Page 18 of Mr. Edwards

He pulls up the stool beside me, and I raise my hand getting the bartender’s attention so I can order him a drink. “Beer?”

“Sure, thanks,” he says with a nod.

We polish off two beers each, without uttering another word. It’s a comfortable silence. Ashton gets like this when he’s brooding, but just being here helps. If the roles were reversed, I know he’d do the same.

“Amber messaged earlier to say the contracts for the Conrad deal were couriered over this afternoon,” I say. He and I are business partners in a very lucrative property development company. It’s how I made my millions.Ashton’s a trust fund baby. Money has never been a problem for him.

My parents grew up with nothing, but my father was a genius with numbers, and quickly became a self-made millionaire dabbling in the stock market within years of graduating from college. Life was good for them… for all of us. Until he got sick. They lost their entire fortune trying to save his life. It was a constant struggle after that, right up until I graduated college. But I’m living the dream now, and I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to care for my mother and younger sister in the process.

I look up when Ashton doesn’t acknowledge what I’ve said. His predatory gaze is honed in on a chick at the far end of the bar.Interesting. I observe them both for a few minutes. The woman in the red dress doesn’t appear to notice she’s being eye-fucked by my best friend, and as for Ashton, I’m pretty sure he hasn’t even blinked. It’s very unlike him.

My gaze darts to the chick beside her. “Did you hear a word I said, Ash?” I ask, my eyes now glued to her friend.

“Yep, every single one.”

“You fucking liar, what did I say then?”

He ignores me again, unable to tear his eyes away from Red. She’s pretty, but not my type. Her friend with the tattoos though… she looks like a good time.

“Check out the tits on that one in the red.” I bite my lip to try and hide my amusement when I hear him growl beside me. This is going to be fun.

“Put your eyes back in your head, asshole.” He gives me a death look, making me laugh. My attention purposely moves back to her. I’m goading him because I’m curious to see his reaction. “I’m serious,” he snaps.

“I’m gathering she wants people to look because they’re on display for the entire world to see.” I’m not surewhat’s going on with this woman, but she’s piqued his interest, and that makes me happier than I care to admit. It’s been too long since I’ve seen him act this way, maybe there’s hope for him yet.

“Just stop looking at her like that, all right?”

I give him a strange look. “Wow. When did you become so possessive of a woman?”

“Just drop it, okay?”

“Do you know her?” I ask. I’m fishing now. Is it a chance meeting, or has he met her before? When he lifts his beer to his lips, taking a chug and shrugging his shoulders I know there’s more to this. “Jesus, you do. Who is she, Black?”

“None of your business, Edwards.”

I stand because I’ll get it out of him if it’s the last thing I do. “Maybe I should go over there and introduce myself, then.” I’m bluffing, although I wouldn’t mind getting to know her friend a little better.

“Sit the fuck down.”

When he reaches for my arm to stop me, I laugh, ignoring his request. “I want to meet the woman that’s got your nuts on a platter.”

“I mean it, Gray. Don’t force me to hit you.”

“All right, lover boy, settle down.” I retake my seat.

“Lover boy,” he scoffs. “As if.”

Reaching over, I slap him on the back. “Keep telling yourself that, buddy. I’ve never seen you like this before…” I pause for a moment. “Well, not for a long time, anyway. Would you seriously punch me if I went over there?”

“Damn straight.”

I throw my head back and bark out a laugh. “I think every guy in this club has eye-fucked her tonight. Are you going to take us all on?”

“If I have to,” he grumbles.

Although I’m extremely pleased by his answer, I still shake my head in disbelief. “I’ll be fucking damned; this one’s got you good.” Even though he’s refusing to look at me, my eyes are glued to his profile. He appears to be in some kind of lust-induced trance. “Sweet baby Jesus. Who is this woman?”

“If you must know, I met her this morning, but that’s all you’re getting.”