“You think you’re so smart, don’t you?” He smirked.
“I think by your reaction I’m pretty damn smart. Am I making you uncomfortable?”
His laugh made the hair stand up on her neck. “Good luck proving your insane accusations. Now if you don’t move, I’m going to toss you through the wall. Got it?”
Reluctantly, she stepped aside. “This isn’t over, Deacon. Or should I say Mike?”
“Oh, it’s over, sweetheart,” he said cooly.
Chapter Seventeen
“Bear! Come here!” Aasia waved him over. “I want you to meet Zack Cooper.”
“Nice to meet you, sir,” Bear shook the man’s hand.
“Zack, this is Ben.” Aasia introduced them.
“You’re a lucky man,” Zack said. “Aasia is an amazing woman.”
“That she is.” Bear didn’t even bother explaining that he and Aasia weren’t a couple, and neither did she.
“Where’s Dresden?” Aasia asked.
“She’s home with the kids. The sitter canceled at the last minute. She didn’t say so, but I think she was relieved. She hates these events,” Zack said with a laugh. “I don’t blame her. They’re quite boring. How about you, Ben? Ready to kick rocks yet?”
“That obvious?” Bear caught Aasia’s narrowed gaze. “It’s not too bad.”
Zack returned his gaze to Aasia. “I was disappointed to find out that you resigned from your position with MedLabOne.”
Bear practically heard the wheels turning inside Aasia’s head, but he saw her shoulders dip. “Well, you know, one never knows what tomorrow brings.”
“Are you looking to further your career in bringing mobile labs into impoverished communities? I might have some ideasup my sleeve and will need someone as knowledgeable as you are to lead the project.”
“Really?” The earlier frustration seemed to melt away.
“I’m very serious about this. How about you give me a call Monday morning, and we can discuss the ideas?”
“I will.”
“Come and visit again soon. Bring Ben. We can go out on the boat before Dresden gets much further along. We just found out that she’s expecting. A boy.” He looked down with a sheepish grin.
“Congratulations, Zack. I’m so happy for your family,” Aasia said.
“Pretty soon I’ll have my own football team.” Zack winked. “Do you hunt, Ben?”
“I’ve been known to hunt.” Bear wanted to add that he had a knack for hunting criminals but kept that detail under wraps.
“Definitely bring him with you when you visit.” Zack craned his neck as if looking for someone in the crowd. “If you’ll excuse me, I see Grant Foster. I’m looking for a rematch in golf.”
“I just got invited to Zack Cooper’s house,” Bear said once he was alone with Aasia.
“Aren’t you glad you came now?” She raised a brow.
“If I get to spend any time with you, I’m lucky.”
“Aren’t you a charmer?” Her eyes twinkled in the bright lights of the chandelier.
“Why don’t I show you just how much of a charmer I am. Come with me.” He stealthily clicked a button on the transformer. Sin didn’t need to be a third wheel.
