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It worked. She backed away like she’d just been put under a spotlight.

“Why’d you do that?” Blue narrowed her eyes.

“Do what?”

“Give her that charming West Brooks smile. The one that probably made her feel like she was being graded and she was this close to an A-plus.”

I opened my mouth to deny it, to tell her I didn’t know what she was talking about—but I did. I always knew. That smile made people uneasy. It kept them at a distance. It made them retreat.

And most days, that was exactly what I wanted.

But not today.

Not with her.

Still holding her hand, I leaned in again, changing the subject entirely. “Tell me, What are you gonna do all week while I’m in Atlanta?”

“Same thing I always do. Work. Spend time with my dad. But don’t think just because your tongue had its way with my pussy that you get to skip out on backing me up at the bar Friday night.”

“I know the rules.”

“You break all the rules,” she said, shaking her head. “You suck at rules.”

“There are a few rules I wouldn’t dare break.”

She stilled, her expression shifting into something that felt half-playful, half-serious. “There’s one you better not fucking break.”

I held her gaze, trying to read her tone, but she gave me nothing. So I nodded slowly. “Okay. What’s the rule?”

She leaned in, eyes dead set on mine. “You better not fall in love with me.”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

BLUE

Before West could respond,our steaks were placed in front of us, the scent of garlic butter and seared meat rising between us. We ate quietly, chewing through comfortable silence. When we did talk, it was about work, about the bar, and about how we were just a couple of weeks away from the big dinner with the guy West was trying to do business with.

Nothing deep. Nothing heavy.

But still, it felt like something.

By the time we stepped out of the diner, Marshal and Marcus were both out front, standing like statues beside the second SUV. Our drivers were in position, sunglasses on, all professional and stone-faced.

Without a word, West tossed the keys he had used to drive us into town to Marshal, who caught them effortlessly. Then West gave him a sharp jerk of his chin, making Marshal head toward the driver's seat so we could be alone.

He reached for the back door, but instead of opening it right away, he pulled me close, anchoring me to his chest.

“This is just for show. For everyone walking by, watching everything we do,” he murmured before leaning down and pressing a kiss to my lips.

When he pulled away, I stared at him, amused. “You know damn well that wasn’t necessary.”

He shrugged like a boy who’d just been caught sneaking a cookie. “Couldn’t help myself,” he said with that sheepish, troublemaker grin. Then he opened the door and gestured for me to get in, like a gentleman from a different era.

I climbed in, and the door shut behind me with a soft thud. West stood for a second, watching the SUV pull away before finally turning and heading toward his own ride.

“Where to, Mrs. Brooks?” Marshal asked from the driver’s seat, catching my gaze in the rearview mirror.

“Home,” I said with a smile. “Then wait for me, because I need to be at work. I never picked up my car.”