Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Icouldn’t wipe the smile from my face if I wanted to. Hayley just staked her claim. Like a lioness, she saw a threat and went right for the kill. And I, for one, couldn’t be prouder.
“Hayley, this is Paige. Paige… Hayley, my girlfriend.” I introduce the two while shifting a step closer to Hayley, forcing Paige to drop her hand from my arm.
“Your girlfriend but, Wade, you said…” Paige looks at me with pleading eyes.
“That I don’t do girlfriends. Guess things change when you meet the one. It was nice seeing you again, Paige. Say hello to Clive for me.” I brush past her, with Hayley pressed firmly to my side.
We make it to the table with my name in the center and I pull a chair out for Hayley. I wait for her to sit, and then I scan the room. Once I spot Andre standing against the wall, his eyes firmly on my girl, I relax and claim my seat.
“Why does everyone call you Wade?” Hayley asks me.
“Because I don’t let people call me August,” I tell her.
“But I call you August and you’ve never corrected me.” Her brows turn down.
“You’re my girlfriend, Hayley. You are not just people. You and Colton are the only ones who call me August,” I explain.
“Oh joy, I get to be on the same level as Colton,” she says, her face scrunched up in disgust.
“Not a fan?” I ask her.
“The first thing he said to me was that I either needed a stiff drink or a good fuck, and he was up to give me either.”
My fist clenches at my side. I should have known he’d say something like that to her. The guy can’t keep his dick in his pants to save his life. “I’m sorry. He’s harmless, though, and I promise the next time you see him, he will be nothing but respectful.”
Because I’m going to kick his fucking ass.
I take out my phone and send my best friend a text.
Me:
I need to hit the gym, tonight. You up for sparring?
Colton:
She told you, didn’t she?
Me:
Yep.
Colton:
See you at the gym.
The bastard knew I’d find out that he’d offered to fuck her.
“I don’t need you to stick up for me, August. I turned him down. So I doubt he’d ask me again anyway,” Hayley says.
“He’s not used to being turned down.” I laugh. “I wish I could have been there.”
“I can see why.” Hayley smirks. “He’s hot.”
“He’s about to lose some teeth. How hot will he be then?” I ask her.
“I don’t know. I’ll have to take a look at the results. But, I mean, he’s hot in the nice to look at but I wouldn’t actually touch kind of way,” she hums to herself.
Yep, I’m going to wipe that pretty boy smile from my best friend’s face.
“Like you, except you’re way better looking. I can appreciate that without wanting to touch,” Hayley adds.
“You can touch if you want,” I tell her.
“I don’t,” she says, her eyes scanning the room. “Oh shit…”
“What?” My gaze follows hers.
“That’s Clarissa Yields,” Hayley tells me.
“I know who she is.”
“Did you also know she’s about to leave her husband for his brother? She’s been having an affair for years and is finally going to move out.”
“How do you know that?” I ask, not sure if it’s news or gossip. Either way, I’m curious. I do business with Clarissa’s husband, Tristan.
“I cut their maid’s hair. She talks. A lot.” Hayley laughs. “You’d be surprised. Once someone is in my chair, it’s like their lips can’t stop. The stories I’ve heard… well, I could write a book.”
“Really?” This could actually be useful. If I go to Tristan with this news, he’s going to owe me a favor. Considering I’d be saving his company. Because I have no doubt that his brother and wife are scheming to take it out from under him.
“Yep. You see that couple over there. Mr. and Mrs. Bucksey, they like threesomes, but only with other men. Mr. Bucksey likes watching his wife get fucked.”
I look at Hayley. “Seriously? What man would want to watch his wife get fucked by another man?”
“Mr. Bucksey, it seems.” She lifts a shoulder. “Not a voyeur I take it?”
“I don’t share what’s mine. Ever,” I grunt.
The table starts filling up with people, all of them making small talk. Hayley is silent beside me, her hands twisting in her lap.
I reach over and take hold of her palm, to stop her fidgeting and to reassure her that she’s okay. Bringing it to my mouth, I kiss it before resting our joined hands on my thigh. My thumb strokes the back of her knuckles, and I’m thankful when she doesn’t pull away.
“I never thought I’d see the day… You’re breaking a lot of hearts tonight, Wade, including mine,” a familiar voice tells me from across the table.
“Sorry, Mrs. Hughes, what can I say? I took one look at her and knew instantly I had to make her mine,” I reply, my focus turning from the seventy-year-old widow to the woman beside me.
“I can see why. She’s beautiful.” Simon Pali, a tech guru who’s come into some new money, ogles Hayley.
“And if you don’t take your eyes off her, she’ll be the last thing you fucking see,” I growl.
Hayley clenches my hand tight. “He’s kidding,” she tells a now pale-looking Simon.
“No, he’s not,” I correct her.
The clinking of metal against glass has everyone’s chatter stopping and their attention shifting to the mayor. Great, now we all have to sit through one of his boring-ass speeches.
The entire time, I concentrate on the feel of Hayley’s hand in mine. How soft her skin is under my thumb as I stroke the back of her palm. On her fruity scent and the glimpse of cleavage poking out of the top of her dress.
“I really like your dress,” I lean in and whisper against her ear.
“Thanks,” she says, looking down at her chest.
I’d like it a whole lot better if it were on the floor of my bedroom. I don’t tell her that, though, because I need to play this smart. I’m not going to pressure her to get into bed with me.