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I step right into him and we’re toe to toe. Kiera tries to pull me away, but I ignore her futile tugging on my arm. “I don’t give a fuck if you were reading her poetry, you keep your hands to yourself.”
“Whoa.” Boone is there, stepping in between us. “What’s going on here?”
The man points past Boone to me. “Your asshole teammate is trying to pick a fight.”
Hmm… so he does know who I am. I have to give him credit because he’s got to know I can kick his ass, despite him being a decent-size guy.
Boone turns to me, sparing a quick look at Kiera standing there with her hand on my arm. “What are you doing, man?”
Well, I’m apparently having a full-blown attack of jealousy but that would be stupid, wouldn’t it?
There’s no hesitation when I play it off as Titans’ camaraderie. “He has his hands on Drake’s sister. He’s not here, so I’m stepping in.”
The look on Boone’s face tells me he doesn’t buy a single bit of my bullshit. He was the one, after all, who caught us outside Stevie’s bar last week.
I glance down at Kiera, knowing she’ll at least go along with the lie, but she’s gone. I glance around wildly and see her heading out the door.
“Fuck,” I growl and start after her. But I stop and turn back to Boone. “Not a word about this to anyone.”
I get a chin lift in response. The message is,I got your back, brother.
I chase Kiera out of the bar and find her walking through the parking lot. I jog to catch up, taking her arm to stop her. She jerks away and glares at me.
“Why are you pissed at me?” I ask.
“Because you sure looked like you were having a good time with that brunette in there. You didn’t even try to stop her from touching you.”
That burns me up. “Oh yeah? Well, you were letting that guy touch you.” I reach out, pull a few times on her braid and then try to mimic what I can imagine the dude said in a really low voice. “Hey, baby… you’re so hot. How about coming home with me tonight and I’ll make you scream my name?”
Kiera stares at me, her mouth slightly parted. I brace for her counterattack, but then she snorts followed by peals of laughter. I can’t help it… a bark of mirth erupts from my chest and I’m laughing right along with her.
She pats my chest while still chuckling. “What a pair we make.”
“Yeah… that we do.” I pull her into my arms for a hug, then kiss her temple. “Can we get out of here and go to your house?”
“Yes, we can,” she says.
CHAPTER 16
Kiera
Istand atthe entrance of the grand ballroom, scanning the crowd. I’m first and foremost looking for a glimpse of Bain, although I’m keeping an eye out for anyone I know. For the most part, I love being my own person and embracing the single life, but I’m not going to lie. It would have been nice to come with a date to this event.
Not just any date.
It would’ve been nice if Bain and I could’ve come together, but there are too many obstacles. The most obvious… we’re not dating. Just fuck friends, and we’re doing that in the shadows so we don’t offend Drake’s tender sensibilities.
A drink is what I need, so I make my way to one of the bars set up with only the best liquor and wines. I order a Shiraz and move to the edge of the crowd. The event isn’t going to start for another twenty minutes and I like to people watch.
Handsome men in black tie, women in beautiful gowns and jewels. Tonight Brienne will be asking for big money for the start of her new charity foundation named after her brother, Adam, who died in the crash.
My eyes catch on Drake and Brienne, both circulating separately. I’ll catch up with them later.
Something touches my elbow and I turn to see Bain standing there. How he made it past me without my notice is beyond me, but it’s an effort not to let my tongue hang out of my mouth. Casual Bain with his floppy hair and boyish grin is one level of hot. Put the man in hockey gear and I drool—but Bain in a tuxedo?
“My panties just got wet,” I tell him truthfully, turning my head back out to the crowd so it appears we’re making casual conversation.
“Jesus, Kiera.” He shifts awkwardly. “You can’t say things like that while wearing a dress that I’m pretty sure is illegal in this state.”
