“Why are you walking like that?”
She turned to me accusatory. “My legs are sticky!”
I took a moment to hide my smile and rub my rough face. “But I haven’t even touched you yet.”
Britta stopped in her tracks, mouth agape, eyes wide.
If I wasn’t mistaken, she quivered at my words.
She shook her head. “From the alcohol. I’m sticky... from the alcohol.”
“Well... since it was my fault, I’ll help you clean it up.”
“Do you have your ticket, sir?” the valet asked, interrupting just in time.
Britta remained somewhat caught in the moment, lingering on my words. I handed the valet the number, and he quickly jogged off to retrieve my car. Approaching Britta’s left, I wrapped my arm around her right hip and murmured into her ear, “Everything okay?”
She swallowed hard and then nodded quickly.
I heard the rumbling engine of my Lamborghini as it turned into the drive. “Come,” I ordered, and again she shivered. Leading Britta to the car, she climbed in under the door, and I went to the driver’s side.
“I’m going to get alcohol all over your seat,” Britta said as I pulled out of the drive.
“They’re leather, and it’s due for a detail tomorrow.”
We hit the city streets in no time, colorful lights flickering off the clean glass.
When we hit traffic in the city center, Britta broke the silence.
“I didn’t do anything, you know.”
“When?”
“With Jarod.”
“Okay.”
“He wanted to, but... well, it’s Jarod.”
“Mmhmm...”
“I wonder if he knows how transparent he is.”
Silence fell between us while I mulled over my thoughts.
“You have nothing to say about it?”
I turned to her while I slowed the Lambo to the lights. “Britta, I know you can look after yourself.”
“You seemed pretty pissed about it. Your vein was twitching.”
This made me laugh. “My vein was twitching?”
“Yes, it twitches when you’re mad. And tonight, I thought it was going to explode.”
I nodded at her assessment, surprised at how much she paid attention. Rubbing my jaw, I considered my words carefully before deciding to say my piece. The truth was, my blood was boiling at the mention of Jarod and his intentions, but she didn’t need to know that.
“With friends, Jarod can sometimes be a good guy. He knows how to throw a party and looks after his guests. But for the most part, the guy is an outright fuckwit, narcissist, who cares nothing for the people he hurts. He doesn’t give a flying fuck who he fucks... no offense...”
She replies with, “None taken.”
“... and he clearly didn’t care about the beating he would have received if he laid a finger on you.”
“Well...” she heaved a sigh. “I didn’t hesitate to put him in his place.”
I smiled while watching the road. Britta has four older brothers who taught her how to deliver a good left hook over the years. In fact, seeing Britta slug one at Jarod certainly would have made my night.
“And what about the redhead?”
“What about her?”
“I’ve never seen her around before.”
“Neither have I.”
“Really? You two seemed to be pretty cozy for strangers.”
I stroked my chin hiding my smile. “You sound like you have a problem with her.”
Britta did her best to appear indifferent. “There was just something about her, I guess.”
“Ms. Valentino, are you jealous?”
She scoffed, unconvincingly. “I’m far from jealous, Hawk. Like I said, there was just something about her. She appeared... snide. Like she owned you.” A silence settled between us before she continued, “And you appeared to like it.”
“I prefer brunettes.”
“Not blondes? Not redheads?”
“Nope.”
“Hmmm...”
I let Britta mull over those words. She would no doubt be pulling apart each letter because that was what she was like.
“You smell too good,” she finally said.
I smiled. “I do?”
“You do.”
I watched for a moment, my eyes traveling the length of Britta’s body. She bit her lip, and I wanted to suck it into my mouth. “I’m happy you approve of how I smell.”
Her lips tried to form a smile. She was embarrassed, but somehow, I couldn’t stop the banter.
“You’re so cocky.”
“What are you saying about my cock?”
She burst out laughing in her usual beautiful and contagious giggle.
“And that there is a prime example. Your ego is huge.”
“You’re a dirty girl, Britta Valentino. Talking about my huge cock. I thought you were a lady.”
She laughed again, this time so hard she snorted and playfully slapped my arm.
“Behave yourself! You’re corrupting my innocent mind.”
I eyed her delicious body, hugged possessively by her red dress. “Ohh... Britta. Corrupting you would be quite the thrill.”
My eyes moved between the road and her chest which was rising and falling heavily, practically panting. There was raw tension that hung thickly between us, and I could see from Britta’s eyes, she was starting to get lost in my world. I wanted her lost. I wanted her stumbling and feeling her way. And I wanted to be the one who pulled her through it.MONDAY COULDN’T HAVE come around any slower.