CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
MASON
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“We’ve been made,” I say, sitting back, spreading my legs as I tweak my mustache.
“We aren’t actual undercover agents,” Zander reminds me unnecessarily.
He was about to run out of patience anyway, so I knew we couldn’t keep up the cover for much longer.
That Lexi didn’t make us earlier is a miracle.
Then again, she’s been fighting off creeps at the bar every night and looks wary because of it.
That’s where I came in.
Whenever they headed to the bathroom, I’d follow, give them a clear warning and, boom!, problem solved.
Tonight, Zander and I are both wearing white ties with our black suits, throwing major Al Capone vibes. He loves it. It draws a lot of female attention, and he said one night he headed to the Obsidian Club after, and it worked a charm over there.
Not that he needs to do anything but show up. That goes for all of us.
At On The Rocks, I had to remind Zander that we weren’t there to pick up women, and to stop inviting groups of women over. It was distracting when I was trying to protect Lexi.
“Just get her some security,” Zander said one night, chewing on the end of an unlit cigar. “Instead of this stalker game. Not that I’m not enjoying it.”
Security wouldn’t have followed through like I did. They have a set of rules that I don’t have.
The past two nights, Zander has completely lost interest and spent the past few hours trading on his phone. On my six-figure dime which I knew I’d pay. But it’s kept him sitting in the booth with me.
That, and because he’s my friend.
“Doubled your money yet?” I ask as Lexi narrows her eyes and studies me closer.
Shit.
Zander pinches the screen to zoom, then grins. “Three hundred.”
Good. I’m glad he’s profited. But it’s a reminder that I could be doing a lot more with my time instead of, as he said, stalking Lexi.
Which I am.
Sort of.
“Listen, seeing as we’ve been made, I’m going to say this one last time.” Zander lowers his phone and looks at me across the table. “Give her a chance. Go on a date. You have to trust someone one day, and you clearly like her to go to all this trouble.”
I can’t.
Lexi’s working here because she knew I would fire her, and she’s right. While she’s in the United States, it’s my responsibility to protect her. The universe is a cruel bitch, sending this hot little minx my way.
She has a past, which makes it impossible for me to trust her, but that doesn’t mean my feelings for her are any less real.
We all have triggers, and I seem to attract women who are attracted to men with money and aren’t trustworthy.
If Mark Harrow hadn’t been in my office, I wouldn’t have a clue she had a shady employment history in England. Despite the lack of details.
My feelings might be real, but this time I can’t be accused of being paranoid.
I might want her.
But I can’t have her.
“She’s leaving.”
“Tell her to stay.”
No. That would mean expressing my feelings and...
Zander sees the panic in my eyes and shakes his head. “So let me get this straight. You’re willing to hand over a hundred thousand to drag me into this charade and buy the woman an entire apartment full of new furniture, but you still think she’s after you for your money.”
I never said that.
“It wasn’t an entire refurbishment.” I toss back my drink, wishing I’d never told him that part.
“Fine. Let her go.” He tosses some notes onto the table and stands. “Let’s go.”
No.
Also no.
No, no, no.
There’s a guy in a green blazer at the end of the bar I need to...
Zander smirks.
“Fine. Fuck off. See you at the wedding on Saturday.” I sigh and sit back.
I glance behind him and see Lexi heading our way.
We are definitely made.
Every message she’s sent thanking me for the items I’ve bought her has made me smile, imagining her world improving all while I wished she was beside me.
In my kitchen.
On my sofa.
In my bed.
Wrapped in my arms.
But my paranoia, not knowing if she’s someone I can trust, has kept me from driving over there, packing her fucking things and kidnapping her.
I’ve thought about it.
Night after damn night.
Zander glances over his shoulder and gives me one last look. Then winks. As they pass one another, he tips his cap, and her dark eyes lock on mine.
Here we go.
I rip off my glasses and prop my fist on my thigh, waiting for her sass.
“The mustache looks ridiculous.” Lexi crosses her arms as she stops beside the table.
It’s been too long since we’ve been this close, and the desire to pull her onto my lap is overwhelming.
“Want me to keep it on and see how it feels between your thighs?” I smirk, twisting one end.
Her frown fades momentarily, and I watch her lips part, sure she’s imagining me licking her pussy.
“Mason, stop.”
I stand towering over her and take a step closer, my hand going in a proprietary way to her hip. “No.”
“You need to go home.”
“Only if you quit right now and come home with me,” I tell her and mean it.
I’m losing the fight. The one keeping us apart for all the reasons I can barely remember.
“I don’t understand you at all.”
That makes two of us because I’m as fucking confused as she is. All I know is this woman belongs to me, and one way or another I need to know what happened at Harrow I’m not letting her go.