Page 177 of Red Marked

“Thanks. I think we’d better stick to Pearl. Flint might have a heart attack otherwise.”

Brian laughs. “You’re right.”

I take a sip. “Hmmmm…very nice.” I hold up the bottle. The logo is the silhouette of a dragon.

Atlas and Dane have claimed the grill; they’re standing over it, tongs in hand. Steaks hiss and spit against the grill. Smoke curls up between them, and Atlas says something that makes Dane bark out a laugh.

I’m halfway through my second sip when there is a shift in the air. The hairs on my body stand on end. I feel a shiver of awareness run down my spine.

I glance toward the pathway, seeing Flint arriving.

“You made it, boss.” Rift waves.

He lifts his brows.

He’s in shorts and a black shirt. His hair is still damp at the edges. I don’t think he’s shaved in a day or two because he has stubble. I love it when he has stubble. It works on him.

I feel him low in my belly.

I’m totally using that dildo tonight. He can go to hell if he thinks he can order me around after hours.

Not happening.

“Grab those bowls,” Rift says, appearing at my elbow with an armful of foil-covered dishes. “Salads are on the counter. Brian, get the rolls, will you?”

“On it.” Brian salutes with his beer and vanishes toward the kitchen door.

I help Rift unpack, carrying bowls of coleslaw and potato salad out to the folding table. There is salt and pepper, and an array of sauces already in the center of the table. Brian drops off a basket of buttered rolls and drifts back toward the grill, where the males have congregated.

“So.” Rift moves a sauce bottle and then moves it back again. “Is he still mad at you?” She looks at me, half frowning and half amused.

“Furious.” I straighten a stack of paper plates. “I almost got fired. If it weren’t for the real reason I’m here, he’d have already sent me packing.”

“Hmm.” She lines up the last bottle. “He looks seriously uptight. He’s had a carrot up his ass since you got here. I think there’s more going on with him than being angry.”

“Like what?” I frown.

“I don’t know. I’ve seen something between the two of you.” She glances toward the grill, toward Flint, who grabs a set of tongs out of Dane’s hand so that he can turn the steaks. “Something’s there.”

I laugh. “You’re seeing things.”

“Am I?”

“I mean, he’s gorgeous. I’m not blind,” I tell her. “I have noticed him. But there’s nothing there.”

“I would say that you’re either having sex or want to have it.”

I laugh again, louder this time. “No way. You know Flint.” I keep my voice down. “He’s also completely straitlaced. He wouldn’t go there. It’s against the rules, and Flint doesn’t break the rules.”

“You’d have sex with him, though?”

“Hell yeah.” I laugh.

I picture myself leaning over his desk. I feel his hand as it cracks down on my ass.

“I bet he wants to break all of those rules when it comes to you.”

I shake my head. “You have it wrong.”