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The better question, however, is if I really mind owing such a handsome man.
Marci takes a step back. “I think he’s in his office… I’m just going to…” she motions with her thumbs over her shoulder that she’s going to take off. Given that is the whole reason we’ve come here in the first place, I have no right to stop her. I watch her, mute, as she disappears into the throngs of gyrating bodies.
Leaving me all alone with the stranger who doesn’t seem to be taking his eyes off of me.
CHAPTER EIGHT
KATYA
“Ibelieve that in situations like this, a thank you is customary.”
Oh, is that right? The first words out of his mouth are going to be telling me what to do? I don’t think so. I press my tongue into the roof of my mouth as I stare at him cheekily. I place one hand on my hip and shift my weight onto one foot.
Over my dead body am I going to thank this man like I couldn’t have just handled it myself with a little bit more time.
“Is that right?” I shake my head. “And what am I supposed to be thanking you for? Interfering?”
He lifts a brow in what looks like amusement. “For helping you get what you wanted, obviously. You’re welcome, by the way.”
“I had it under control.” I hold his gaze, though it’s not an easy thing. He’s so damned handsome it’s hard to remember that he technically overstepped.
“Did you? It looked like you were getting a touch desperate there.” The man steps into my personal space, his voice dropping in pitch in a way that makes my skin tingle. His brown eyes lock onto mine, unflinching.
“I didn’t need your help.” I reply stubbornly. I cross my arms over my chest just to give myself some semblance of there being a barrier between us. I won’t step away from his little power play. Besides, he smellsamazingand I kind of want to see where this goes. No matter how silly that might be.
“And yet you got it anyway.” He answers easily.
“For a price, I’m sure.”
“Can a man not help a person out without an ulterior motive?” he grins and it’s so damned pretty it's infuriating.
“Not usually,” I answer honestly. I’m in a very man-eating, man-hating headspace right now and I have no desire to slip out of it either. I didn’t need him coming in and swooping around like some veritable Prince Charming rescuing the damsels in distress. I only let him do it because it got me what I wanted. It’sall for Marci anyway. There’s nothing that I wouldn’t do for her. Nothing.
I should have just walked away with her. I shouldn’t be speaking to this man at all.
Yet it’s hard to look anywhere but his face.
My stomach is tying itself into knots. I feel almost giddy with anticipation for whatever he’s going to say next. It’s the most insane sensation, I don’t even know this man. But I’m very aware that he’s standing very close to me and it feels like there’s a static charge pulsating between us. Just like the feeling of a gray, cloudy afternoon before a thunderstorm starts.
“Listen, I heard what happened to your friend and I wanted to help. That’s all. Happy to do it.” The man says again. “In fact, I can have my body guard go with her to ensure that she reaches the man that she’s supposed to reach if you like.”
Out of nowhere, it feels like a man dressed in head to toe black emerges out of the damned wall.
“This is Dario, he can ensure that nothing further happens to your friend this evening.”
Dario doesn’t even acknowledge that he’s being spoken about.
“And I’m supposed to presume that you’re just doing this out of the kindness of your heart?”
“Something like that.”
I don’t buy it. The other shoe is going to drop. I can likely deal with whatever it is, but Marci is exhausted and doesn’t need any more stress than she is already under.
“Look, I can see that you’re on the fence. Dario is on the list and can get your friend into any section of this club without a question. Nobody would dare stop her. Then he can escort her back to your side once the business is concluded,” the man offers.
I don’t like it. But I don’t want Marci alone either. If Xavier tries to pull anything, it wouldn’t hurt to have somebody on her side.
I have to cave, and we both know it. I give a curt nod - and Dario is gone like he never even showed up in the first place. “If anything happens to her, I will hunt him down and take you down too,” I warn him.
