Page 60 of All Tied Down

“Like I said, not innocent at all,” Garrett says. “But you brought a bodyguard, and I’m not explaining to your father why he had to stand outside the door while you were screaming my name.”

“We brought a bodyguard.”

“We’d be more likely to be mobbed at the grocery store than here.”

“Never say never, Rockstar. Now,”—I push my tits against his chest and run my tongue along the sensitive skin behind his ear—“go, before we cause a scene. Theo said it’s forbidden.”

He laughs as he shakes his head, his dark hair falling across his forehead. “Stay here and don’t move.” Garrett points at the high-top table. “Please, I’m begging you. I don’t want to have to fight someone for looking at my wife.”

His eyes drag over my black cropped tank, black leather pants, and sky-high red heels that match the lipstick I had to reapply before we even left the house.

Husband approved.

“Mmm, say it again,” I taunt as Garrett moves us so the edge of the table bites into my back.

“Make no mistake about it, Em, I will destroy anyone that puts their hands on my wife.”

“Well, hurry back, Rockstar. Talking like that has my panties absolutely soaked.”

“You’re in so much fucking trouble when we get home,” he growls, the low gravel of his voice allowing me to not get caught up in the word home as he presses his erection against my belly.

“I’m counting on it, Mr. North.”

And tonight I’m not above begging for it either.

“You should go talk to him.” The words make Garrett whip his head toward me with a sheepish expression.

“Sorry, I got caught up in the music,” he says, like I haven’t been watching him for the last twenty minutes gaze intently at the guy playing lead guitar.

The sexual tension that had been hot enough to start a fire fizzled to embers as the band took the stage.

Which was probably better because I had considered dragging him down the hall to the bathroom. No matter how much space people have given us tonight, there’s no way they’d ignore me getting railed in the bathroom.

Ozzy would be laughing.

My father would be disappointed.

And Theo would be pissed he had to say I told you so.

So no sex in public it is.

Not that I’ve ever done that—tarnishing my reputation was unfathomable. Now look at me—older, smarter, and ready to throw all that to the curb to have an orgasm in a small-town bar with my fake husband.

My, how things change…

“Do you want me to go talk to him?” I ask, trying not to dwell on that particular thought process.

“What? No. Why would you⁠—”

“Because it seems like you need a wingman and honestly, I’m great at it. I’m not just a pretty face, you know.”

“You’re gorgeous and sexy as hell and so god damn brilliant it’s incredible.”

“Look at you throwing out the charm.” I circle my fingertip around the rim of my glass. “I don’t know if you know this, Mr. North, but tonight…I’m a sure thing.”

Chuckling, he runs his hand over the back of his neck and sighs. “I can’t poach him from his band, especially not when I don’t know what’s happening with mine.”

“Okay, but is there any harm in being like, ‘hey you’re really great; are you from around here?’”