Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
NATHAN
Tonight is Midnight Mischief’s five-year anniversary, and the club is even more of a circus than usual. The whole city’s here, and I’m supposed to be schmoozing, but all I care about is showing off my gorgeous girl.
I wasn’t sure she’d want to come tonight.
I thought she hated these things, but she seems to be in her element.
And I couldn’t be happier. I keep my hand glued to the small of her back because I like the feel of her under my palm, but mostly because I want every son of a bitch in the room to know she’s mine.
She blushes when I whisper it in her ear, but I swear she stands a little taller.
I introduce Roni to every motherfucker around, letting them know she’s all mine. “This is my girlfriend, Veronica.” I’m not subtle about it, but I don’t want to be.
Dee comes over and whispers something to Roni that makes her giggle, and that little dimple on her right cheek pops. I can’t resist leaning over to kiss it. I don’t care who sees. Let them fucking look.
Across the room, I spot Terrence “TJ” James holding court at a table, surrounded by his group of assholes. I know him from way back, before the money and the power. And he’s still a fucking pain in my ass.
I don’t like the way he’s watching Roni.
He isn’t even trying to hide it. I can feel his gaze running all over her, slow and greedy.
My jaw flexes, and I have to fight the urge to go over there and punch his teeth in just for looking at her.
My fists actually curl, knuckles popping.
I keep my arm tight around Roni’s waist. She smells like coconut and heaven, and all I want is to whisk her out of this room and get her naked, but I can’t.
Not yet. I have to play nice for another… God, at least two more hours.
Roni leans up on her tiptoes, lips brushing my ear. “You’re squeezing me,” she whispers, but she doesn’t sound mad. Nope. She sounds a little breathless. Maybe turned on.
I loosen up. Just a little. “Sorry, baby.” I lean down and plant a kiss right on the spot behind her ear that makes her shiver. “You know I can’t help myself when you wear that dress.” Damn. The second I saw her in it, my brain went offline.
Blue silk. Not just blue—it’s the kind of electric, dangerous blue that matches her eyes perfectly. It’s soft, too, like water sliding over her skin. I can’t stop touching the fabric, can’t stop tracing the way it clings to every curve. I swear it was made for her body and only for her.
She makes this adorable little sound in the back of her throat.
My cock is instantly at attention, but I ignore it because Roni is smiling up at me, and all I care about is making her happy.
Her lips are glossy, and she’s got this look in her eye that makes me want to haul her up right here and kiss her senseless.
But I don’t. I tuck her closer and steer us toward the next group of VIPs, determined to get through the rest of the night without throttling anyone.
Dee follows along for a bit, chatting up the local news anchor and shooting me smirks every time Roni blushes.
My girl tries to play it cool, but she’s glowing.
I can barely focus on what anyone is saying because all my attention is on Roni.
The way her hair catches the light. The way her hips sway when she walks.
The way she snuggles into my side, where she belongs.
Eamon appears at my shoulder, not a hair out of place, headset jammed to one ear. He leans in and pitches his voice just low enough that only I can hear. “TJ’s credit card declined.” Not fucking surprising. It’s a new year, and my resolution is to get rid of the unnecessary shit. Like him.
“Let him and his group finish out the night with the cheap shit.” I’m not the forgiving sort. “And tell him it’s time to find a new place to hang out.” I won’t kick the fucker out since he donated money to be here tonight, but that doesn’t mean I’ll ever let him come back.
Eamon just nods, not even bothering to hide his satisfaction. “About fucking time.”
I push TJ and his loser friends to the back of my mind. I have much more important things to worry about—my girl, and the fucking ring burning a hole in my pocket.
I glance down and see Roni blushing and laughing at something Dee said. She’s so fucking gorgeous it makes my chest ache.
I guide her through the crowd, not letting her drift more than two inches away.
Every guy we pass glances at her curves in that dress, and my blood pressure spikes, but she’s glued to my side.
I want to grab a microphone and announce to the whole damn club that Veronica Lewis is off the market. Mine. Forever.
Roni presses tight against my side, her hand curling around my bicep, and I fucking love having her stake her claim. I’m grinning like an idiot as I watch her work the room. Every time she laughs, that dimple pops in her cheek, and I want to bite it.
Dee and Roni are gossiping about something scandalous near the dessert table, and I’m just about to drag Roni off for a minute of alone time when she glances up at me with those huge blue eyes, and my heart does this weird, slow roll. Yeah, I’m a lost cause.
Across the room, Terrence James is giving me a dark glare. I guess the fucker didn’t like me cutting him off. Oh fucking well.
The second I see TJ slinking this direction, my body goes on alert. My spine goes stiff as I prepare myself to deal with the asshole.
Roni’s still laughing, oblivious, her hand soft on my arm. All I want to do is keep her right here, wrapped up safe, but TJ’s staring at her like he’s picking out which part he wants to eat first. Motherfucker.
As I flex my fingers at my side, my knuckles crack. My hand stays glued to Roni’s waist, letting him know exactly where she stands. With me.
He tries for a smirk, but it looks forced. “Brennan,” he drawls, acting like we’re old friends. I can smell the fake cologne and desperation coming off him in waves.
“James,” I bite out. My jaw is so tight it might crack. I’m suddenly regretting my decision not to throw his ass out.
His eyes flick over Roni slowly, way too goddamn slowly for my liking. I want to rip his fucking eyes out.
He drags his gaze up and down, like he’s shopping for a new car and Roni’s the top-of-the-line model. My girl stiffens beside me, but she keeps her chin up. Brave as hell. I love her so much it actually hurts.
I lean over and place a soft kiss on her forehead, just to make a point. “You need something, James?” My jaw’s grinding so hard I might chip a tooth.
