Tate’s eyes followed mine. “She looks different tonight. I feel like I’ve been missing out.”
“Who are you talking about?” I asked, even though I already knew. He had been checking out her since she got here. How did I know? Because I have been doing the same damn thing.
“Becca Hendrix, the reporter.” He whistled. “She doesn’t look so buttoned up tonight.”
Irritation prickled at the bottom of my spine. I didn’t like the way he stared at her. Or that he was thinking of her. She was off-limits for more reasons than one.
My jaw clenched tight from pure annoyance. “She’s here for work.”
“You gotta introduce me.”
“She has a boyfriend.”
I didn’t want him near her, or anyone else, for that matter.
“Really? Lucky guy,” he said, not taking his eyes off her. “Wonder if it’s serious, because I might just take my chances.”
“Don’t be an idiot and do something to make her uncomfortable,” I warned and rubbed a hand over my mouth.
He finally tore his gaze away from her. “What the hell crawled up your ass? You got a thing for the reporter, because I was just commenting on how good she looked?”
He was taunting me, so I needed to rein it in. Fighting a teammate at a charity wouldn’t be good for the event.
“I told you, she has a boyfriend.”
His smile grew. “I guess that explains your shitty mood then.”
Ever since I invited her to this damn thing, I’d been on edge. And the worst part, people were noticing.
Jax came up and slid between us. “Yo, what’s going on here?”
“Nothing,” I muttered, pressing my drink into the palm of my hand. I was still annoyed from watching them dance together and seeing his hands all over her. He was fully aware of what he was doing. That little stunt made me want to call him out. But I knew if I gave him an inch, he’d take a mile and run with it. That was his thing. Pushing me on purpose, like it was his full-time job.
“Doesn’t look like nothing to me.” Jax’s gaze slid between us.
Tate smirked. “Our buddy here has a thing for his reporter friend.”
Jax sipped his beer. “I know.”
I really wish these two would mind their own business.
“Do you two ever shut up?”
I didn’t like how they could see right through me, or that my eyes went back to her without permission.
“Well, this has been entertaining, but I gotta run.” Tate turned to me. “I donated ten grand to your charity. You’re welcome.”
I shook his hand even though I was annoyed with him. “Appreciate it, big guy.”
Tate backed away, giving us a mock salute. “I’ll catch you later.”
I adjusted my cufflinks as if that could somehow distract me from how stupid I felt. This was supposed to be positive coverage for me and maybe a few photos. A goodwill gesture or whatever, but it was becoming obvious to every single person in this room that I was distracted.
And that was a big problem.
Jax turned to face me. “You need to calm the fuck down. He was just messing around.”
“I am calm.”
