Page 79 of Take The Risk

​“You say ‘Barbie’ like it’s an insult.” She gave me a pitying look. “You need to work on your insulting skills, hammerhead.”

​“Could you two not?” Phoebe pulled out of my arms, and I growled. She crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at both of us.

​“What?” Alex and I said in unison.

​Rolling her eyes, Phoebe looked me over, hunger tinged with a worry in her gorgeous green eyes. “You need to get going.”

​Her expression closed off, which I didn’t fucking like. Not happening, sweetheart. Grabbing her by the neck, I hauled her to me. Slamming my mouth over hers, I kissed her until I felt her melt against me.

​“Ewww.” Alex fake-gagged. “My poor, poor eyes.”

​Giving Phoebe one more tender kiss, I promised, “I’ll be thinking about you every second.”

​The wan smile she gave me made me uneasy. “You better go.”

​Clenching my teeth, I watched her retreat into the bathroom where she said she needed to get ready. My feet stayed planted, my muscles tight. The suit I wore felt like it was made of wool, and I was already breaking out in hives with every second I let this stupid farse go on.

​“You really need to go,” Alex pointed out, appearing less antagonistic than usual.

​“Fine.” I stomped to the bedroom door. “Take care of her,” I ordered, not particularly caring that I was being an ass to my woman’s demented best friend.

​Fortunately for me, and my balls, Alex seemed more amused than offended. “I’ve always taken good care of her, but I’ll be extra vigilant tonight.”

​“Good.” That was something.

​“Not of her, dumbass. Of you.” Alex stepped into my space, her face transforming from mischievous pixie into a murderously cold and calculating warrior. “You fuck this up tonight, Tyler Marcus Brockmann, and I’ll unleash the kind of hell on you the devil himself will run out of Hell to escape.”

​An hour later, running seemed like a fucking superb idea.

​“Ty, do you remember when we all went down to Sullivan’s landing senior year?” Olivia droned on. The people gathered around were old friends from high school, and her captive audience.

​It had been like that since I’d met her here an hour ago. It’d taken some fancy footwork, but I’d managed to get out of driving her to the party, citing the need to check some job sites while Dad was on a job up in Canada for an old friend who had a serious accident.

​“What are we talking about?” Wade sidled up to our group, a pretty blond I recognized from the hair salon a town over on his arm.

​“Oh, we were talking about all the fun we used to have…” Olivia picked up right where she left off.

​A minute later, Wade nudged my arm, his head subtly jerking to the archway where guests were entering.

​Holy. Fuck.

​I couldn’t remember my name, how to breathe—hell, my legs felt like they’d give out underneath me.

​Breathtaking.

​Silky brown hair was curled and piled high on her head, little wisps falling down to caress her creamy shoulders. Her bare shoulders. The corset bodice hugged her curves to perfection, pushing breasts I knew were soft and sweet up just enough to give a glimpse of her perfect skin. The red wine color accented her pale skin and made her green eyes glow. The red silk clung to her hips and legs, falling to the floor, only allowing a tiny peek at the gold heels she wore.

​“Wow,” Wade breathed, and I thought I’d explode.

​When she took a step, the side of her skirt split, revealing a perfect leg, the muscle of her thigh flexing with the movement.

​The sapphire jewelery she wore, a diamond and sapphire pendant around her neck and matching ones in her ears, completed the look.

​“Fuck me,” I cursed, watching her turn to greet someone only to swallow my tongue when I saw the back of the dress. I wanted to use those tiny silk ribbons that pretended to be the back to bind her wrists. I could see them now, wrapped around her delicate bones.

​“She looks—”

​I cut Wade a dark look.