Chapter 18 #2
“Slade, stop.” He wasn’t going to hear another second of my explanation.
Luckily, Nico got the message and pivoted to leave.
The back door slammed shut seconds later.
I turned to Mace’s shocked glare. My cowboy said nothing to me.
He only tossed his hands in the air while he pivoted, giving me his back as he took off out the front door.
Two things to note. My cock had not only softened, but it seemed in active retreat, wanting to draw back into my body. And second, Mace made his point with very few words. I wish I had that talent.
Since his truck keys were on the entry table, I figured he couldn’t take off, but with the way he marched down the front steps, perhaps he planned to walk home.
I continued to stare after him. Nico was the best in the business, a huge hire on my part. We were lucky that he was looking out for me and Mace. The Jeep’s door slammed shut, hopefully tucking Mace inside.
Nico and I needed to coordinate these last few minutes before the trip began. They discretely followed me everywhere, today was no different with the exception of coordinating with Austin’s security team to keep an eye on us until we left.
I spotted Nico on the back porch, staring at me through a window. The sad confusion he wore changed his usually stoic face into one that resembled a wrinkled Shar-Pei.
=?=
Mace
I fumed and focused that energy on the rustic garage door just beyond the front windshield. It didn’t spontaneously combust, which was surprising with the way my laser focus trained on the metal. I stewed in my anger, but wasn’t entirely sure why I was so upset.
I inhaled deeply and released it slowly.
Yeah, I understood Slade had security on the property. Sure, I got it. I guessed.
No, that was a straight-up lie. I’d never considered his guards were big and brawny with a sparkle in their eyes that reminded me of Pennywise, the demon clown hiding in the sewer.
From another angle, I might have seen a Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson hottie doing his best to downplay the intensity I developed in the moment.
I shook my head at the vastly different comparisons of Nico.
There was no world where I saw myself taking Nico in a brawl…
The driver’s side door opened, startling me from all those wheels spiraling in my brain. I crossed my arms over my chest with force as Slade slid inside then shut the door without starting the engine.
He handed me a coffee tumbler. His went into one of two cupholders.
“Want to talk about it?” Slade asked, staring at the garage door too.
“No, I don’t wanna talk about it,” I countered, surprised he even gave me a choice with as talkative as he was.
But my lie held about two seconds before the words tumbled from my mouth.
“Do they just walk in your house anytime they want? Have you slept with him? Do you do it with him when I’m not around? ”
Since the words were ridiculous, I clamped my mouth shut.
Slade jerked his head my direction. “What? No. Of course not. Where would you get an idea like that?”
Another great point that I didn’t have an answer for.
“Mace, I’m a professional. The people who work with me are treated with respect.
” Slade hooked a thumb over his shoulder, back toward the house.
“Nico’s sought after in my industry and I’m lucky to have him on my team.
He keeps me safe, and I promise you that’s not an easy job these days.
I wouldn’t jeopardize him, his value to my life… and now yours… in that way.”
It made sense, which bothered me too. The green-eyed monster drained from my body, leaving me heavy and frustrated, but I wasn’t ready to give up that irritation.
“So, you’re jealous,” Slade said, happily.
The tone grated further on my nerves.
“I’m not jealous,” I said, my jaw tightening around the semi-lie. “The guy popped out on us out of nowhere. How was I supposed to know what was what? I’m gonna do my very best to make sure you’re safe too. You’re here all alone. This Nico looked like trouble.”
“You were worried he was an intruder?” Slade asked, his tone marginally less happy than when he thought I was jealous. “You were going into protection mode over me? That’s as sweet as you being jealous.”
Of course, I wasn’t sweet. No one had ever accused me of being a sweet guy. Did Slade not even know me? I was lying, but he call me out. Why?
Slade started the engine and put the Jeep into reverse. When he circled the drive to leave, I spotted two vehicles ahead, waiting, They fell in line with us after we passed by. The tensed muscles in my biceps finally relaxed and my hands fell into my lap.
“Nico startled me,” I finally admitted. “I’m in this hidin’ deal…” I stopped speaking, unable to continue that lie either.
“It was more than that,” Slade said, teasingly. “You want to protect me. And you want me to be your exclusive boyfriend. It’s quite a turn-on.”
Silence between us held. Slade wasn’t wrong, but it seemed like a bad idea to let him believe he was right. I liked him working for my attention. If he ever knew how completely hooked I was, I might not receive his sweet smile and sexy winks so often.
“I’m sorry,” I finally said when we reached the main road. “I got territorial and worried about someone appearin’ out of nowhere. My insecurity believes you’re gonna get enough of me and move on.”
“That’s because you want me to stick around to kiss me, and hold me, and love me, or however the saying goes…” See? This could now be my future with this silly man.
I rolled my eyes, a hard, pronounced roll at such a dumb thing to say. Slade would probably poke a lion if given the chance. On its own accord, not by any plan I had, my hand reached out, taking Slade’s. The touch made the crazy inside my head relax.
“I’m sorry. I’ll apologize to Nico too.”
“Not necessary. He knows what he looks like,” Slade said, teasing me, except it was probably the truth. “He practices the growls and mean stares in the mirror.”
That tidbit piqued my interest, and I whipped my head toward Slade. “No way.”
“Well, maybe he does. I don’t really know, but it makes sense with as easy as the expression lands on his face,” Slade explained, as he caressed his thumb over the skin on the top of my hand. “You don’t have to apologize. Again, it’s good.”
Oh lord, here the circle of conversation went again. I rested my head on the headrest and did my best to relieve my muscles of all the tension I’d created. I was happy this morning, and I needed to get that back.