Page 23

“Okay,” I answer, stepping toward the sofa and sitting down.

I lean back and watch as he reads whatever is in front of him, his long fingers clutching the edge of the paper as he leans back in his big, leather chair. His sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, the first few buttons of his shirt left undone and showing a smattering of chest hair.

Why the hell can’t I look away?

His gray eyes capture mine and I find myself caught in his gaze yet again. He slowly drops the paper onto the desk as I shift in the seat.

The air crackles around us and for a second I forget who I am, what I’m here for. I shouldn’t be thinking these things, shouldn’t be imagining what he’d look like without clothes on. He’s a job, dammit!

“This can wait,” he announces, his voice deep. I watch him intently as he stands up, lifting his jacket off the back of the chair and grabbing his keys. “Ready?” he asks, raising his brows at me.

“Yep!” I leap up off the sofa and rush to the door, opening it up and walking ahead of him as I try to get rid of my wandering thoughts.

His chuckle bounces off the walls of the hallway and I cringe, realizing that I’m acting ridiculous and feeling guilty for no reason, it’s not like I’ve done anything.

I slow down when I push through the door and walk into the main room with Jonny behind me.

I wait for him as he switches the lights off. “Why do you always do this on your own?” I ask, curious as we walk out of the first set of doors.

“I trust my men,” he says, stepping toward me and clicking off the last of the lights. “But I don’t trust them fully, you’d be a fool to trust anyone inexplicably.”

I tilt my head at him as he holds the main door open, a smile on his face. “Huh.”

“What?” he asks, placing his hand on my lower back when the door is locked and we’re walking to his car.

“I just thought you’d have minions to do it, that’s all.” I shrug and look up to him, smirking.

He throws his head back and laughs, the sound deep and booming. My skin prickles at the sound and I try to shake it off.

“Yeah, I have minions.” He smirks, pressing the button on his key fob and making the lights on his teal blue sports car flash. “But if I’ve learned anything over the years, it’s to never put your life in someone else’s hands.”

His eyes flash with something that I can’t decipher as he pulls open the passenger door for me, his arm grazing against mine.

My breath catches in my throat as we stand there, locked in a stare. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who is so… intense.

I turn away from him, swallowing against the lump in my throat as his words ring in my head.

He closes the door once I’m inside and I wait with bated breath for him to get in the driver’s seat.

The smell of leather and cologne surrounds me and I can’t help my hand sliding along the buttery soft leather seats. Being in a car this expensive is kind

of scary, knowing that I’m sitting on thousands of dollars.

The engine roars to life and he places his hand on the back of my seat as he reverses out of his spot, his breath fanning across my cheek.

“So…” Jonny starts, clearing his throat as we head toward Wayward. “How you liking the club so far?”

“It’s… nice?”

“Not a fan of the dancing?” he asks, flicking his eyes to mine briefly before looking back at the road ahead.

“I mean, what they do is incredible, it has to take some real stamina to get up there five nights a week and hang upside down on a pole.” I worry my lip, wondering whether I should say what I’m thinking. “I suppose it’s just the stigma that comes with it, eh. I mean, I know that those girls are clean, that they don’t fraternize with the customers, but others don’t know that.”

“I only employ girls who stick to the rules, first sign of trouble and they’re out,” he explains, his face turning serious when he turns the wheel as he takes a corner too fast for my liking. “Garrett giving you any trouble?”

“Nah,” I answer, shuffling down in the seat. “He’s okay… never stops talking though, I mean, sheesh, he just doesn’t shut up.”

He roars with laughter as we pull up to the apartment building, leaving the engine running as we both get out.