“Caroline, you go from no dates to landing yourself a total hottie,” JL blurted. “My loser boyfriend couldn’t wait to get to the club so other women could climb all over him. How’d you land a man like Grey? I mean, no offense, but it’s not like you’re?—”
“Not anotherfuckingword,” Grey growled.
Caroline stilled, her attention completely locked on his. In seconds, all the energy in the room changed from kind and compassionate to turbulent. Greystone’s nostrils were flared and he was working the muscles in his cheeks pretty good. Was his loyalty to her that strong, or was he just caught up in the pressure of the case?
“Whoa, easy there,” JL said to him. “I didn’t mean to offend.”
“Did Erik tell you about his businesses in the UAE?” Grey asked.
“He told me he had big international reach, said he knew a lot of powerful people, and he wanted to do something dramatic enough to change the world.”
“Why did he want to work for you?” Grey probed.
“I’ve got a successful business and he wanted to establish roots in the DC area. He was well qualified and he told me hecould help me grow my business. Why are you asking me all these questions?”
“He didn’t seem that into you. Why keep him around and give him so much power at your company if wasn’t treating you right?” Grey shrugged. “I’m a simple guy. What you see is what you get. If I’m into you—” he slid his gaze to Caroline and the anger in his eyes faded away— “you know it. I don’t play games, I don’t cheat, and I’m gonna give you one-hundred percent, one-hundred percent of the time.” He regarded JL. “I wouldn’t keep him on my payroll.”
Caroline had won the man lottery. Despite the euphoria soaring through her, she needed to keep her head in the game. She and Grey had delivered their fake message about Erik. It was up to JL how she handled her situation.
“We have to go.” Caroline stood next to him, and the heat from his massive body warmed her. Being around him had become her absolute favorite thing.
Ever.
“Thanks for stopping by,” JL said. “I wish you had better news.”
She walked them out, shut the door.
As Grey drove away, Caroline made a call. “I’m checking in with Slash.”
After several rings, she answered. “Lemme call you back.”
Grey called Tank. “Yo,” Tank answered. “We got some shit goin’ down here.”
“We’re on our way.”
“We got this,” Tank said. “He kept asking for water, so we went in. He wouldn’t answer our questions, he was his usual dickwad self. Slash has a short fuse when it comes to terrorists, so he’s missing some fingers.”
“Ohgod,” Caroline blurted.
“It’s quiet now, but it got pretty crazy,” Tank continued. “Shewrapped his hand, but Haqazzii’s furious. He’s got a lot of fight in him.”
“We’re coming back.”
“Greystone, you gotta let the OPS do their jobs,” Tank pushed back. “We got this. Sin and Dakota will be here by six. I’ll see you at Carrera’s.”
“Caroline and I will be there,” Grey said. “Call me for any reason.”
He hung up, released a long growl. “I don’t like leaving them there with him.”
She slipped her fingers in his hair at the back of his neck, and caressed his skin. “Tank’s right. They’ve got this.” Then, she placed her hand on his muscular thigh and stroked his leg. Slowly.
At the stop light, he glanced over. The blue of his eyes was masked by his dilated black pupils. “I need you, Austin.”
She chugged down a deep breath. “I’m dying for you too. Let’s escape for a little while.”
He placed his hand over hers, released another sexy growl, and headed toward Arlington. “My place, but I gotta make a stop first.”
The air became charged with energy. Her pulse shot up, the desire to kiss him took hold. If she started kissing him, she’d maul him in his seat, him so she squirmed in hers to slow the need.
