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“Who helped him get into your room?”
Gah … this was where we collided. Ream was protective and I got that. He lost his twin sister—the only family he had—to really bad shit. He wanted to keep any bad shit away from me, and he saw Lance as bad shit. I wondered if whatever that phone call was about was way more than Ream admitted.
“It doesn’t matter. He just wanted to make sure I was okay. It was like five minutes. I need to go. I’ll see you there.” I tried to slip out of his arms but he held tight.
“I don’t like him, Kat.” Shit, it was Kat, not Kitkat or babe or beautiful. “I’ll come with you. Give me ten minutes.”
I linked our hands before he had a chance to go change. “Ream, you have to trust me.” I squeezed his hand. “You need to meet your manager. Logan will have a fit if you bail.” I curled my hand around his neck and pulled his head lower so I could reach his lips. My mouth moved over his trying to get a response and after a few seconds with my tongue in his mouth and my hands on his ass, he complied and kissed me back.
“I’m moving my art from his gallery after the show.”
I felt the stiffness instantly ease from his muscles as he whispered in my ear, “Thank you, baby.”
“I have to go. Love you.”
He reluctantly let me go. “You going to be okay in those heels?”
And he was still concerned about my legs. It was sweet, adorable, and I got that despite being controlling and over the top possessive Ream did it because he cared.
I ran a finger down his cheek then across to his mouth where he grabbed it with his teeth and sucked it inside the warmth of his velvet mouth. Heat swirled between my legs, and I quickly pulled away as desire flooded between my thighs.
He yanked me back. “What’s wrong?”
“Getting turned on before I go isn’t a good idea.”
“Why not? I like you turned on and I want you thinking of me.”
I smiled and then leaned in close and whispered in his ear. “Because, panties ruin the line of this dress, so …”
“Fuck.” Ream swore then his hand shot underneath my dress as I squirmed to get away.
“Hands off the merchandise, sexy.” I darted under his arm, laughing, and he dove for me, his fingers just grazing my shoulder. “I’ll see you there.” I made a dash for the door and slammed it in his stunned face.
Before I managed to escape the house, Ream caught me. “You do that for me or the dress?”
Shit, I couldn’t lie. “You.” Because I loved the idea of Ream knowing I was naked underneath it.
Ream kissed me and it was heated but gentle and warm and made me a puddle of goo at his feet. I think he knew it too because he winked and then smacked me on the butt then told me to drive safe.
I arrived at the gallery two hours before the show. I made sure everything was ready, the caterer, the wine. The waitress was Molly from Avalanche, who Lance suggested we ask serve, and I thought it was a great idea. Molly needed the cash and Lance said he’d pay her well.
I fiddled with my art, making sure they were hung perfectly, and then when everything was done, I helped myself to a glass of wine. Molly arrived early too and we chatted for a while. Or rather I chatted; Molly listened with her head down, always staring at her feet. I needed to break her out of her shell or give her to Georgie for a night.
Some of the most prominent men and women in the city packed the gallery, thanks to Lance, Emily, and Brett. Emily shared invitations in the horse community and Brett to his real estate connections. I really had no idea who Lance’s connections were, but I was thrilled at the turnout. A young man and his wife, who had a breeding farm of Gypsy Vanners, bought the set of Havoc paintings, which would set me up well for an entire year and help with a down payment for my own place.
Being most of my work was of horses, a good deal of the thoroughbred racing community was there, including Richard, the developer Emily was currently talking with. She was smart to chat with him now before Logan arrived.
Georgie was currently on the arm of some mystery guy who wore a suit and didn’t look like he’d be with someone that had pink highlights, a smart-ass mouth, and drank too much. She’d whispered to me earlier that he kissed with the sweetness of syrup and the bite of a candy apple. I’m guessing that meant he kissed damn good.
Logan and Ream planned to arrive after the meeting with their manager. Crisis and Kite popped in for a few minutes to show their support, but mingling with this type of stuffy crowd was not their thing. Within a half hour of arriving they made excuses and headed to Avalanche.
I swallowed the last of my champagne and was weaving my way over to Emily when I felt a touch on my hip. I smiled, assuming it was Ream as he always touched my hips. But when I turned I was looking up at Lance.
He took my hand and lifted it to his mouth and kissed the back of it. “Beautiful. Congratulations. A great turn out.”
I pulled my hand from him. I know he was just being polite, but it made me uncomfortable when he held it longer than what was polite. I also didn’t like him calling me beautiful, that was Ream’s and suddenly I was wondering what I ever saw in this guy. “Lance. Thank you for this. The turnout is incredible.”
“That’s all you. All I did was send out invitations. Your work is what brought them here.” He looked briefly around. “Where is your bodyguard?”
My smile was tight at the reference to Ream. “He should be here any minute. He had a meeting with his manager.”
