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He smiled crookedly. “Like my parents picked my name from a book of ‘cool’ baby names for boys.”
Within a few minutes, Mace and I were smiling and laughing about a story involving one of his soccer players and a stolen mascot’s mask from an opposing team. That was precisely when Lucifer shat all over what was shaping up to be an enjoyable night.
“Mace,” Damon said. I was reminded of how tall and imposing he was. Until Damon had arrived, I would’ve classified Mace as a big man. He was strong and tall, but Damon made him look smaller. “That’s my personal assistant, so, if you don’t mind.”
Mace crooked an eyebrow. “Your employees aren’t allowed to socialize at social events? I’d heard you run a crooked ship, but that’s low. Even for you.”
“I don’t want you trying to fuck my employees. She has the best healthcare money can buy, but I’d rather not have my staff riddled with your STD’s.”
Mace snorted. “You’re just as charming as always, Damon.”
Damon signaled the bartender for a drink. “You should ignore everything he says, Chelsea. This man is a snake, and he’ll bend you backwards and fuck you dry if you let him.”
I snorted into my glass. “Sounds like someone else I know.”
Damon choked on his liquor and had to wipe his mouth with the back of his hand. My little quip had Mace’s eyebrows nearly above his hairline. “You two…”
“No.” Damon snapped.
“Are you still—”
“Stay away from her.”
Mace and I both gave Damon curious looks.
He seemed to bristle. “I don’t need outside agencies fucking with my employees. That’s all.”
Mace wore a grin that didn’t seem quite as kind as the ones he’d given me. “I would expect a man with your reputation to have thicker skin. She happened years ago, but you’re still cowering from the memory of it, aren’t you?”
“You can leave now.”
“I was invited, asshole.” Mace smiled at me a little sadly. “Good luck with him. And he does bite. Keep your distance.”
“I can handle him. Thanks, though.”
Damon made an annoyed sound and then gestured for me to follow.
“Grandpa Dick. Really?” I asked once we passed out of the main lobby area and into a smaller, less crowded side room. What I really wanted to ask about was the mystery woman Mace had mentioned, but Damon was pissed enough that I knew he wouldn’t answer.
Couches lined the walls and a few quiet groups of well-dressed individuals sat with drinks and cocktails.
Damon ran his tongue across his teeth in a way I thought might be meant to mask a smile. “He has been with the company for a long time. You made it here in one piece, didn’t you?”
Chris shouldered his way through the crowd and tapped Damon on the shoulder. “Hey, did you know she-who-must-not-be-named is here? Want me to sneak you out the back?”
Damon’s expression darkened. He shook his head. “No.”
“What about that thing you said?” Chris lowered his voice, doing his best Damon impression. “If I have to set eyes on that woman again, I’ll throw up so hard you’ll have to push my feet back in my mouth.”
“I’m nearly certain I never said that.” Damon crossed his arms, eyes scanning the room. “And no. I’m not going anywhere.”
Chris shrugged. “Fine with me. I did my brotherly duty, now it’s on you.” With that, he headed back where he’d come from, leaving Damon and I alone again.
“Who is ‘she?’”
“Nobody you need to worry about.”
I admittedly wanted to argue with him. I wanted to bug him until he gave me every delicious little detail of whatever drama he and his brother had just skirted around. Part of me liked the friction between us. I guessed if all you ever had was peace, it would be hard to appreciate the quiet moments when they came. God knew there was no peace around my bosshole, Damon.
I followed Damon to one of the couches in the back, where Tia Klein was lounging with a heavily tattooed young man I took to be another athlete.
“Is now a good time?” Damon asked.
Tia shooed the guy away and gestured for us both to sit. I was struck by how catlike she was. Graceful and dangerous. Then again, for graceful creatures, cats really had a way of sticking that one leg up in the air and going to town on their own buttholes when it suited them. I grinned at the idea of Tia Klein—Little Miss Put Together and exotic beauty queen of Instagram—grooming herself noisily. Then I cringed.
Ew.
Tia and Damon launched into some boring talk about business and contracts while I tried to get that image out of my head. The topic of their conversation shifted and drew me back into focus.
“…Made the mistake of fucking you first, didn’t she?”
Damon visibly stiffened, then shot a sideways glance my way. “I’d prefer not to talk about my personal life in front of my employees.”
