Page 71 of Heartbreaker

“We’ll take good care of her,” Noah says, and I roll my eyes.

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” I grumble.

“I’m fine. You know I can handle a couple of arrogant drivers,” she says, shooing me off. She gives me a let-me-do-my-job look that makes me smile.

“Okay. I’ll be back quickly,” I say, bending to press my lips to hers in full view of everyone here. “Feel free to punch any of them if they step out of line.” The crowd laughs, and Lana salutes me before I walk off with Stephanie.

Unfortunately, one conversation turns into two, and an hour later, I still haven’t been able to get back to Lana. Twice I see her move my way, but then I’m whisked off once again, giving her an apologetic smile. I feel like an ass, but this is the reality of my life, and if we’re ever going to work, this is what she’ll be in for.

When I finally get a moment to breathe, I look around the room, catching sight of the lavender dress she was wearing. Relief moves through me as I spot her chatting with Noah and Mike. The relief washes through me quickly until Levi walks up, stopping just a bit too fucking close to her to be casual. In an instant, that all-too-familiar energy bubbles in my chest.

He greets the group, shaking hands with Mike before turning to Lana. I guarantee she remembers him. But Levi is a dumbfuck, so there’s a good chance he doesn’t remember her, especially all done up.

She smiles at him with a faux kindness that I recognize instantly, and it settles the fire in my chest just a bit before he tips his head to the side, toward the bar. She shakes her head politely, lifting her drink, and I start to move that way. At her refusal, he looks annoyed, and I halt close enough to hear their conversation.

“Come on, it would be fun. Just one drink.”

“No, thank you, I have a boyfriend,” Lana says with all the politeness in the world. Far more than Levi deserves, that’s for damn sure.

“She’s dating Rome,” Noah explains, and Levi’s eyes light up.

“Rome, huh?” His brows furrow as if he doesn’t understand something and then clear a bit. “You’re the woman from Monster Smash, aren’t you?” Lana nods, her smile tight. “Now you definitely need to let me get you a drink.”

“Why is that?”

“Oh, Rome and I have this long-standing teasing thing going on. We’re good friends, you know. Have been for years.” Lana looks at him with fake confusion.

“I thought you were rivals?”

“Oh, you know how the press is, always pitting us against each other. It’s fun for the cameras, but behind closed doors, we’re good friends. It will be fun, me getting his girl a drink, riling him up. Things are a bit boring here, don’t you think?” She hesitates, trying to understand, then she shakes her head.

“No, thank you,” she says, and I smile, but Levi doesn’t. Instead, he frowns at her, a bit pitying.

“You know, he’s going to fuck around on you soon anyway. You should just beat him to the punch.”

“If I want advice on my relationship, I’ll ask a professional, not a random man at a party. But thank you again for your interest.” I grin, beginning to move, intending to claim my girl and plant a kiss for everyone to see.

“You don’t have to be a bitch about it,” Levi says. “You aren’t that hot anyway.” Lana lifts a shoulder, completely unfazed.

“Whatever makes you feel taller, buddy.” I can’t help but bite back a laugh, knowing that the fact that he’s barely 5’10” bothers him. But it’s gone in a moment when he moves, shifting as if he’s going to try and hit Lana.

THIRTY-FIVE

“What the fuck?” Levi yells as he’s pressed to a wall, his arm bent behind him.

It all happened so fast—I’m still a bit shocked by it. Levi was moving toward me after I gave him an admittedly bitchy but well-deserved dig, and I was bracing for whatever might come next. Part of my job is sometimes poking and prodding until I can get a reaction, and while I’ve never actually been in real danger, I know it’s a part of the job. But before Levi could finish his unspoken threat, Rome swooped in, grabbing Levi and pinning his body to the wall.

“What the fuck?” Levi yells, drawing attention our way. I look around, panicked. The afternoon was going fine, but this is the absolute opposite of what we need right now.

“Rome,” I murmur, but he ignores me. “Rome,” I repeat.

“I’ve got this, Lana.”

I want to tell him he doesn’t. I want to tell him that he needs to think logically, that he needs to think about consequences, but I can’t find the words. I, can’t even find my breath right now.

“I wouldn’t move if you like your wrist the way it is,” he growls, tugging said wrist back just a bit. I open my mouth to tell Rome to stop, but Levi speaks first.

“What the fuck?” Levi repeats, too loudly, bringing attention to himself. “You’re a fucking psycho. Everyone just saw that, right?”