the upstairs bar. He’s not touching her anymore... but they’re not alone.
Fuck.
Pamela’s there with Layla, and the latter looks mighty pissed off, which never bodes well.
“Are we done here?” I ask, my attention laser-focused on the screen.
Hailey doesn’t seem alarmed, neither does Koby, but Layla’s body language tells me something’s off. Given Pam’s love for confrontation and unrelenting willingness to spread her legs wide open for me, I can make an educated guess as to what’s going on.
“Go.” Dante flicks his wrist, watching the screen along with me and everyone else in the room. “Tell Layla to come see me.”
I suppress a smile when his tone slips from the ever-present control he exudes around his men to unmistakable desire.
He loses his fucking head when Layla’s catty side comes out to play. Given how turned on I get by Hailey’s defiance, I can relate. I bet the boss won’t be joining us for a drink until he fucks that attitude out of his wife.
We leave Dante alone in his office and my feet carry me quickly to the bar. Koby catches my eye, a warning in that look, though it’s hard to guess what he’s warning me about.
“It was uncalled for,” Pam mumbles, nervously twisting her fingers. “I’m sorry.” Her eyes flicker to me when I stop beside Hailey. “Carter... I—”
“Zip it,” I clip, then flick my eyes to Layla. “Dante wants to see you in his office.”
A smile tugs her lips, the reason behind being summoned as clear to her as it is to me.
“Next time, take the trash out before inviting your girlfriend to the table,” she announces, with the cheekiest smirk, then saunters away, the rhythm of her clicking heels fading into the music blasting all around.
I turn to Hailey, perfectly aware Pam’s still here, fuming at Layla’s comment. “What happened, pretty girl?”
I expect that liquor filling of hers to take center stage. A dozen retorts to her possible scathing quips form in my head, but Hailey doesn’t say a word.
She takes a step forward, grabs the collar of my shirt, and yanks me down, her soft lips connecting with mine.
I pause for what must only be a second, but wars could be fought and lost in that time. One is. The war between what I’m desperate for—Hailey’s lips—and what I should do—push her away.
The war starts, ends, and I seize the moment, thrusting my tongue inside her sweet mouth, both hands snapping around her to drag her closer.
I’ve been denying myself those perfect lips for weeks. I’d still deny myself if it weren’t that pushing Hailey away right now, while Pam’s watching, would create more problems than it would solve.
Hailey’s marking her territory, as possessive as I am. Fuck that’s hot.
I bite her lower lip, swallowing her soft gasp, half-oblivious to the onlookers. Half-blind to our surroundings, focused solely on my girl melting in my arms.
God, I’ve missed her so fucking much.
I could do this for hours and not quench my craving. Dipping her head down, she ends the kiss, mischief shining in her eyes as she answers my question.
How does she remember? I haven’t the slightest fucking clue what I wanted to know.
“Nothing much. Pam’s apologizing for—” She halts, one eyebrow raised and little torches swimming in her eyes when Pam latches onto my arm.
“I’m sorry, Carter. I didn’t mean to spill the tea, but in my defense, I did it with good intentions, you know? I was looking out for her.”
Hailey glares at Pam’s long nails wrinkling my shirt, her whole demeanor changing from somewhat relaxed to combat-ready. And the domineering look on her gorgeous face... that pure territoriality makes my cock swell.
