Page 99 of Delicious Surrender
“What are you doing here? Where is Logan?”
“I sent him home.”
“You did what?! You had no right!”
He moved to sit in the booth beside her, and she scrambled back and put her purse between them.
“Keep your voice down, Red.”
“I will not. Besides, no one can hear us over the music.” She crossed her arms and scowled at him.
“I caught most of your song. You were great.”
“Pfft. Why are you here, Gage? Or should I call you Magnus?”
“Why don’t we get out of here so we can talk?”
She shook her head. How did she forget how big and imposing he was up close? His distinctive scent drifted over her, causing her heart to pound like a bass in her ears. She stuck her chin out. “Not until you explain why you scared off my date.”
“He doesn’t know what you need.”
“How dare you! And you think you know?”
His eyes bore into hers. “I do. Let me drive you home.”
“I can get a taxi after I have another drink and sing another song. Like, ‘You’re So Vain.’”
His unexpected laughter took her breath away. She was in deep trouble.
“You’ve already had plenty to drink, and it’s too loud to have a conversation.”
“I have nothing to say to you.”
He shook his head, amusement dancing in his eyes. “I can easily carry you kicking and screaming out of here, or you can be civilized.”
“I am so past civilized, it’s not funny, Mags. Was that your nickname as a child?”
That last cocktail had made her reckless. She watched in fascination as he looked around, as if measuring the reaction if he tossed her over his shoulder and waltzed out.
He leaned close to her ear. “Be careful what you wish for, Brynne. If you keep teasing the beast, you might find yourself caught and devoured.”
She considered her options when he rose and held out a hand to her.
“Do you always get your way?”
“Yes.”
She shook her head and took his hand. “Fine. I’ll come with you, but only because I’m ready to leave and you scared off my ride.”
He helped her into the luxurious SUV, and she couldn’t help but run her hands over the rich leather seat. Gage got in and started the Range Rover. Then he reached over to clip her seatbelt.
She blew out a sigh. “Thanks, Dad. I would have done that, I was just captivated by all the pretty lights on the dash. It looks like an airplane cockpit.” When he didn’t respond, she said, “You better not have made Logan mad at me. I need him.”
“He’s not mad. I explained that you and I have some unfinished business.”
Brynne snorted. “That’s one way of putting it.”
They drove through the darkened roads in silence. But when they pulled into his drive and the garage door opened, she sat up. “What are you doing? I thought you were taking me home.”