Page 4 of Theirs to Corrupt
She balls a hand into a fist, then shoves it into her apron pocket as if to hide it.
My guess is closer than she’s willing to admit.
“Nikki,” she says.
Though she doesn’t blink, I taste her fib on the air.
Interesting.
“Well,Nikki,I noticed your interest in my business discussion. Dangerous habit, that. Eavesdropping.”
Though a pulse frantically flutters in her throat, she doesn’t blink. “Didn’t hear a word.”
She lies easily but not convincingly.
I tilt my head, studying her with care. “You did. And you’d be well advised to forget that you did.”
At my pseudothreat, momentary fear flashes through her wide, light-blue eyes. Almost instantly, she blinks it away and she tips her chin back.
She’s not as adept at hiding her emotions as she’d like to think.
“I’ll bring your check.”
After pivoting, she hurries away and is flagged down by the occupants of another table.
As she stops, she gives them an actual smile—which is much more than the fake one she offered me.
I scowl in a way that makes grown men cower.
Fuck me.
I want that attention directed at me.
At the bar, she confers with Marge once more. And the older woman flicks a frown in my direction. A warning not to mess with this particular employee?
“What’s your interest?” Pax asks.
With a sigh, I shake my head to clear it.
“Boss?”
Judging by the small grin on Pax’s face, he’s asked the question more than once. “You’re enjoying this.”
“Yeah.” He nods.
Pax and I are more than bodyguard and protectee. He lives in a guest house on my River Oaks estate. Not that he spends much time at his own place.
He was assigned to me as a bodyguard when I hired Hawkeye Security. Now only he will do.
We’re no longer employer/employee. He’s my closest confidant and friend. We’re inseparable to the point that now we share women. Neither of us dates unless the lady in question understands the score in advance.
“You generally charm the pants off any lady you’re interested in.”
I take a drink of the finest single malt on the planet.
“She’s not interested.”
Yet.