Chapter Eighteen #4
Both leaned in to say something and I shot out two pointed fingers.
They landed smack dab in the middle of their hard chests.
Using my pointers, I pushed against them until they were sitting upright again.
Then I crossed my arms and glowered at the beautiful woman in front of me.
I could feel Brent and Cole staring at me – nowhere near peeking at the other woman, but I still didn’t glance at them.
They were officially in the dog house. Not for long, of course, because really, the woman had an amazing rack that she was putting on display to trap everyone’s gaze.
Even Chloe, who’s straight, was still staring at the woman’s breasts.
It really couldn’t be helped. But, they needed to know that I wasn’t going to put up with that kind of crap.
Hypocritical, probably, since I still hadn’t picked between them, but it didn’t change how I felt.
I glanced down at my own cleavage. Yeah, not so impressive when you were saw the Rocky Mountains in front of us.
Heck, I even think hers were real which was darn extraordinary.
She was like every man’s wet dream come to life.
I glowered harder, missing just about their entire conversation to my own inner musings.
“Yes, we’re through eating,” Zane stated in a low gravelly voice. He was caught, too.
“Wonderful,” she sighed, straightening with a spring in her motions, making her breasts bounce right along with her.
“This is so fortunate! We’re needing to leave soon to get a good night’s rest before our flight and Park Technology’s has been dying to meet me you.
We’ve heard such amazing things about you.
” Her breasts didn’t stop moving until after her “suck-up” speech.
I could have sworn I heard Bas moan from my right.
I’m pretty sure my eyes were mere slits by this point. Luckily, Brent and Cole were still watching anywhere but her.
“Well, shall we?” Peter asked the group, not glancing away from her.
“Yes. We’d better go since they need to leave.” Zane stood up placing his napkin on the table.
Peter, Bas, Stash, and Chloe stood up and pushed their chairs in. Brent and Cole didn’t move.
Even though I was ticked, I wasn’t without a thought for their business. I sighed and finally looked at them. Their eyes were glued to me like their lives depended on it. That made me feel a smidge better.
Cole leaned in close, placing an arm on the table so his back was to Playboy. He whispered, “She’s got nothing on you, sweetheart.”
I snorted. “She’s got at least fifteen more pounds on me in a certain area.”
Brent leaned in and kissed my temple. “Any more than a handfuls a waist, darlin’.” His eyes travelled to my small-in-comparison-to-Playboy’s cleavage. “And yours fill my hands just right.”
Cole grunted is apparent agreement.
I sighed. “You two had better go, too.”
Both nodded slowly, knowing they had business to attend to. They kissed me, one then the other, and stood. They straightened their tuxes after pushing in their chairs. I could practically see them switching to business-mode.
Brent stated, “Stay with Ally and Sam while were gone.”
I nodded. No one would be here to watch over me. They were thinking the big bad wolf might come and storm the party. I just barely stopped myself from rolling my eyes.
It must have shown, though, because their eyes hardened and Cole ordered, “We mean it. Stay close to them. We won’t be gone long, but I don’t want you wandering off somewhere alone.”
I crossed my heart with my fingers and smiled sweetly, nodding like a simpleton.
Their eyes glinted with intent at my obvious show of defiance, but Playboy asked Brent and Cole, “Are you two coming? I know my boss wants to speak with the whole group.”
I didn’t bother looking in her direction. I had already seen enough of her.
They were silent for a moment, and then nodded. Brent pointed a finger at me, blatantly telling me to stay put, neither saying anything because their gazes said enough. They didn’t move to join their group, though. I sighed inwardly. They were something else.
I schooled my features and nodded so they would leave and get their stupid meeting over with.
Both touched my shoulder before following the crew away from our table.
I watched them leave. It was really a lovely sight.
My eyes travelled over their entire crew as they walked out the ballroom doors. They sure were an impressive group.
“What was that about?” Ally asked.
She had no clue that we were followed every day. Brent and Cole and I had decided not to tell her. She was a feisty woman, but she was also soft at heart. She didn’t have a whole lot of dark inside her. Telling her would have just worried and scared her.
So, I lied, stating, “They’re the overprotective and jealous sort.” I shrugged, and tapped into knowledge that Ally had. “You know how Brent can be.” When she nodded I added, “Cole’s just as bad.”
She rolled her eyes and filled her empty Champaign glass.
Sam was watching the dance floor, wistfully, and she asked Ally, “Are you drunk enough yet to get out there on the dance floor with me?”
Ally held up a finger and downed half her glass. She lowered it and her smile was a little tipsy. “Just about.” She finished off the glass in two gulps before burping delicately behind her hand.
I grinned.
Ally had anxiety about dancing with another woman in front of people.
She always had. It stemmed back to her parents rejection of her life style.
She wasn’t in the closet, but she wasn’t too many steps out of it either.
It always took liquid courage for her to get out there in front of a group with someone of the same sex.
She hadn’t changed on that account even all these years later.
I was happy to see that Sam understood her apprehension and let her indulge a little before pushing too hard.
“Okay. Let’s go,” Ally said in a hurry, her own gaze both yearning and worried as she stood up and watched the dancing couples.
“Can you hold these for us?” Sam asked, grabbing Ally’s clutch and then held hers out to me also. She leaned in and whispered, “We may be awhile. Once I actually get her out there it’s hard to get her off.”
I smiled, knowing that was also true. Once Ally let her worries disappear, she was a force to be reckoned with on the dance floor.
I took their teeny purses and dumped them in my bag-o-purse that was slung over my shoulder and waved Sam away so she could catch up with Ally, who was already halfway to the twirling pairs.
Sam grinned and raced off, all English polish gone as she hurried after her lover.
Ally turned and smiled at her with so much love that I knew that they were a great fit.
I watched from at our table, sipping my water. The party was livening up even more now that everyone had had plenty of time to imbibe in the free spirits. When people hear free, they often overdo it. It was predictable and a little comical to watch from my sober state.
I was studying Mr. Fresby’s assistant – guess he hadn’t fired her for leaving early on the days he wasn’t in the office, who was unashamedly hitting on a man I vaguely recognized as working in their marketing department when I felt the heat of another body behind me.
I shifted in my seat, thinking the waiters had come to pick up our dishes.
But quickly the heat intensified, and I stilled as peppermint breath wafted over my shoulder.
It choked me so badly I wanted to scream.
“Have you missed me, pumpkin?” a man’s deep voice purred next to my ear.
I felt the blood drain from my face and my glass of water dropped from my hand to the carpet, splattering chilly water on my legs and rolling under the silver tablecloth.
Time paused in a shadow of unwanted memories.
My chest constricted and I couldn’t breathe.
This couldn’t be happening. I wasn’t ready yet. I didn’t want to go.
Slowly, I placed my hands on the table and pushed up to stand on trembling feet.
I gagged back the sobs and screams and vomit that wanted to escape, only by sheer force of will.
Jerkily, I turned to verify who it was, in vain hope I was mistaken, keeping one hand on the table for support.
It didn’t help much. My knees still buckled under me in terror at the sight of him.
Jonah Allen Boydson. My fiancée.