“I feel like I should bid on something, but I’m not sure my signing bonus was enough to cover the price of this stuff,” Dylan mused as he read over the details for a trip to Aspen.
I chuckled. “I didn’t invite you guys so you’d spend money. Besides, Fallon will probably come over here and outbid you anyway, just to keep up his stupid little intimidation act.”
Jase shook his head. “He’s married to a Secret Service agent. I think if he really wanted to scare us off, he could have Rhett threaten us or something like that.”
“He’s all bark and no bite. I promise. Besides, he knows I’ll kick his ass if he takes the protective-brother act too far.”
Dylan leaned in and whispered. “Damn, it’s hot when you talk about kicking someone’s ass.”
“Just remember, you don’t ever want to get on my bad side.” I smirked.
Eventually, we found our table, and the guys took a seat.
“Excuse me for a second. I’m going to find the restroom.”
They both nodded and started chatting with Fallon and Rhett.
The bathroom was quiet compared to the ballroom, and I took a moment to breathe. I washed my hands, checked my reflection, and fixed my hair. When I stepped back into the hall, I nearly collided with Callum.
“Faye,” he greeted, as if he’d been waiting for me to come out.
I stilled. “Callum.”
He raised a brow. “You’re looking beautiful tonight.”
My heart rate ticked up, but not in a good way. “Thanks.”
He tilted his head. “That trip you took earlier this month must’ve been exactly what you needed to recharge.”
I kept my expression neutral. “It was.”
“Funny thing, though. You told me you were there with friends of Fallon’s.”
“That’s right,” I said carefully.
“And yet,” he went on, his gaze narrowing, “the media seems convinced you’re dating Jase Matthewson.”
I met his gaze. “I don’t comment on speculation.”
He stepped a fraction closer, and I tried to back up, but my back hit the wall. I caught sight of Agent Pederson nearby. Our eyes met. I gave a subtle shake of my head. Other than being annoying, I didn’t think Callum posed a real threat.
“Yeah, but it makes it seem like you weren’t entirely honest with me when we ran into each other at that bar.”
Before I could respond, Dylan appeared at my side.
“She doesn’t owe you any explanations,” he said calmly, but I could feel the tension radiating off him. “So back off.”
Callum’s attention shifted to Dylan. “You seem awfully protective of your brother’s girl.”
Callum’s knowledge of Jase and Dylan didn’t go unnoticed, and a shiver ran down my spine. Sure, they’d had some media attention because of Chase and their strong draft performance, but they weren’t huge celebrities. It seemed more likely that Callum had been looking into the people I was connected to, and I didn’t like that at all.
Dylan didn’t blink. “Move.”
For a second, I wondered whether Callum would push back. Instead, he lifted his hands in mock surrender.
“Relax,” he said lightly. “We were just talking.”
“And now you’re done,” Dylan clipped.
