Page 41 of Highest Bidder

His voice cut across the drive, cold and lethal. “What the fuck did you just say to her?”

****

Jeff

I’d been watching the driveway feed, phone in hand, waiting to make sure the car arrived without issue. That was the excuse, anyway. Truth was, I wanted to see her the moment she stepped out.

And when she did, fuck me.

Her hair was down, legs bare beneath a short, black dress, and her collar fastened perfectly in place. She looked stunning. My cock twitched just looking at her.

Then the driver leaned in and said something.

I tapped the volume.

“…Let me know your bottom-line price. I’ll see how much I can scrape together.”

My vision went red, and I threw open the front door and stalked down the steps.

“What the fuck did you just say to her?”

Tom turned, startled. “Sir, I didn’t—”

“Don’t lie to me.”

He took a step back. “It was a joke.”

“You think I’m laughing?”

Vivian stood frozen beside the car, lips parted in shock. I didn’t even look at her. All my fury was aimed at the asshole who thought he could talk to her like that.

His mouth opened like he was going to argue, but one look must’ve told him better. He climbed into the driver’s seat, and I leaned down so only he could hear.

“If you ever speak to her like that again, I will break your fucking jaw and make sure you’re blackballed from every private client in the state. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Drive. And don’t come back.”

Tom pulled away slowly, eyes on the rearview mirror the whole time. I didn’t move until the car turned the corner and disappeared from sight.

Then I turned to her.

She didn’t speak. Just stared like she wasn’t sure what to say.

Hell, I wasn’t either.

She looked too good, dammit. That tight dress, that collar. I was happy to see her, and that pissed me off. I hated that I’d missed her. That some part of me had been counting down the days since she left.

This wasn’t supposed to matter.

“Get in the house,” I said, my jaw tight. “And for fuck’s sake, take off that damn dress.”

***

Vivian

That’s it? No,hello. No,you look nice. Just an order to get inside and strip.