I don’t want to believe these twenty-one-year-old boys are on a mission to destroy Carter Forkerro’s career, but I have trouble seeing the good in people.
Don’t do it.
Arden,pleasedon’t do it.
I sigh, pushing myself from the table. “I’ll be right back.”
Whitney blinks up at me, confused. Her eyes quickly avert to where Carter stands at the back of the bar. She breaks into a wicked smile. “You’re kidding.Areyou his girlfriend now?”
I shoot her a look, chugging the rest of my glass of red wine. “He saved me. I’m saving him. I’m putting us on an equal playing field.”
Whitney’s smile is taking up her whole face. Autumn is hiding her own grin behind her hand. I’m sure this looks like I’m jealous and about to stake a claim on the man who busted up someone’s face to protect me. That’s not what this is.
I whirl around in my faux leather pants and push my shoulders back. I storm right past the fanboys with their phones. I take a quick look at them. Young. Honestly, I’d be surprised if they didn’t use fake IDs to get in here. They are babies.
Now, I have a bit of sympathy. I’ll stop Carter from swinging on them if he gets all wound up again. They’re just kids.
I try to swallow my discomfort when I approach the booths full of men at the back of the bar. I don’t like groups of men on a good day, but these are notorious men. World famous. Champions. Untouchable in this city. That makes them a bit more intimidating.
Carter is still talking to the two women when I reach him. His back is to me, so he’s clueless to my approach, but I meet Declan’s eyes just before I make it to my target. Declan’s face falls a bit, brow furrowing, and I can only imagine what’s going through his head seeing my face again.
He calls Carter’s name once. Just once. But even over the noise of the bar, Carter’s head snaps in his direction.
I slide in front of him before Declan can warn him.
His pretty blue eyes drop to me. Surprise washes over that flawless face.
I force a tight smile, though it probably looks more pained and awkward than it does natural. His lips fall into a surprised frown, but before he can say anything to break this ruse, I reach up and wind my hand around the nape of his neck. His shock morphs into utter confusion.
I angle my head, blinking up innocently at him. “Hi.”
He stares at me, opens his mouth to say something, but we don’t have time for that. I use my leverage on his neck to pull him to my height. I press my mouth to his before he can speak, hating how soft his lips are, hating the way the instant touch of his fingers on my waist heats the entirety of my body.
God, I need to get laid.
Carter pulls me closer to him by my middle, his fingers digging in deeper, his mouth moving a bit harder against mine. Before all the logic in my brain goes right out the window, I pull away.
I stay in his arms, though. We have to sell the bit. I guess wearedoing this for the plot now.
“Red,” he grumbles, scanning my face like he’s testing if I have a head injury. “You taste like cherries.”
I smile, winding my other hand around his neck. I pull myself right against his chest. He leans down on instinct, hand gliding to the small of my back, and turns his head so my lips can meet his ear like he’s done this ruse with a million other girls.
“There are some guys taking pictures of you with these women.”
His head snaps toward the bar, but I squeeze his neck, pulling his attention back to me.
“I owe you one, so I’m going to act like I’m your girlfriend, just like you begged me to. We can leave here together and shut everyone up, and hopefully, they get a few pictures of it. Sound good?”
He dips his chin in understanding, surprisingly obedient.
“But first, I have to turn around and pretend to know these girls. Who are they?”
“Nina and her friend. I slept with her a few weeks ago.”
Great. So, I’ll have to deal with a potentially jealous woman. There is a chance this goes very, very wrong and has the opposite effect than I desire. If there’s a catfight and these kids capture it, who knows how that story will go?
I shoot him a look, but he only smiles sheepishly, shrugging a shoulder. As I pull away, he brings his drink back to his mouth. I can smell the Jager in that cup. What a sadistic individual. Whochoosesto drink Jager?
