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“No. It’s just … complicated.”
He kissed me lightly on the lips. “Kat, I like you. A lot. I want this to work between us, and I think you do too.”
Oh God.
“Kat?”
Shit. I wanted nice, right? I liked Lance. He was a gentleman, and yeah, sure, he didn’t know about the drugs or what came with them, but he was gentle and patient. He loved my art and had no drama in his life. No fans, no arguing, and no having to leave for months at a time. He was stress free and he’d be the guy who didn’t run the second he heard something he didn’t like. I needed that in a relationship. I had to have the rock that would stand by me no matter what.
“Precious. Whatever you need, okay? We’ll keep it slow. Let’s have one drink with your friends so we aren’t rude, and then we’ll go.”
I nodded. But it felt as if fleas were biting my skin making me anxious and uncomfortable.
Lance kept his arm around my waist as he led me over to the table. I kept my chin up, my usual sway in my hips, and I tried to look like I wasn’t ripping apart on the inside as Ream’s face took us in. I saw the hurt flicker in his darkened eyes, the narrowing, and then something different, as if he was contemplating.
Lance was the perfect gentleman and shook hands with the band and then graciously nodded to Emily and Georgie. But when he went to shake hands with Ream, I swear each one of us held our breaths. There was a slight hesitation as Lance held his hand out and Ream didn’t take it. Ream’s eyes narrowed and he looked him up and down, as if he was trying to figure out whether Lance was worthy or something.
Then Ream chin-lifted and shook hands. It was only after their hands separated that Ream blew it. “Hurt her and I’ll fuckin’ kill you.”
“Jesus, Ream.” I expected Lance to grab me and walk out of there. Instead, he nodded to Ream and then sat and pulled me onto his lap. I knew it was done on purpose because I never sat on Lance’s lap.
The tension broke except for mine. I was strung so tight my nerves acted up and I could do nothing about it except try and stay calm and hope they passed.
“Well, aren’t you looking the hottie in an expensive suit,” Georgie purred. “Why hasn’t Kat brought you by my shop yet?” Georgie twirled a pink strand around her finger. “But just so you know, hotties don’t get free passes in the in-gate.” What was she talking about? “Hotties, still need to pass my test before they get in. Non-hotties don’t get into the group—period.” Oh God, Georgie was drunk and rambling. There was no test. She was making this up as she went. Where was Deck when you needed him?
Bringing Lance by Georgie’s Perk Avenue coffee house meant Deck would be checking into Lance because Deck checked out everyone who came by the coffee shop. His security cameras made sure of it.
I squeezed Lance’s leg to get his attention and leaned back into him and whispered, “We should go.”
Lance grinned. “No. This is amusing. And if I need to pass a test to be with you, then I’m game.”
Okay, Lance was sweet and nice—and brave.
Georgie propped her elbows up on the table and rested her head in her hands. “So, can you make a girl come multiple times? My girl here needs to know what she’s getting into.”
My mouth wasn’t the only one that dropped open, and I glared at Georgie. “Shut it, Georgie. Jesus. I swear Deck needs to reel you in, strap you down, and teach you some manners.”
She laughed and then chugged back her beer before slamming it down on the table. “Deck’s not here—again. He’s probably making some girl come multiple times right now.” I thought she said Deck would suck in bed. “So, Mr. I-look-hot-in-a-suit. You up for an answer?”
I felt Ream’s eyes on me, not on Lance or Georgie, and I squirmed on Lance’s lap, which to my horror made something hard press into my butt and I immediately stilled. Lance looped his arm around my waist and pulled me back against him then whispered in my ear, “Yeah, better to stay still, princess.” Then his voice rose so the table could hear, but his eyes remained on me. “Multiple doesn’t seem like quite the right word. I’d use,” he paused for effect, “copious.”
Oh fuck. I knew it before it happened. Ream was controlled, calm, and had a head for business, but that all detonated when it came to me and him.
The scrape of his chair echoed as Ream violently pushed it back then grabbed the edge of the table and flipped it over on its side. Glass shattered as the drinks crashed to the floor. Emily and Crisis were covered in beer, and Georgie had fallen over backwards in her chair and was laughing hysterically on the floor.
I wanted to be mad at him, but I understood why he flipped the table. I couldn’t imagine if I saw him with a chick on his lap and we were talking about orgasms. I might not flip the table, but I’d have freaked. Maybe dumped my drink all over the girl and Ream.
Logan, being the ex-underground fighter, took him down. He grabbed his arm when Ream came for Lance then threw him to the ground, bending Ream’s arm behind his back at an odd angle. I didn’t hear what was said between them, but Ream nodded, got up, and without a single glance at anyone, he went into the back of the pub. I saw Molly go after him and hoped she could calm him down, but a part of me wanted to be the one to go talk to him. Okay, fine, I was jealous that Molly was with Ream and I wasn’t.
Georgie struggled to her feet, stumbled, then fell on her ass again. Crisis took her arm and pulled her drunk ass up and set her chair upright and shoved her down in it. “Well, so now we know how Ream’s really feeling. Hope you’re not lying about the copious, Lancey-baby.”