He flashes his fake-ass smile. “Just wanted to congratulate you on a successful night. The club looks good.” His eyes flick to Roni again, lingering on her curves, the goddamn dimple in her cheek, and then her tits. I see fucking red.
I want to punch him in the throat, but I don’t. Not yet.
He nods at Roni, all smug. “Veronica, you look… incredible tonight.”
Roni regards him coolly while giving him a fake-ass polite smile. “Thanks.” Her hand finds mine, and she squeezes it, subtle and strong. That’s my girl.
I want to haul her behind the DJ booth and fuck her senseless just to get the memory of TJ’s hungry stare out of my brain. But instead, I plaster on my best fake-ass smile while gripping her waist tighter.
TJ’s eyes narrow. I can practically see the wheels turning in his calculated, lizard brain. He leans in, like he wants to make this shit intimate. Like he thinks he can get away with it.
“You ever get tired of the club scene, Veronica, you let me know.” He’s got his eyes on her, but they flick back to me, sharp and hungry, like he’s waiting to see if I’ll bite.
Fuck that.
“I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you.” Veronica’s voice slices the air, perfect and crisp, and I swear I see his jaw clench, that little tic of irritation he tries to hide.
Yeah, that’s right. The words hang there, thick and heavy, and for once, he doesn’t seem to have a comeback.
He just stands there with that fake grin stuck to his face, and I swear I see the exact moment his ego cracks. Beautiful. I almost want to clap for Roni, but I settle for a shit-eating grin and a little squeeze around her waist. That’s my girl. My queen.
“Well. Enjoy your night,” TJ finally grinds out, but he doesn’t even make it sound sincere. He tips his head at me, then at Roni, like he can’t decide which of us pisses him off more.
I don’t bother replying. I just let my hand slide lower on Roni’s back and anchor her against my side.
He stalks off, doing his best big shot walk, but I can see the tension in his shoulders.
Dee’s watching him disappear, eyebrow cocked so high it nearly hits her hairline.
“It’s about time someone brought the little weasel down to earth,” she stage-whispers, loud enough for half the crowd around us to hear. Dee winks at Roni. “Well done, babe.”
Roni leans into my side, all warm curves and soft perfume, and I tighten my hold on her, making it clear she’s not going anywhere. Ever. She beams up at me, and that fucking dimple pops again. I want to taste it. Maybe later.
Eamon sidles over, his face deadpan as always beneath that perfectly trimmed beard. His dark suit doesn't have a single wrinkle despite the packed club. "Nice work shutting weasel-boy down, Veronica," he says with the barest hint of approval in his Irish accent.
"Thanks." Roni laughs, the sound like music over the thumping bass. I’m done waiting. It’s like my brain flips a switch.
I lean in close, lips brushing her ear. “Come with me,” I growl. God. I can barely get the words out without just hauling her over my shoulder like a caveman, but I force myself to play it cool. Roni blinks up at me, wide-eyed and glowing, and follows without hesitation.
We glide through the crowd, my hand glued to her lower back. I don’t stop for anyone, not even when Eamon throws me a sly look, like he knows exactly what I’m up to. Whatever, man.
My private office door closes behind us with a heavy thunk. The second we’re alone, I turn and face her, my chest threatening to explode.
She’s still smiling, looking up at me like I hung the damn moon.
I can’t wait another minute. I drop to one knee. Just like that. No speeches. No drama.
Her jaw drops as her eyes go huge. And for a split second, I wonder if I’m actually about to have a goddamn heart attack right here at her feet.
I don’t even try to play it cool. I rip the little velvet box out of my pocket and pop it open while my goddamn hands shake. The ring inside is massive, over the top, and exactly what she deserves. It glitters up at her, and for once, Roni is completely speechless.
I stare up at her, throat tight. “Veronica Lewis, I’ve loved you since the first moment we met, and I’ll love you until my dying breath. Will you marry me?”
She actually sways a little, and I grab her hand to keep her upright. Her fingers are trembling so badly that I have to clamp down to keep her from floating away. For a heartbeat, she doesn’t say a thing.
Then she covers her mouth with her other hand and laughs a wild, beautiful sound like she’s about to cry. “Yes,” she chokes out. Then louder. “Yes!” She’s laughing and crying at the same time now, and I’m so relieved I nearly lose consciousness. “I love you, too.”
I slide the ring onto her finger while my hand shakes so bad, I’m shocked I don’t drop the motherfucker. The diamond catches the light.
She just stares at it, mouth open, then at me. I haul her straight into my lap and kiss her senseless. Her lips are wet and salty from happy tears, but I lick them right off her lips. She melts into me, wrapping her soft arms around my neck.
Life couldn’t get any better than this.
Or so I fucking think. But then Roni does that thing where she bites her lip and her cheeks turn pink, and I know she’s nervous about something.
She lets out a deep breath and grabs my hand, squeezing it so tight I almost forget how to breathe.
“I have a surprise too,” she whispers, voice all shaky and adorable.
Before I can ask, she pulls my hand down, pressing it gently against her soft belly. For a second, I have no idea what’s going on. Then my brain clicks into gear.
Fucking hell.
Happiness flows through me as I stare at her, at my hand on her stomach, at the hope and nerves shining in her eyes. My heart fucking explodes. I can barely talk.
“Are you…?” My voice goes all gravelly, and I almost choke.
She nods, tears in her eyes.
Holy shit. My girl is carrying my baby. I’m one lucky motherfucker. I murmur, “I love you,” and nuzzle my nose along her soft skin, breathing her in.
She flashes her wicked little smile that promises trouble. “Why don’t you show me how much?”
She doesn’t have to ask me twice. My pulse kicks up; all I can think about is giving her everything she wants and more.