Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 110360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 552(@200wpm)___ 441(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 552(@200wpm)___ 441(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
“You fucking bastard!” I boomed, my voice echoing through the restaurant.
Lofton’s head snapped in my direction, fear etched in her face. Her gaze flicked to Chris who was also staring in my direction, brows drawn tight with concern.
“Everything okay?” he asked, protectively inching closer to her.
I swallowed hard, but the rage lodged thick in my throat, choking out anything that even resembled a response.
Lofton must have caught Chris’s movement because the fear in her eyes didn’t just linger. It deepened, twisting into something terrifying. He was right there, within arm’s reach of her. However, in the next breath, she scrambled out of the booth and raced across the room—to me.
She hit me full force, arms wrapping around my waist like I was the only thing that could keep the earth from swallowing her whole.
Didn’t that just make me feel like the world’s biggest asshole.
I was supposed to be her safe space, one where I not only kept her unharmed and out of danger, but also never gave her a reason to question it. Once again, my personal bullshit had overflowed—directly onto her.
Guilt iced my veins, extinguishing my anger in an instant.
“Easy, babe. You’re good.” I folded one arm around her, the other cradling the side of her head, anchoring her to my chest.
“What’s wrong?” she croaked. The tremor in her voice felt like claws ripping me open.
“Nothing. I just got pissed for a second. You’re safe. I swear.”
We stood there for several seconds as her breathing slowed. I glanced up to find Chris standing with her friends. Brittany gave me a skeptical once-over while Francine looked downright delighted by the situation.
Chris, however, still had his brows drawn, but his face was hard as he stared at Lofton’s back.
Great. Fucking perfect. The whole damn team was going to be riding my ass now.
And it wouldn’t have been complete without one last blow.
Leo’s voice came through my earpiece again. “Yeah. Definitely not any blurred lines there…babe.”
He was my boss, who I usually considered a friend, but I did not hesitate in flipping off the camera hidden in the corner of the room.
“Yeah, fuck you too, buddy. Get your shit together,” he rumbled, before my earpiece fell silent.
The wise thing to do would have been to heed his warning, take a step away, act like a fucking professional, and quell her fears without the stir of my cock between us.
Though with Lofton, I wasn’t sure I had a rational brain anymore.
“I promise you’re good,” I whispered, rubbing my hand up and down her spine.
Her timid blue gaze tipped up to mine. “Is Daddy okay?”
Apollo’s answer came fast in my ear as if he had been glued to the security camera watching his favorite soap opera. I really hoped that prick had made popcorn, because when I got back, he would not have time for a last meal.
“All clear,” he stated. “He’s still asleep.”
I relayed the message, and her body sagged.
Still, I didn’t let her go.
“Who were you yelling at?” she asked.
I grinned, hoping it would ease any lingering nerves. “Leo was giving me shit, things got heated, it’s what we do. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“What was he giving you shit about?”
You. This. And my utter inability to keep any semblance of professionalism.
“Just some work crap. Paperwork, billing hours, nothing for you to worry about.”
She nodded, color finally returning to her cheeks.
I jerked my chin toward the other side of the room. “Go back and hang with your friends. Everything’s cool.”
“Actually, I think we should call it a night. It’s getting late.”
I sighed, acrid guilt souring my stomach. “Lofton, seriously, everything’s good. No reason to leave.”
She smiled, forced and fake, but no less beautiful. “I know, but we gotta be up early. I was planning on making biscuits and gravy in the morning.”
“Woman, you know that’s my weakness,” I teased.
She giggled, soft and sweet.
“Fine, go say bye to your friends. Chris will make sure they get home after we leave.”
“Can I go to the restroom first? I think I drank an entire bottle of wine by myself.”
“Of course.” I winked, not giving a fuck what Leo thought about that one.
As we headed to the back of the restaurant, Chris passed us, fluidly switching places with me in order to cover the front door.
The bathroom was empty, but I still went in first and cleared the room before walking out to stand guard at the door.
And what a fucking mistake that was. Standing there alone, after the scene I’d caused, I might as well have hung a neon open sign around my neck.
Brittany materialized in front of me like she’d been waiting for the opening all night. Arms crossed, chin up, a pleasant smile that didn’t fool me one bit.
“So,” she said. “What exactly are your intentions with my girl?”
I kept my eyes aimed over her head, scanning the room. “To keep her alive.”