Page 44 of Feel It in the Air

12

MARGEAUX

“The thingabout personal safety is that it can have a rather broad definition,” Jace declares, pacing so that he addresses the whole group. “But in the end, what really matters is the person.”

I swallow hard, nerves rising up in me with each passing second. When Jace asked if Gus and I would help with the personal safety demo, I didn’t realize what he was asking was if we would be the personal safety demo. I’m not sure if Gus realized it either, but if he did, he didn’t speak up. Either way, now the two of us are standing here, the crowd around us growing the more Jace speaks, my heart rate picking up the pace with each new person that joins.

“So today, with the help of my volunteers, Gus and Margeaux, we’re going to show you some very basic techniques, that are all covered in Hayes self-defense training and don’t require any additional accessories. However, if you want to check out our assortment of devices or talk to any one of us more in-depth about our trainings, please stop by the Hayes booth,” Jace continues, pointing to the large booth behind us. Jace’s best friend, Owen, waves in case there was any question.

“Where I will gladly demonstrate the use of any of the tasers on Jace,” Gus mutters, leaning in so only I can hear him.

His breath tickles my neck, making me have to fight even harder to keep my composure. It does help to ease my nerves a bit though—transforming that gnawing feeling into the flutter of butterflies. Reaching behind me, I search for his hand with mine, trying to make a connection and hoping that it’ll help ground me. He must sense what I’m trying to do, as he interlaces his fingers with mine, giving me exactly what I was hoping for.

“Just how long is this demo?” I whisper.

“If I only knew…”

Gus squeezes my fingers, a move that is simultaneously comforting and exciting, something that I’m finding I feel a lot of with this man. The juxtaposition of the ways he makes me feel should scramble my brain. Instead, all it does is weave its way more and more into my soul, making me want to know more. I know that it’s a rare thing to get to see both the Gus that commands attention in the halls of Hayes Industries during the day and the one who rides the back roads of Hickory Hills on a Friday night. And I don’t take any of that for granted.

I do, however, know I’m walking a tightrope. The memories of all the deliciously naughty things Gus said and did to me on my desk are never far from my mind, swirling around me, taunting me, as I spend eight plus hours a day trying to focus on work. The fact that he is temporarily my boss and makes regular visits to our department, sometimes spending hours down there, doesn’t help.

What also doesn’t help is that in the eyes of Teresa, I cannot do anything right. And I do mean anything. Pretty sure that if you ask Teresa, I breathe wrong. Ever since Percy introduced me as the newest associate, she’s been nothing but rude to me. She even objected when I was assigned the trademark renewal project. Last thing I need is for her to get a whiff of Gus favoring me in any way.

But that doesn’t matter right now. Because Teresa isn’t here. Although, if she was I might consider offering to try out the taser on her too. In fact, this isn’t even technically a working weekend. Not that one could tell by the fact that Gus and I are still the center of attention in the middle of this expo center.

“Ready, you two?” Jace asks.

No…

“Guess I have to put my hands on you,” Gus says. His voice is still low enough so only I can hear, but it’s more than enough to send a shiver straight down my spine.

“Sorry to put you out like this,” I quip.

Circling me, Gus narrows his eyes, those deep-green irises full of something I can’t name. Whatever it is though, I feel it deep within me. Licking my lips, I steady myself, ready for whatever he brings.

“I think I’m up to the challenge.”

Oh, does he? We’ll see about that…

“What makes you so sure?”

“If you’re ever in a situation…” Jace’s voice fades into the background, his presentation still in full throttle, but the only thing I can see is Gus. The pair of green eyes staring back at me that own my soul, and could end up working me into a frenzy that might require riot gear here soon.

“If history tells me anything, you’re rather…responsive…to my methods.”

History…ha. Says the man who was nothing but a complete gentleman when we got to the hotel last night. Didn’t lay a finger on me—not even a single attempt at cuddling in the king-size bed in our shared hotel room. If anything, the only thing he was successful at last night was crushing some hopes.

That’s not true. He did kiss me. And fuck, can Gus Hayes kiss.

“So if Gus here were to lay a hand on Margeaux…” Jace declares.

Gus smirks, following his younger brother’s directions. Not skipping a beat, he plants his hand squarely on my boob.

I hiss, sucking in a harsh breath. Oh, he’s playing dirty. Equal parts of me war over whether to smack him or ask him to squeeze, the latter starting to win. At least until I hear the gasps pepper in from the crowd around us and I remember we’re in public.

“Since this is a family-friendly demo, we could maybe go with the hip?” Jace suggests.

I sputter out a laugh, keeping my eyes trained on my would-be assailant. One corner of Gus’s mouth flicks upward slightly, only enough for me to see, matching the shrug he gives his brother.